Titanium uses 3D printing technology

To use titanium in 3D printing, processes that can be used include laser powder bed melting (L-PBF), DED, and binder spray (BJ). For processes related to aluminum, in addition to those already mentioned, there is also cold spraying.

In L-PBF, a laser beam is used to heat the powder metal layer by layer to its melting point and build the object. Titanium melts at very high temperatures (1600°C), so the thermal and mechanical effects of the material need to be analyzed before 3D printing. Aluminum has a much lower melting temperature (about 630°C), but aluminum has high reflectivity and thermal conductivity. Another interesting aspect of aluminum additive manufacturing is that it forms a natural oxide layer.

About DED, it is very similar to the previous process, but here the material melts when deposited by the nozzle and can be used for manufacturing in powder or wire form. In general, this technology leads to higher production speeds and lower cost per unit volume.

Under BJ's process, the material is in the form of an unmelted powder, but in order to make the particles adhere to each other, the adhesive is sprayed on top of the layer at a specific location using multi-nozzle printing. After printing, a sintering step or other post-curing treatment is also required. When they leave the 3D printer, these parts are very fragile and porous, requiring heat treatment to reach their final mechanical properties.

In the cold spray process, the metal material is also present in powder form, but since it does not have to melt or fuse in this case, the cold spray avoids thermal deformation and does not need to protect the atmosphere.