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
- 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.
Nozzle Sizeand Material
- Aluminum 6061 Filamet™
- Bronze Filamet™
- Copper Filamet™
- H13 Tool Steel Filamet™ (discontinued)
- Inconel® 718 Filamet™
- Pure Iron Filamet™ (discontinued)
- Rapid 3DShield Boron Carbide Filament
- Rapid 3DShield Tungsten Filament
- Stainless Steel 17-4 Filamet™
- Stainless Steel 316L Filamet™
- Titanium 64-5 Filamet™
- Amaco 46-D Ceramic Clay Filamet™ (discontinued)
- Basalt Moon Dust Filamet™
- Porcelain Filamet™
- Silicon Carbide Filamet™
- Zirconium Silicate Ceramic Filamet™
Settings, Supports, and Build Plate Preparation
Resolution: 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: The minimum recommended infill density for parts that will be sintered is 30%. 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. The recommended pattern is Lines/Rectilinear.
Hotend Temperature: Start at 210°C (410°F) and tune in the range of 190-230°C (374 – 446°F). Going under 190°C (374°F) can cause jamming. Going over 230°C (446°F) can cause debinding in the nozzle, resulting in a jam.
On Bambu Lab X1 Carbon, 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. This setting is optional for other build plate materials.
Printing Speed: Recommended 60 – 80mm/sec.
On Bambu Lab X1 Carbon, default printing speed of 120 – 150mm/sec tested and recommended.
Flow Rate: Set the flow rate to 120 – 135% to start and adjust it as you go. The Universal Calibration Rings model can be used to tune your flow rate.
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
With a glass build plate, clean the build plate with isopropyl alcohol and print directly on the clean glass. To remove the print, remove the hot build plate from the printer and rest it on a cool/cold surface. Do not freeze the entire print. A razor blade can be helpful in removing stubborn prints.
With a powder coated spring steel build plate, no preparation is required.
With a PEI, aluminum, or other build plate type not mentioned, apply a layer of blue painters tape. For easier removal of prints, heat the build plate before removing the print.
Note: Do not print Filamet™ directly onto smooth PEI/PC. Prints will weld to the build plate.