3D Printing Pure Metal with Filamet™
Working with Filamet™
Bronze is the best material to start with since it is easy to print and sinter. The Getting Started Bundle comes with everything you need to print, debind, and sinter Bronze Filamet™, minus the printer and kiln.
Spool Placement
Place the spool so that friction is reduced as much as possible. The filament should come off the spool straight into the feeder. For Direct Drive, this means you simply hang the spool 12-18 inches* above the printer. For Bowden fed printers, this means placing the spool next to or under the feeder.
Use to ease the path from spool to printer.
- The metal particles in Filamet™ are surrounded by plastic. This plastic keeps the memory of its shape on the spool. As Filamet™ passes through the warmer, the memory of the Filamet™ is reset and prints with ease. This effect lasts for about a day.
- Caution! Heating the entire spool at once will cause the filament to become extremely brittle. It’s important to heat only the single strand as it goes into the printer.
To report any issues with Filamet™ after trying a Filawarmer, please contact [email protected].
Filawarmer Setup
The Filawarmer warms, strengthens, relaxes, and anneals the filament as it comes off the spool. It comes pre-programmed to the perfect temperature.
Direct Drive Extruders: Hang the Filawarmer so that the top of the warming tube is at the same level as the spool center hole. The bottom of the Filawarmer should be about 400mm from the top of the extruder.
Bowden Extruders: Hang the Filawarmer so that the bottom of the warming tube is at the same level as the spool center hole. The top of the Filawarmer should be against the bottom of the extruder feeder.
(Purchase a Filawarmer in our Online Store)
Nozzle Size and Material
- Aluminum 6061 Filamet™
- Bronze Filamet™
- Copper Filamet™
- H13 Tool Steel Filamet™ (discontinued)
- Inconel® 718 Filamet™
- Pure Iron Filamet™ (discontinued)
- M300 Tool Steel Filamet™
- Rapid 3DShield Tungsten Filament
- Stainless Steel 17-4 Filamet™
- Stainless Steel 316L Filamet™
- Titanium 64-5 Filamet™
- Amaco 46-D Clay Filamet™ (discontinued)
- Basalt Moon Dust Filamet™
- Porcelain Filamet™
- Rapid 3DShield Boron Carbide Filament
- Silicon Carbide Filamet™
- Zirconium Silicate Filamet™
Settings, Supports, and Build Plate Preparation
Slicer Settings
Resolution (Layer Height): 0.12–0.2mm is recommended for best results.
Wall Thickness: The minimum recommended wall thickness for parts that will be sintered is 1.8mm.
Top/Bottom Thickness: The minimum top/bottom thickness for parts that will be sintered is 1.8mm.
Infill Density: The minimum recommended infill density for parts that will be sintered is 50%. For best results, it is recommended to have 70–100% infill density for parts that will be sintered. Less than 100% helps to allow space for gases to escape.
Infill Pattern: Lines/Rectilinear.
Hotend Temperature: Start at 220°C (428°F) and tune in the range of 200–230°C (392–446°F).
On high-speed printers, a hotend temperature of 240°C is recommended due to the speed.
Build Plate Temperature: Optionally, set the print bed to 40–65°C (104–149°F).
65°C (149°F) is recommended for glass/G10 build plates.
Printing Speed: Recommended 60–80mm/sec.
On high-speed printers, 120–150mm/sec is recommended.
Flow Rate: Set the flow rate to 110–125% to start and adjust it as you go. The Universal Calibration Rings model can be used to tune your flow rate.
Support Recommendations
Settings:
Structure: Tree
Branch Angle: 40° or less
Branch Diameter: 2mm+
Branch Diameter Angle: 5°
Placement: Touching Build Plate
Overhang Angle: 50°
Materials: Filamet™, PLA, PVA, Breakaway
The settings outlined above are what has been tested to work best with Filamet™. Other settings may be used, results may vary.
Build Plate Preparation
Powder Coated Spring Steel PEI: Ensure surface is free of debris. Do not print the first layer too low as Filamet™ will embed itself in the texture, becoming difficult to remove.
Glass/G10: Clean the build plate with soap and water or isopropyl alcohol and dry. Heat build plate to 65°C (149°F) for the print. Remove the build plate while hot and place on a cool surface to remove. Do not freeze.
Smooth PEI/PP/PC/PE/PEO/PET/PEZ/Carbon Fiber/Aluminum: Place blue painter’s tape on the build plate to print on. Prints will weld to the build plate.