- True metal DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering) printers start at about $1,000,000 and you’ll need factory-grade facilities that include professional quality ventilation and furnaces to run (Source)
- You can check out some used industrial machines if you’re really interested
- There are some new 3D printing services that are offering metal 3D printing, including Sculpteo, i.materialise, and xometry
- These direct metal printers have additional expenses like the metal powder cost and many ancillary operating costs
- They are only used by very large companies with budgets that can accommodate such costs.
- Printing artsy sculptures or headphone stands or even day-to-day functional parts in metal makes no sense for your average hobbyist.
- A cheaper alternative, if you want metal prints for cheap, you can print in metal clay with a printer like this Mini Metal Maker and then put in a kiln
- Another alternative: print in PLA filament, make a mold, and cast in metal.
Not only is it expensive to produce large quantities of metal 3D printing products, but it can also be challenging to find reliable suppliers. So, how much does metal 3D printing cost?
We’ll take a closer look at how metal 3D printing costs and what factors influence the price and cover some tips on saving money when using metal 3D printing.
3D Printing Metal At Home
The creator here using the Creality CR 10 with a tabletop furnace to 3D print in his garage.
- Creality CR 10
- Cheaper Creality printer
- Auber temp controller
- SSR and heatsink
- Tabletop furnace
- Plaster, Prestige Oro, 25
- Plaster, Prestige Oro, 5
What is metal 3D printing?
Metal 3D printing is a type of printing that uses metal as the main component. This method is usually used for creating large batches of products, such as firearms and medical implants.
What are the costs of metal 3D printing?
The costs of metal 3D printing vary depending on the type of metal 3D printing and the size of the project. Metal 3D printing is mainly done for printing metals such as stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper, gold, and silver.
The price of metal 3D printing also varies depending on the size of the batches, the materials used, and the types of services offered by the supplier.
The price for a large quantity of metal 3D printing can be anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 per ton. However, there is great variation in price depending on the chosen material and the number of prints produced.
For example, a small batch of 10 items can be printed for $2,500, while a large batch of 100 items can cost up to $25,000.
Metal 3D printing can cost a lot, depending on the size of the object you are printing. For example, a 3-foot-by-3-foot object may cost between $5,000 and $25,000 to print using metal 3D printing.
The price of metal 3D printing also varies depending on the type of metal 3D printing. Small products, such as jewelry or medical implants, are the most common types of metal 3D printing. For these products, the price range is from $0.10 to $0.50 per pound.
What factors influence the price of metal 3D printing?
A few main factors influence the price of metal 3D printing. The first is the quality of the materials used in metal 3D printing. This can be influenced by the variety of available materials, as well as how much money you’re willing to spend for each step of the printing process.
Another factor that influences the price of metal 3D printing is the number of products that will be printed. Finding a supplier who can produce a large number of products at a reasonable price can be difficult.
Additionally, it may take longer to print a product using metal 3D printing than with other methods.
Price of different types of metals used in metal 3D printing
Metal 3D printing is a great way to produce large quantities of high-quality products. However, it can be expensive to produce large quantities of different types of metals.
The price of metal 3D printing depends on the type of metal used, the quantity produced, and the difficulty of production. Here are some examples:
- Gold: Gold is a popular choice for metal 3D printing because it’s easy to work with and has a wide range of applications. The price for gold 3D printing is usually lower than other types of metals.
- Silver: Silver is another popular choice for metal 3D printing because it’s very durable and can be printed in various colors. The price for silver 3D printing is usually lower than other metals.
- Platinum: Platinum is a popular choice for metal 3D printing because it has a very high melting point and can be printed in many colors. The price for platinum 3D printing is usually higher than other types of metals.
Titanium is a popular choice for metal 3D printing because it’s incredibly strong and doesn’t corrode over time. The price for titanium 3D printing is usually higher than other metals.
Conclusion
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how much does metal 3D printing costs. However, getting a comprehensive understanding of the cost is important to understand the different types of metals used in metal 3D printing and the different price ranges.
Hello, my name’s Rush Chapman. I’m a 3D printing enthusiast. I started this site to help people choose 3D printing projects and select the best 3D printer for your needs, whether you’re a hobbyist or a pro!
