Sure you’re not going to make a Hatori Hanzo sword – yet – but Shapeways, a 3D fabrication service, has just announced stainless steel printing, allowing you to make steel objects as easily as you would made resin or plastic prototypes. That’s right: something that took our ancient ancestors generations to perfect is now available to anyone with a CAD/CAM program and some Red Bull.
First, the press info:
Innovation Takes the Stage with Metal 3D printing for modelers and creatives
Shapeways offers 3D Printing in Stainless SteelSIGGRAPH (August 4, 2009) — Many 3D modelers have found their way to Shapeways to bring their personal designs to life by using 3D printing. Until now the materials were limited to different kind of polymers. Today Shapeways becomes the world’s first company offering 3D printing in stainless steel for everyone.
Technique
This is a completely new technique which deposits stainless steel powder in a very thin layer, combining it with a binding material. Printed objects are built up like this, layer by layer, gradually creating the form just as you designed it on the computer screen. When complete, they are infused with bronze and cured in an oven. After cooling, the models can be left in the original steel finish or tumbled to get a great polished look.
So, as you see, the objects aren’t carved in steel like Terminator parts. Instead they are made of layered steel powder. This would allow you to build heavy-duty items including jewelery and, dare I say it, car parts. The possibilities, in a sense, are endless.
That said we’re proud to announce that one lucky commenter will receive a stainless steel item of their choice. This could include items from the website or a small object you design yourself. Leave your email in comments below and we’ll pick one winner at random on Friday at noon Eastern.
First.. no second, but first one doesn’t really count!
I win ?
This is a cool device…handy and is gonna be available for lay folks as simple as it did with the technology of CDs and DVDs.
Wow, now everyone called “Smith” can justify their name
Wow, now that’s impressive!
Still waiting for when we start using stem cells and 3d printing to build implants for patients.
That will revolutionize the way we think about physics chemistry and body!
They’d need a platinum or titanium powder for that… Something that won’t react with the body.
Maybe there are some more immediate external applications, like custom knee braces, etc.
2020s baby, it’s coming.
Woah! I saw the older polymer printing years ago and that just totally blew my mind. In 2004 I bought a mini printed sculpture from this website, http://www.bathsheba.com/ . It’s an amazing little item. All my brain can think of is printing minis for table top gaming, that’s the nerd in me though!
I am impressed. I have seen the plastic 3D printers and they are the kind of technology you just marvel at, and steel is one step better. Though whether they are strong enough to use in machinery, you mention car parts, I would question – if they are then that is even more impressive. Jules
‘Steel is BACK!’
i@hack.mp
I can haz steel figa? plz…
I am a very Random dude…
This is VERY interesting stuff.
Amazing stuff. I could see this being a huge drain on the wallets of people who love to buy and paint miniatures.
I’d have the entire Simpsons collection made of steel =)
How about a chess set?
I think, it will change the we think about making things in the future. In Science laboratory many custom designed steel products might never be shipped from across the globe. It will save sh!t load of money.
Pretty cool; the article would be more complete if it described the resistance of these steel parts though; is this first-gen device only able to make ornamental pieces and miniatures at the moment, or can it currently handle high-load functional components as well ? E.g., what is the tensile strength of the steel used, and is it weakened by the delivery process ?
The tensile strength is 60 KSI or 400 MPa.
It depends on your application if that is good enough. Though it is quite strong but it tends to be brittle.
This is very cool, and the prices seem reasonable. And they are trying hard to manage expectations by being clear about the current limitations of the technology.
This sounds impressive at first, but I don’t think this process could ever be used to replace steel parts, since the 3D part would only be as strong as the resin used to produce it. Steel is inherently stronger than resin, and can be heat treated to increase its strength even more.
What about powdered metal parts? Doesn’t seem much different, just quicker and no post finishing. I like it!
I am a sailing nerd. I want a model iceboat.
for my men, give them horses, as for me I want steel
My 16 year old is learning CAD. This would be a great way for him to see broader implications for what he is interested in; design, engineering, architecture. Thanks for the opportunity.
WHOA! It’s a steel!!
@Brian – um you have not seen some of the people i play with we did a Big D day games and we reckoned there was $7000 worth of flames on the table (and tahts teh unpainted cost)
This is seriously a game changer. Making functional metal parts using a printer can open up all new forms and even functions.
Very exciting.
This one is nice:
http://www.shapeways.com/model/12767/hypercube_b___26_.html
Could be used as a nice card holder.
$140 for that puppy in steel! Definitely would be cool though.
hmm, an ala rapper necklace with our logo ;-)
Cool stuff
It’s simply mind boggling what the human mind, with a fussion of abstract maths, of course, can accomplish. Take this ability to mould 3D Steel figures out of ether, as it were! Isn’t it really just anybodys guess when exactly we shall have an ‘as good-as-life-hologram’ delivering morning papers to our doorsteps!
This is obviously not the final goal for this process/idea, but it is an amazing step in the technology.
This is the best thing since hoverboards.
Very exciting technology for industrial design. This seems to obviate the need for hand sculpture and place everything now in the computer.
Wow that’s cool!
Using stainless steel as the material is much more expensive than using the “old” materials, but that’s kind of expected.
Nice – I want a scale replica of the Star Trek Enterprise if I’m selected. Man, I hope I can find a CAD model of that…
It is possible only for decorations. Because for real parts of car need guarantee durability. So it hasn’t practical sense.
I just like the clinking sounds
Wow thats ace, the possibilities are endless!
all the steel are belong to us
I was thinking of something smart to comment… but the truth is I just want the item you are giving away
another fabricated story! does sound good though… can we fabricate the fabrication machine itself?
This is a triumph. Everyone will have their very own Weighted Companion Cubes.
Now this is a cool giveaway.
I can’t wait to see where this leads in the next 10 years.
That sounds all fine and dandy for a novelty, but how do these parts stand up to stress tests? Can they withstand the same forces as a forged steel piece? Does anyone see the production of these good brought up to the level of full manufacturing — as in mass production of … watches? Or will this always be used for rapid prototyping?
This depends on your expectations for strength. It is obviously less strong than forged steel. But it is strong enough to make real functional parts.
We will make some data available on the Shapeways material page with regard to the strength and durabiity of the metal printed parts.
Some neat technology for sure. I’m especially a fan of http://www.shapeways.com/blog/archives/269-Stainless-Steel-3D-printed-Klein-Bottle.html
The dawn of self replicating machines is upon us, scream in terror.
This is fantastic. It makes me want to create my own board game prototypes! The physical gaming revolution has begun! ;)
I’d make steel Basestars for our BSG board game nights. And maybe replace the smaller ships as well, if there’s some kind of way to make a large number of very small items for relatively cheap.
I say where’s my Megatron?
I think that’s really neat.
Direct metal laser metal sintering has been around, and it can be used for structural and mechanical applications. I guess they’re claiming to be the first *consumer-facing* product for stainless additive manufacturing?
Sorry… direct metal laser sintering
It is actually not direct metal laser sintering. It is a different type of process.
Oh my, what goodies are possible now!! Goin to my drawing pad right now!
I gotta think the education applications for this are huge.
Thinking back to engineering undergrad, tons of people would have used this service. They should totally set up contracts with universities for student pricing–they’d get a lot of consistent business from just a few big engineering schools.
@shapeway Shoot me a message if you want help with U-Mich engineering.
This rocks! SteelSmackkk!
amazing technology!
Great, i’ve always wanted a steel copy of my CV.
LOL that’s a winner…
jah!