Cold Metal Fusion – High-Volume Metal 3D Printing

Transforming Metal 3D Printing

Discover Cold Metal Fusion technology, where polymer and metal 3D printing merge to create robust, detailed metal parts with high production efficiency.

How Cold Metal Fusion works

Cold Metal Fusion (CMF) is an innovative 3D printing technology that combines the benefits of polymer and metal printing. This process allows for the creation of strong, intricate metal parts suitable for a wide range of applications, from prototyping to high-volume production.

Cold Metal Fusion involves a unique process where metal powder is encapsulated with a polymer binder to form a feedstock. This feedstock is then built layer by layer on an LSS machine to build the part. Once the part is printed, it undergoes a debinding process to remove the polymer binder, followed by sintering, where the metal particles are fused together to create a solid, dense metal part.

technology

Benefits of Cold Metal Fusion

Robust Metal Parts: Create strong, detailed metal components with high structural integrity.
Short Leadtimes and flexibility in production
Efficient Production: Suitable for both small series and mass production with cost-effective processes.
High Precision out of the machine: Achieve intricate details and fine features with exceptional accuracy.
Reduced Waste: Optimized material use, lightweight your metal parts, minimizes waste and reduces costs.

Engineer using CAD software to optimize 3D design for printing, showing detailed product visualization and technical specifications

Design Guidelines for Cold Metal Fusion

Maximum Dimensions: 170x170x100mm
Minimum Dimensions: 2 dimensions > 15 mm
Tolerances after sintering: ±0,3 mm can be improved with post CNC-milling
Minimum Wall Thickness: Ensure minimum wall thickness of 1.5mm for structural stability. Long and unsupported walls are increasingly fragile.
Maximum Wall Thickness: Preferably below 15 mm thick with a max of 25 mm Walls above 15 mm need additional processing +24 hours
Threads: At least a diameter of 2 mm, The longer and narrower the holes the more problems with de-powdering
Holes and channels: M4 and upwards can be directly printed and used after sintering. Recutting the thread with a tool is nonetheless advisable.
Support Structures: Parts need a flat and stable base, If this is not possible support must be used. Overhangs of <10mm are possible. Otherwise support is needed. Contact us for more information.

Materials

High-end materials and properties

The foundation of quality 3D printing starts with the use of high-quality materials. Thanks to our range of printing materials, each with unique properties and applications, you’re sure to find the right material for your project. From durable thermoplastics for industrial parts to super strong metals, our materials are carefully selected to ensure optimal performance and functionality in every print.

Metal 17-4PH
Why choose 17-4PH stainless steel for 3D printing? This high-strength, corrosion-resistant metal is ideal for medical, and industrial applications.

Part Selection for Cold Metal Fusion (CMF)

Selecting the right parts for Cold Metal Fusion (CMF) is crucial for maximizing efficiency and achieving the best results. At Ziggzagg, we guide you through a comprehensive methodology to identify the ideal components for CMF, ensuring your success story.

Our structured approach helps you find the perfect parts for CMF

Size (mm)
Parts per Year
Cost
Complexity
Sinterability and Feature Size

Size (mm)

Ideal CMF parts typically range from 15 to 170mm. For optimal results, focus on parts with a size of 40 to 150mm.

Parts per Year

CMF excels with part numbers between 100 and 5000 per annum, benefiting from significant economies of scale.

Cost

CMF is best suited for mid- to high-value components. Filter parts by manufacturing cost per volume

Complexity

Assess the part volume to bounding box volume ratio to gauge suitability. Visual screening can also help when data is incomplete. A good ratio is between 0.2 and 0.5 volume/boundingbox.

Sinterability and Feature Size

Ensure thin walls are ≥1.5mm, thick walls are ≤25mm, and smallest holes are ≥2mm.

Good to know

How to order Cold Metal Fusion?

If you are confident that your part is suitable for Cold Metal Fusion (CMF), you can order it directly through our online order tool.

If you are unsure, we start by assessing your business case to determine the feasibility and benefits of adopting CMF for your projects. Our experts conduct an analysis of your parts, focusing on key criteria such as size, material, complexity, and cost. Once suitable parts are identified, we move to the file selection phase, where we choose the optimal designs for CMF.

Next, we optimize your files to ensure they meet the specific requirements of the CMF process, enhancing features like wall thickness, support structures, and sintering suitability. Our team employs advanced software and expertise to refine each design, ensuring maximum efficiency and quality.

Get inspired!

Cases

We use CMF machines to cater to the specific needs of our clients and their sectors. Our fully equipped industrial hall and an up-to-date material portfolio allow for an impressive production output within the shortest lead-times.

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Are my files secure when sent to Ziggzagg?
Your online uploaded files are safely guarded in a secured cloud environment. Your files remain your property. Files received via email are kept on a secure server. In case of specific projects, mutual NDA’s can be signed.
To what countries do you ship?
We ship orders worldwide. (Delivery times depend on the distance)
How soon can my parts be delivered?
We offer two delivery times: Next Day delivery and 5-workday delivery. (Next day delivery: for customer within 300km of Ziggzagg Belgium)

Do you have doubts?
See the quality for yourself!