The technology is still new, so prices for 3D printers vary from $1,000 to $10,000. However, we believe that the cost of 3D printers will continue to drop and eventually reach around $500.
If you are looking for an industrial-grade 3D printer capable of printing in metal, you can expect to pay anywhere from $5,000 to $500,000.
Metal 3D printers provide an advanced manufacturing solution for rapid prototyping, mass production, and more. These printers can create parts from various metals, including stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, and more.
Why are metal 3D printers so expensive?
Metal 3D printing technology is still new, and therefore, the prices for these machines are high. However, we believe that the price will drop significantly once the market matures.
Is 3D printing metal expensive
Yes. Metal 3d printing can be costly because it requires specialized equipment and materials. However, the price has dropped significantly since 2012. The technology is still in its infancy, but it could be used for manufacturing parts for cars, airplanes, and other vehicles.
How much does a 3D-printed metal part cost?
A 3D-printed metal part costs around $100-$200 per piece. The price depends on the complexity of the design and the quality of the printer used. The metal filament is expensive – depending on what materials you use. However, the final product is still costly compared to injection molding – but way aster to produce.
What metal do metal 3D printers use?
Powdered metals. The mechanical properties of steel are strong, and the surface finish is good. This makes it a popular metal for 3D printing. There are also metals such as gallium, cobalt-chrome, and titanium for medical applications due to their corrosion resistance and biocompatibility.
Metals used to do 3D printing
- Stainless steels
- Tool steels
- Titanium alloys
- Aluminum alloys
- Nickel-based superalloys
- Cobalt-chrome alloys
- Copper-based alloys
- Precious metals (gold, silver, platinum)
- Exotic metals (palladium, tantalum)
Is aluminum 3D printing expensive?
Aluminum 3D printing is relatively inexpensive compared to other materials used for 3D printing. The price of aluminum varies depending on the quality of the metal. However, the cost of aluminum 3D printing has been dropping dramatically since 2014.
How expensive is titanium 3D printing?
Titanium powder optimized for 3D printing costs between $300 and $600 per kilogram. Some titanium powder producers have developed alternative powder production methods to reduce the material cost per kilogram. The cost of titanium varies based on the metal quality, the size, and the complexity of the part.
Is 3D printing metal cost-effective?
Most other manufacturing processes are significantly more affordable than metal 3D printing at high volumes. However, for a significant share of low to medium volume production, metal 3D printing can prove the most cost-effective solution. Also, the speed at which metal 3D printing can create complex shapes is unmatched by any other process.
How Much Does a Metal 3D Printer Cost?
Metal X
The Metal X is a metal 3D printer, which is priced at $99,500 and has a build volume of 300 x 220 x 180 mm.
Markforged’s Metal X uses an additive manufacturing technique, atomic diffusion additive manufacturing, to produce metal parts by extruding metal powder in a plastic matrix.
Spectra H
The Spectra H is an industrial 3D printer that uses electron beam melting (EBM) technology to make highly accurate, lightweight metal parts. The printer’s build chamber is one of the largest, measuring 250 x 430 mm.
3D Metal Printer Studio System 2
Studio System 2 uses Bound Metal Deposition (BMD) technology and a heated build chamber to deliver even more precisely made parts. It costs $110,000.
The Desktop Metal Shop System is a binder-jetting metal 3D printer explicitly tailored for machine shops that need to print batches of parts daily. It is priced at $150,000 for the 4-L configuration and peaks at $225,000 for the 16-L version.
Trumpf TruPrint 1000 LMF
The Trumpf TruPrint 1000 LMF is a metal 3D printer that uses laser metal fusion technology. It costs $170,000 and requires post-processing methods like sanding and polishing.
EOS M 100
The EOS M 100 3D printer uses Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) and can be used to print small batches of medical implants.
HP’s Metal Jet 3D
This printer uses binder jetting technology to fuse metal particles to make a high-volume product. The printer is priced just under $400,000 and comes with a 430 x 320 x 200 mm build volume.
3D Metal Printer SLM 125
The SLM 125 is a compact metal 3D printer for rapid prototyping and low-volume serial batch production. It’s powered by a 400-watt fiber laser and can produce parts with 125 x 125 x 125 mm build volume.
DMP Flex 350
3D Systems announced the DMP Flex 350 at the end of 2018, improving on its DMP 320. These improvements include improved gas flow technology, improved repeatability, and improved quality.
The DMP 350 is a large-scale 3D printer that produces metal parts with 275 x 275 x 420 mm build volume. It’s designed for heavy usage on the factory floor.
Desktop Metal Manufacturers
Desktop Metal manufactures industrial metal 3D printers that use Single Pass Jetting technology, enabling high-speed production. It costs $750,000, but that price doesn’t get you the furnace needed to sinter the parts.
Desktop Metal also makes a smaller metal 3D printer called the Micro Factory. It’s priced at $300,000 and has a 150 x 150 x 120 mm build volume capacity.
Unfortunately, the printer alone isn’t enough to create a metal part. You need two post-processing units: the Wash-1 unit and the Sinter-2 unit. All three units will cost you around $165,000.
How much is the proto3000?
Wrong question. Proto3000 is the name of the company. Not necessarily the name of a 3d printer. Please take a look at their website. https://proto3000.com
Proto3000 offers different 3d printing solutions – from industrial to desktop models.
“The Stratasys Mojo 3D Printer has now been reduced in price to $5999.00. That means that individuals, designers, and engineers can now have access to professional fused deposition modeling right from their desks at an affordable price.”
Source: https://proto3000.com/
Is 3D printed metal stronger?
According to an article at nature.com (https://www.nature.com/articles/nmat5021), 3d printed materials are up to three times stronger than regular metals.
“we report that austenitic 316L stainless steels additively manufactured via a laser powder-bed-fusion technique exhibit a combination of yield strength and tensile ductility that surpasses that of conventional 316L steels.”
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/nmat5021
Conclusion
Metal 3D printers are becoming more and more popular because they offer a variety of benefits over traditional manufacturing methods. They’re faster, stronger, and more precise than other printing technologies. In addition, metal 3D printers are perfect for industrial applications. You are still talking about prices in the ballpark of $5,000 for the least expensive models. But as time goes on and technology improves, that price will continue to drop until it’s affordable for everyone.
