Knowledge

As pioneers and experts in the field of industrial 3D printing, we give you a comprehensive insight into the world of additive manufacturing. We show how the technology is revolutionizing more and more industries and applications through metal 3D printing. Together with our partners, we regularly organize exciting webinars and events, for example on 3D printing in the medical field.

Save the Date: Open House Event on October 8, 2026
Save the Date: Open House Event on October 8, 2026
18. March 2026
We cordially invite you to our next Open House event on October 8, 2026. Look forward to an inspiring evening featuring exciting real-world insights, engaging conversations, and relaxed networking.
More information
3D Ceramic Printing at the Micro Scale
3D Ceramic Printing at the Micro Scale
4. September 2026
Ceramics are considered one of the most challenging materials in additive manufacturing. Micro-scale ceramic 3D printing using projection microstereolithography (PµSL) from Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF) combines the superior material properties of engineering ceramics with the design freedom of micro-3D printing—for components that are smaller, more complex, and more capable than ever before.
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Micro-3D Printing for Microfluidic Applications
Micro-3D Printing for Microfluidic Applications
1. September 2026
Boston Micro Fabrication’s (BMF) micro-3D printing systems enable the fabrication of microfluidic applications made of composite polymers or ceramics with a resolution of up to 2 µm—thereby creating channels and tolerances that cannot be achieved with any other 3D printing technology.
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The Potential of Binder Jetting Technology for Tungsten
The Potential of Binder Jetting Technology for Tungsten
28. August 2026
Tungsten (W) is no ordinary metal. With a melting point of 3,422 °C—the highest of any pure metal—and a density of 19.25 g/cm³ (1.7 times denser than lead), tungsten is one of the most challenging materials in industrial manufacturing. Binder jetting opens up entirely new possibilities for this exceptional material.
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3DCeram C101 Easy Lab
3DCeram C101 Easy Lab
24. August 2026
Ceramics are not a single material—they are a class of materials. Alumina and silicon nitride, zirconia and aluminum nitride, hydroxyapatite and cordierite: Each of these materials has its own chemistry, its own sintering conditions, and its own challenges. Therefore, researchers working with ceramics do not need a system that is perfectly suited to a single material
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Why We Bought the Carbolite Gero HTK 8
Why We Bought the Carbolite Gero HTK 8
13. August 2026
Wer im Binder Jetting forscht, entwickelt oder qualifiziert, stellt früher oder später dieselbe Frage: Welcher Sinterofen passt zu meinem System? Wir bei AM Pioneers haben uns diese Frage intensiv gestellt – und sind 2025 zu einer klaren Antwort gekommen. In diesem Beitrag erklären wir, warum wir uns für den HTK 8 von Carbolite Gero
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Let's talk about your requirements

We provide an efficient introduction to the industrial 3D printing process, advise you on suitable
3D printing processes and prepare you for the future of additive manufacturing.

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FAQs

Which materials can be processed with Metal Binder Jetting?
Materials are used that comply with the MIM material standards (MPIF), e.g:
  • Stainless steel (e.g. 316L, 17-4PH)
  • Tool steels
  • Other metallic materials depending on application
This allows components to be produced with properties that are comparable to classic MIM.
The binder jetting process is particularly suitable for quantities of 1 to approx. 10,000 components. Metal Binder Jetting thus closes the gap between prototyping and classic series production within modern 3D printing technologies.
Yes, components from the binder jetting process can be further refined using established processes, e.g:
  • Electropolishing
  • Galvanizing
  • Mechanical processing
A major advantage of metal binder jetting is the enormous design freedom. Complex geometries, undercuts, intricate structures or internal channels can be realized without support structures - something that is not possible with many other 3D printing technologies.
After sintering, the components achieve a density of up to 98%, comparable to cast metal parts. The mechanical properties make Metal Binder Jetting a reliable 3D printing technology for end applications.
Metal Binder Jetting is used, among other things, in:
  • Medical technology
  • Automotive
  • Electronics
  • Mechanical and plant engineering
  • Industrial and sensor technology
Especially where precision, short development times and cost control are crucial. This results in high-quality end customer and functional parts.
Metal Binder Jetting combines the advantages of classic MIM processes with the flexibility of modern additive manufacturing. Tool-free production, fast iterations and quality suitable for series production make binder jetting one of the most important 3D printing technologies for industrial manufacturing.
Yes, the additive manufacturing of MIM (Metal Injection Molding) components enables the production of complex geometries that could not be realized using conventional methods. Metal 3D printing also significantly reduces lead times, while achieving cost-effective production of smaller quantities without the need for molds and tools.
Compared to conventional manufacturing processes, metal 3D printing offers numerous possibilities. The most important advantages include the design freedom and optimization potential of the components as well as the speed and scalability of more cost-effective production. This allows you to achieve shorter time-to-market with maximum material utilization.
There are various technologies for the additive manufacturing of metal parts. Common processes include SLM (selective laser melting), SLS (selective laser sintering) and binder jetting (layer-by-layer application of metal powder with a binder resin). The choice of the appropriate metal 3D printing process depends on the specific requirements of the project, the desired material properties and the available equipment.
Binder jetting is an additive manufacturing process in which an industrial print head selectively applies binder to a powder bed. Through the repeated sequence of powder and binder application, a three-dimensional part is built up layer by layer. Since the printing process in binder jetting is not thermal, a wide variety of different materials can be processed. In addition, the build volume can be scaled cost-effectively by increasing the size of the print head. The exact process sequence after printing depends on the material. For metal 3D printing, it is as follows:
  • Printing The binder jetting process describes the layer-by-layer application of metal powder. A binder is then applied via several thousand nozzles according to the component cross-section in order to bind the loose powder. This process is repeated until the build volume is filled with the metal parts and loose powder.
  • Powder removal Once the printing process has been completed and the binder has hardened, the components are transported to a powder station in a construction kit, where the loose powder is removed. An integrated powder recycling system recovers 98% of the loose powder.
  • Sintering After powder removal, the metal parts are sintered in a furnace at temperatures of up to 1400 °C. At temperatures of around 400°C, the binder escapes from the component and the molecular chains fuse together, resulting in the desired mechanical properties. The finished metal part is comparable to a cast part with a density of 98%.
You can find an explanatory video at the following link:
Depending on the specific printing technology and the parameters of the printer, a variety of metal materials can be processed, including stainless steel, copper alloys, cobalt-chrome and nickel alloys. New and sometimes customized materials are also constantly being qualified or developed for 3D printing.
The advantages of plastic 3D printing lie particularly in the production of prototypes, whereby components can be adapted quickly and easily. Furthermore, lightweight yet robust structures can be achieved with plastic 3D printing, which also leads to cost savings for small series.
Common plastic printing technologies include FDM (fused deposition modeling), SLA (stereolithography), DLP (digital ligth processing) and SLS (selective laser sintering). The choice of the appropriate printing process depends on the specific requirements of your component and the desired material properties. There are other printing processes for medical 3D printing that can also process biomaterials, among other things.
The choice of suitable material depends on the requirements for your component, the desired mechanical properties, the surface finish, the environment of use and your budget. Common materials include PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU and PEEK as well as biocompatible polymers for medical 3D printing. Customized plastics can also be specially qualified, such as for medical 3D printing.
Additive manufacturing offers numerous advantages over conventional manufacturing processes and is capable of processing a wide range of materials. Common applications of 3D printing include prototyping, product customization, scalable series production and spare parts manufacturing.
The production costs of a component depend on the printing process, the material used and the nature of the component. We can produce your individual sample component free of charge in our machine park in Esslingen and prepare a cost analysis. Please contact us for a no-obligation demo day!
Due to the technological progress of additive manufacturing, there are numerous manufacturers of 3D printing systems on the market. As the precision and reproducibility of components is particularly important for industrial 3D printing, we work with the leading manufacturers Desktop Metal, ETEC, Zeiss and BCN3D. Desktop Health develops special systems and qualifies materials for medical 3D printing.
The component properties depend on various factors, such as the printing technology, the material used, the printing parameters and the specific 3D printer. Our systems and optimized design can be used to produce anisotropic components with increased strength, rigidity and hardness.
Operating a 3D printer does not usually require specially trained personnel. These systems are usually designed so that they can be operated by users with basic computer skills and a short training period. Modern 3D printers also have intuitive user interfaces, making it easy to create models, adjust print parameters and automatically monitor the printing process.
Once you have identified the right technology and a system, you can start preparing your site. Depending on the printing system, certain (safety) requirements must be met at your location. You will also need the appropriate materials, such as filament rolls or metal powder, and the right tools and protective clothing. We support you in integrating the system into your production by providing you with detailed instructions on site preparation and a starter pack containing all the necessary materials.
The procurement costs for an industrial 3D printing system vary and depend on various factors such as the printing technology, print quality, technical functions and brand. In a free potential and cost analysis, we determine your individual investment costs and compare them with the expected ROI ("return on investment").

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