3 ms·

Those are solved issues. > oxidation at high temperatures SLM machines typically use an Argon gas chamber. DED machines use an Argon gas shield. > It’s more

Those are solved issues. > oxidation at high temperatures SLM machines typically use an Argon gas chamber. DED machines use an Argon gas shield. > It’s more typical to print copper alloys than pure copper. In the context of modern SLM, it depends on your definition of "pure" and "alloy". During the process, a bit of resin to is mixed into the powder and heat treated in a final step to get to 99.9% pure copper. edit: Just fixed up my knowledge. Indeed alloys are typically used (99% copper with things like Chrome added on depending on use-case), tough the pure copper can be used with higher laser power.

ju-st 2y ago
Printing pure copper (99.9%) is possible since years with SLM process using lasers with an appropriate wavelength
- tbenst 2y ago
  Any references for 99.9% density with SLM copper? My understanding is that pure copper SLM printing is less frequently done as doesn’t work well with the infrared lasers on most machines, requires high heat & speed, and has more porosity than other alloys. It’s also hard to print so that it’s strong, conductive and heat stable. I think there’s still quite active research in the area, though, and no doubt there’s a lot going on that I don’t know! https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127523004380 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026412752... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10861549/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10861549/
  - ju-st 2y ago
    Sorry I wasn't talking about density but the copper content of a powder which is printable. Googling a bit I found this presentation from 2022 showing that a density of 99.5% for pure copper is possible although at half the productivity of a copper alloy https://www.coppercouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/TS22-Thielmann.pdf https://www.coppercouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/TS2...
  - FrostKiwi 2y ago
    > doesn’t work well with the infrared lasers The copper use-case is what kick-ed off an industry-wide race towards offering blue laser as an option. There is more than just wavelength that goes into printing good copper results, but that is a major factor.

ju-st 2y ago

Printing pure copper (99.9%) is possible since years with SLM process using lasers with an appropriate wavelength

tbenst 2y ago
Any references for 99.9% density with SLM copper? My understanding is that pure copper SLM printing is less frequently done as doesn’t work well with the infrared lasers on most machines, requires high heat & speed, and has more porosity than other alloys. It’s also hard to print so that it’s strong, conductive and heat stable. I think there’s still quite active research in the area, though, and no doubt there’s a lot going on that I don’t know! https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127523004380 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026412752... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10861549/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10861549/
- ju-st 2y ago
  Sorry I wasn't talking about density but the copper content of a powder which is printable. Googling a bit I found this presentation from 2022 showing that a density of 99.5% for pure copper is possible although at half the productivity of a copper alloy https://www.coppercouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/TS22-Thielmann.pdf https://www.coppercouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/TS2...
- FrostKiwi 2y ago
  > doesn’t work well with the infrared lasers The copper use-case is what kick-ed off an industry-wide race towards offering blue laser as an option. There is more than just wavelength that goes into printing good copper results, but that is a major factor.