I have created a Japanese explanation for the Digital Metal binder jetting method virtual tour (360° video).
ヘガネスジャパン
Introducing a virtual tour where you can visit Digital Metal. Please click the link in "Related Information." Welcome! We manufacture small, high-precision metal parts. We have produced 100,000 parts over about four years (as of 2017). Let's start from the printing preparation. This time, we are manufacturing a whistle. The whistle is formed with the ball inside as a single piece, requiring no assembly. We confirm that there are no defects in the CAD data, correct for sintering shrinkage, and place it in the print box to slice at 42μm. The printer builds layer by layer. Metal powder is solidified with a binder, and the process of lowering by 42μm is repeated for each layer. It can be formed in the atmosphere without a protective environment, and no support is needed. Next is powder removal. The removed powder is recycled and reused. At this stage, the part takes shape. Next is sintering. Up to this point, the powder is solidified with a binder. The binder is removed, and the metal powder is heated to about 1400°C to sinter the metal particles together. The surface roughness after sintering is 6μm. It can be finished to 3μm with blasting treatment and to 1μm with super finishing. During inspection, dimensions and density are measured. That's the process. Finally, a functional test remains. Now it's your turn!
