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.

Scaling Micro Printing: From Prototype to Mass Production with BMF
Scaling Micro Printing: From Prototype to Mass Production with BMF
9. October 2026
In recent years, micro-3D printing has evolved from a niche technology for laboratory prototypes into a viable manufacturing process for functional small-batch production. The key difference between an interesting prototype and a production-ready component rarely lies in the print resolution alone—but rather in whether a process is repeatable, predictable, and capable of producing economical batch sizes
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Sintering Furnaces in the Post-Processing Stage of Additive Manufacturing: The Step That Determines Quality
Sintering Furnaces in the Post-Processing Stage of Additive Manufacturing: The Step That Determines Quality
7. October 2026
Anyone who thinks of additive manufacturing solely as “printing” overlooks a crucial part of the process: post-processing. In binder jetting in particular—a powder-bed-based process in which a binder is selectively applied to metal or ceramic powder—the initial result is merely a so-called “green part”: mechanically fragile, porous, and still far from having the final material properties. Only after two subsequent heat treatment steps
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Ceramic 3D Printing for the Aerospace Industry: How Additive Manufacturing Is Rethinking Heat Shielding
Ceramic 3D Printing for the Aerospace Industry: How Additive Manufacturing Is Rethinking Heat Shielding
5. October 2026
High-performance ceramics are indispensable in the aerospace industry when components must withstand extreme heat: heat shield systems for spacecraft, engine components, or insulation elements. Traditionally, such parts are manufactured using complex, tool-dependent processes—with lead times that delay the development of new systems
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From Prototype to Mass Production: Metal 3D Printing as a Manufacturing Service
From Prototype to Mass Production: Metal 3D Printing as a Manufacturing Service
2. October 2026
Anyone looking to bring a new metal component to market usually faces the same question: Is it worth setting up in-house manufacturing, or is it wiser to use metal 3D printing as an outsourced service? Especially for startups and small production runs, the answer is often clear: A specialized 3D printing service provider handles the machinery, process expertise, and post-processing—thereby turning a design idea into a market-ready product in just a few weeks. The British startup Hex Components serves as a prime example of what this journey looks like, from the first series of prototype parts to ongoing production.
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PµSL vs. SLA: A Comparison of Two Methods for Precise Stereolithography
PµSL vs. SLA: A Comparison of Two Methods for Precise Stereolithography
30. September 2026
For decades, stereolithography has been considered one of the most precise additive manufacturing technologies. However, the field has long since diversified: In addition to traditional stereolithography (SLA), projection micro-stereolithography (PµSL) has emerged as a specialized advancement specifically designed for microscopically small, highly complex components. Both processes are based on the same fundamental physical principle—the light-induced curing of a photopolymer—but differ significantly in terms of exposure technology, component size, and fields of application.
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InnoventX: Microstructure Research Using the Binder Jetting Process
InnoventX: Microstructure Research Using the Binder Jetting Process
28. September 2026
Not every application of binder jetting is geared toward mass production. For universities, research laboratories, and materials developers, the focus is usually on a different question: How can the printing process itself be systematically understood and specifically refined? With InnoventX, Desktop Metal has created an open binder jetting system specifically designed for research and education.
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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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