Відео

All in, from safety glasses to the gas bottle, maybe $1000?

Pretty good. Benchy is done. Video in the works. Couple of weeks?

@@metalmatters Heck yeah!

Just using the FPGA as a differential line buffer. I have a video coming out within the next few weeks that will cover the laser.

Steve, would you happen to be building one of these? Yes, you are right about that; it's one of the factors that contributes to overall part density. No, I'm using a simple blade at the moment.

@@metalmatters Not yet. For now, I'm just an annoying guy on the internet who is fascinated by the tech. I fully intend to build one if you end up releasing plans.

Apt timing; I happen to be dealing with this exact issue at the moment.

I think your link was automatically removed. Are you referring to SLS4All? It's a nice build, but the price tag is a little discouraging.

What materials are you aiming to print with?

As per the second to last comment, yeah. I assume that is what you're referencing.

I'm using a side pumped YAG laser. Chuck me an email if you'd like to chat.

Shooting for a benchy, may settle for less. Really depends on how in depth things become.

There are a few systems in the commercial space which preheat their chambers, sometimes to over 500C. I think keeping the build chamber at 1300C+ might pose a few too many problems to be worthwhile, though. It's necessary for nylon etc to prevent curling, but obviously the melting point is much lower.

Appreciate that

Yeah, no worries. You know how to get in contact with me 😉

Thanks!

Thanks!

I tried wire DED, a relative of laser based spray deposition, but gave up on it eventually. I really need to make a video on that. Spraying metal powder is probably not something an amateur should attempt 😬

@@metalmatters Ok. Thanks. I remember the wire attempts you made. I think you were pulsing it to try and get measured droplets. Have you used the oxy spray units? I found them easy to use but covered a large area. I am very impressed with your test samples in this video. The only thought (not well thought through) was to melt the powder mid air before the solid can absorb the heat) We have all used a small soldering iron on big wires and used thermal inertia to get the bond.

@@brucebaxter6923 I have seen the oxy units for rebuilding profiles, though haven't played around with them. Did you find the gas consumption reasonable? IIRC, the powder based DED machines operate at 45 - 60 psi to overcome the surface tension of the weld pool. Not all of the media is utilized either. Thanks! Although these were all failures there's is something to be learned. The print produced during this run is much stronger and tidier compared to anything shown here.

@@metalmatters This one is most definitely neater and tidier. The height you have got with keeping dimensions is impressive. The powder is very gas consumptive, the same as an oxy welding flame. My initial thoughts were that as the powder is sucked into the centre of the flame and has to pass through the flame to get out and is heated in the process, If it was a focused laser, only the powder that was on a trajectory to where the laser is focussed will absorb the heat and melt. The rest of the powder will simply fall or blow away. I was thinking to avoid the melt pool as its shape and size are difficult to control especially as you add cold filler. As for the pressures, I’m sorry I can’t remember.

@@metalmatters It’s not applicable to what you are doing, but if you thought of an old tv tube with focus and beam guidance, this is a giant version. The other version I know of is for refining uranium isotopes and might get you flagged if you researched too far into it. ua-cam.com/video/VuMdyStDmPI/v-deo.htmlsi=BIVTKPj7gGqgTOZk

Briefly. It's an interesting concept. I think it would be difficult to achieve good results without developing a high density matrix for the process. I notice that Fabric8labs mainly showcase copper parts too.

@@metalmatters I agree, a matrix like what they have seems like the key. I don't know how much effort it would take to create something like it in the open-source community but I'd love to see it.

Pretty good. I haven't been working on things for the last week or two due to life getting in the way. I did manage to get this far, however: ibb.co/XpZV6vR

@@metalmatters That looks really good. Printed metal just has the best looking surface finish.

@@steves.5868 Thanks. It's been bead blasted in that photo, just so you know. I was in the process of figuring out the correct parameters to achieve the best surface finish, but unfortunately the logic needs some reworking due problems with EMI, and it seems the laser wasn't operating at its full capacity. It'll get there..

​@@metalmattersDid you get the EMI problems worked out?

@@steves.5868 EMI problems are pretty much resolved, as much as they will be for this proof of concept. Nearly all of the logic now lives on the microcontroller. The printer has been doing everything within its capacity to stop me from working on the process itself, hence no update. I've had to rebuild a significant portion of the powder bed after it split apart late last week, amongst other things. I've been stuck in the pit lane unfortunately.

Allowing for a thicker coat to be applied? It will probably have the opposite effect. Yes, the raster pattern does affect the processed layer height. At the moment it is pretty much guaranteed to collide, but it is manageable.

Hi Farbod. Thanks for your insights. Many of the above issues have been addressed. The system is semi operational now. The website was taken down due to inactivity. Hopefully I will have together a video for you all soon.

I only work with stainless steel, which is considered one of the lesser metal powders in terms of danger ( 'non-reactive' / low bioavailability). With that said, I still wear gloves, a respirator, and try to only expose certain items of clothing to that environment. Static and metal fume are things I am working on.

Will do. Hopefully, the updates are a bit more frequent now that everything is together.

Unfortunately, no. It needs to be kept under the layer height (60um). Otherwise, it will compound until it inevitably becomes a problem.

@@metalmatters thanks. My mistake, I went off track thinking like spreading cement or gravel etc where you lay a thick layer and scrape it back off to the correct height.

Thanks!

Nd:YAG

Ok cool, I think I found the module you’re using. Does it include the right mirrors and collimating optics or is that what you have externally setup?

Aliexpress. It's just a 48MP PCB inspection camera.

Thanks for the insight. The black plastic container is sealed and purged with argon.

I agree. I'm interested to know why you think this though?

@@metalmatters I used MIG power source for 250 um wire. Even at very low voltage, the moment wire touches the substrate, it will get red hot and the integrity of the wire will be lost.

@@kk3074 Ah, I guess the circumstances are a little different then. I would expect there would be some level of threshold power required to gain enough heat to melt the parent material. 250um doesn't afford you a lot.

I used a small drill chuck as the main drive roller and a bearing as an idler. I had to use a pair of opposing syringes to guide the wire as there obviously isn't any groove for the wire to follow.

Is it just pressure that pulls the wire through the wheels?

Yep. You want a decent amount (sorry, I don't have any figures).

My other question is how do you remove the oil off the stainless steel wire?

Yes. Kaput. It improved, but there were some underlying problems I could not surpass.

@@metalmatters Unfortunate. The powder printer are much more cool anyway.

Didn't see this until now. You can contact me via the about page, my email is listed there.

Not currently. I am almost at a point where we will find out if this approach is viable. I'll re-evaluate following that. Appreciate the gesture though.

Noted. Thanks!