Video: Binder Jetting Production Workflow at Freeform Technologies
Additive manufacturing via binder jetting includes a sequence of downstream steps. During a visit to the Pennsylvania metal 3D printing part producer, I had the chance to walk through this process.
Freeform Technologies of St. Mary’s, Pennsylvania, is a contract manufacturer relying on various processes employing powder metal and sintering — most notably binder jetting. While the company’s range of capabilities has expanded, it was founded to provide additive manufacturing via binder jetting, and (thanks in part to a recent acquisition that significantly expanded capacity) it now runs 22 binder jetting machines. In a recent article, I reported on Freeform Technologies and its approach to binder jetting for metal part production.
As much as with any other AM process, binder jetting involves more than just the 3D printing. After the form of the part is made in the binder jetting operation, the part still needs a sequence of downstream steps to complete it. My visit to Freeform gave me a chance to walk through this sequence, and I describe each step in the binder jetting process in this video. Those steps include curing, depowdering, sintering and inspection. To this list, Freeform routinely adds tumbling — I discuss why in the video. If you are new to binder jetting, be sure to also check out our binder jetting 101.
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