DIRECT METAL LASER SINTERING (DMLS)

Direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) is an industrial metal 3D printing process that builds fully functional metal prototypes in a range of metals like steel, aluminum, titanium etc. It allows for the direct manufacturing of complex end-use parts and facilitates tooling for conventional manufacturing technologies, reducing costs and lead times.

DMLS/SLM Printing Services

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCL3oKNmDoo

Think3D has one EOS M290 machine in-house to offer various metal additive manufacturing service. We can 3D Print various metals like Aluminium, Maraging steel, Stainless steel, Inconel, Cobalt Chrome & Titanium.

CORPORATE BROCHURE

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Technical Competency

Technically qualified team in various mfg. technologies

Competitive Pricing

Highly competitive price and bulk discounts also available

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All designs and data are kept in highly secure private server

Overview

Applications

Materials

Specifications

Post Processing

FAQ

Overview

The DMLS machine begins sintering each layer—first the support structures to the base plate, then the part itself—with a laser aimed onto a bed of metallic powder. After a cross-section layer of powder is micro-welded, the build platform shifts down and a recoater blade moves across the platform to deposit the next layer of powder into an inert build chamber. The process is repeated layer by layer until the build is complete.

Support structures are automatically generated and built simultaneously in the same material, and are later manually removed. An initial brushing is manually administered to parts to remove a majority of loose powder, followed by the appropriate heat-treat cycle while still fixtured in the support systems to relieve any stresses. Parts are removed from the platform and support structures are removed from the parts, then finished with any needed bead blasting and deburring. Final DMLS parts are near 100 percent dense.

This technology combines the design flexibility of 3D Printing with the mechanical properties of metal. From tooling inserts with cooling channels to lightweight structures for aerospace, any application that involves complex metal parts potentially benefits from Metal 3D Printing.

DMLS materials are generally accepted to be equal or better than those of wrought materials. DMLS is also ideal when the geometry or structure of the part is not possible in any other process (for weight saving designs using honeycomb or latice structures for example). Think3D can also produce parts for implant medical applications. We also offer a number of secondary services such as painting, post machining and measurement and inspection, to further enhance the finish of your 3D-printed project design.

Applications

Fully functional prototypes
Production tools and tooling such as Die casting tools and Molding inserts
Low-volume production of complex end-use parts
Light weight structures like Heat exchangers and heatsinks

materials

Aluminium Alsi10mg

Tensile Strength (MPa)	part density	Surface roughness	Melting Temperature °C
340	2.67 g/cm3	Ra 6 – 15 µm; Rz 50 – 100 µm	600

Maraging steel

Tensile Strength (MPa)	part density	surface roughness	Melting Temperature °C
2080	8.0-8.1 g/cm³	Ra 4-6.5 µm; Rz 20-50 µm	800

Stainless steel 316L

Tensile Strength (MPa)	part density	surface roughness	Melting Temperature °C
62.63	7.9 g/ cm³	Ra 4 µm; Rz 20 µm	1200

Inconel 718

Tensile Strength (MPa)	part density	surface roughness	Melting Temperature °C
1210	8.15 g/cm³	Ra 4 – 6.5 µm, Rz 20 – 50 µm	1400

Cobalt Chrome

Tensile Strength (MPa)	part density	surface roughness	Melting Temperature °C
1350	8.3 g/cm³	Ra 4 -10 µm; Rz 20 – 40 µm	1450

Titanium Ti64

Tensile Strength (MPa)	part density	surface roughness	Melting Temperature °C
1075	4.41 g/cm3	Ra 5 – 9 µm; Rz 20-50 µm	1100

specifications

Minimum Wall thickness:0.8 – 1 mm

Minimum details size: 2 mm (for text/ hole diameters etc)

Layer thickness: 0.02 – 0.08 mm

Max dimensions: 250 x 250 x 325 mm

Standard Accuracy:± 0.2% (with lower limit on ± 0.2 mm)

Lead Time: Minimum 3 – 8 working days for dispatch

Surface finish: Rough surface, which can undergo finishing stages as per requirement

post processing

Basic: Powder removal, Heat Treatment, EDM wire cut, Bead blasting, Polishing.

Add on: CNC Machining & Painting

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OUR VALUABLE

Clients

Think3D has been a great partner for us in supplying COVID-19 test cartridges on-time despite the pandemic challenges. When we came up with a new requirement needing a workforce of more than 25 people, think3D took up the challenge and arranged the workforce within 2 days. I highly recommend think3D for any manufacturing needs.

Sanket Srivatsav
Production In-Charge, Molbio

As a professor doing research on new materials, I needed a strong industry partner to assist us. think3D perfectly fit that bill. think3D team is highly knowledgeable on all manufacturing technologies and the team is very prompt in responding to all our requests. My research has been very successful, thanks to think3D team.

Dr. Karthik Chetan V
Asst. Professor, BITS Pilani

We found issue with one part at the time of assembly and needed a quick replacement. think3D team has quickly responded to our request, redesigned the part and printed it using metal 3D Printing and delivered in 3 days time. The part came out really well and the design was better than that of the actual one.

Rama Krishna
Senior Manager (IMM), BDL

FAQS

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper 3D metal printing or Casting ?

It depends on 2 factors quantity & complexity of parts.

For < 10 parts DMLS is cost effective. When our requirement is mass i.e > 1000 casting will be cheaper.

For simple geometries like a 50 mm Dia x 50mm Length shaft DMLS cost 15,000 bucks. where as in casting or machining it may costs max 2,000 bucks. So for complex geometries DMLS will be cheaper.

How does DMLS printing costing works ?

Costing is divided in 3 steps. Pre-processing, 3D printing and post processing. Pre-processing activity includes Designing, part feasibility, Reverse Engineering. Secondly, in the printing phase, the cost is dependent on number of factors such as build hours, support structure required, material, orientation of part etc. Finally, in the post processing phase, activities such as heat treatment, surface finish ,CNC machining, EDM etc activities do contribute. Every part doesn’t have to go through all above mentioned activities. Number of activities depend on case to case.

How much accuracy we can achieve in DMLS parts ?

3D printed parts produced with DMLS process are quite accurate. This process can achieve near net shape of a part with 0.2 mm (200µm) accuracy. Additionally, CNC machining can be done for further improvement up to 5-10 µm.

How is the Surface finish of a metal 3D printed parts ?

Parts have Ra values ranging from 7-12 µm depending on the material, but we can alter the value by post processing activities. These activities are capable of producing ‘Matt Finish’ and ‘Mirror surface finish’ where matt finish hardly removes any material from the surface, around 200-300 mg. However, mirror surface finish needs 0.5-1 mm additional stock for achieving 1-2 Ra value. Matt finish can achieve up to 3-5 Ra.

Heat Treatment compulsary for a DMLS printed parts ?

In most of the cases, heat treatment is compulsory. During metal 3D printing process, residual stresses generated within the part geometry can lead to product failure while in application, and therefore, stress relieving heat treatment cycle is a must for functional parts. On the other hand, parts which are merely showpieces/non-functional can be delivered without being heat treated.

Why geometries like threading’s are not recommended to print in DMLS ?

Threads have several over hangs where non removable supports were generated & pitch also cannot be maintained in printing.

Recommended process is, printing a plane hole without threads & later doing tapping.

Why inert gases are used in DMLS printing ?

Inert atmosphere is needed while sintering metal powders to avoid oxidation process.To maintain inert atmosphere we use Argon or Nitrogen gases.

At what temperature parts are printed in DMLS ?

In DMLS, chamber temperature will be of max 200°C. A 400 watt laser exposes on loose powder & generates 1500 – 2000 °C at 80 microns dia spot.

What are the common difficulties we face in DMLS printing ?