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Range of Plastic and 3D Printable Metals

Dwight Mitchell • 6 July 2022

3D Printing Service That Offers a Range of Plastic and 3D Printable Metals


driling machine

So you have a great 3D design for a product, but are struggling to find the right production partner. Do you go with plastic or metal? Which material will give you the best results? What kind of factory do you need to find? Well, good news: We’ve come across a company that offers all three options and it’s called Mitchell and Son Additive Manufacturing. Based in Southampton, UK and founded by Dwight Mitchell, this company has the expertise to handle any kind of challenging 3D modeling and printing job – from small batch production runs to fully automated production lines. Let’s take a closer look at what they have to offer…

 

3D Printing in Plastic

If you’ve always dreamed of having injection molds made for your product, but find their high cost and long lead times to be a challenge, then 3D printing in plastic is a great solution. Whether you want to create a design for a new product, or want to create a few sample parts for your existing product line, you can get high-quality results from a 3D printer in plastic. There are many types of plastic and each has a different strength and flexibility. You have to choose the right one based on what the 3D printer can handle and the design of your product. The main advantage of plastic is that it is cheap and relatively fast to produce. Most plastics can be soluble in water and are easy to recycle. There are some disadvantages too, though: It is difficult to create a design that is strong, is heat-resistant and can be produced in large quantities by a 3D printer. These are the challenges that make it difficult to use plastic as the primary material for a product. It is possible, though, to combine different types of plastic to get a material with a higher mechanical strength and resistance to heat.

The List of Composite materials used in 3D Printing is large and seems to be developing very quickly as more is understood of the technology and the demand is growing. Some composite materials that are frequently used in 3D printing are metal, plastic, resin, and PETG filament.  Each composite has its own benefits and drawbacks that make it more or less ideal for certain applications. For example, metal 3D printing is often used for creating prototypes or small batches of parts due to its high accuracy and durability. However, the cost of metal 3D printers can be prohibitive for some businesses. On the other hand, plastic 3D printing is a much more affordable option but sacrifices some of the detail and accuracy of metal printing. As such, it is often used for larger-scale projects where budgetary concerns are a major factor.

Ultimately, the type of composite material used in 3D printing will depend on the specific needs of the project at hand.

 

3D Printed Lego blocks

3D Printing in Metal

If you have a product that needs to be extremely durable and are looking for a material that can withstand heavy loads and has excellent resistance to chemicals, heat and impact, then you may want to try metal 3D printing. This process is often used in the aerospace industry to make aircraft components and in the automobile industry to make car parts. This is a process in which metal powder is fused together using a laser to create a 3D model. It is a slow process, but the resulting product is very robust and has excellent surface finishes. It is perfect for producing small, intricate parts that are difficult to make with standard manufacturing methods. Many industries use metal 3D printing to create custom parts that are difficult to produce with other methods because they can be made quickly and they don’t require tooling. If you are designing a product that needs to be extremely strong and lightweight and is made from a metal alloy, you can try using selective laser melting (SLM). This process is an excellent combination of 3D printing and traditional manufacturing methods. In this process, a 3D model is created using 3D design software. The design is then broken down into layers, just like in 3D printing. The difference is that in this process, the layers are created using a laser that fuses metal powder. As the demand for larger metal parts grows, the technology has evolved to enable the production of larger components. Technology adopters have already proved that the quality of metal 3D-printed parts equals, or even exceeds that of conventionally manufactured alternatives. That’s why we increasingly see metal AM parts being used in critical systems like rocket enginesheat exchanges and various turbine parts.

The List of Composite materials used in 3D Printing is large and seems to be developing very quickly as more is understood of the technology and the demand is growing. One of the most popular methods for metal 3D printing is known as selective laser melting (SLM) or direct metal laser sintering (DMLS). In SLM/DMLS, a high-powered laser is used to fuse together small metal powder particles. The metal powder is melted and then deposited in layers according to the desired 3D geometry. This process can be used to create very complex shapes that would be difficult or impossible to fabricate using traditional machining methods. In addition, SLM/DMLS metal 3D printing offers a high degree of design freedom, as it is not limited by the need to create molds or dies.



 As a result, this technology is well-suited for prototyping and low-volume production runs. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in using metal 3D printing for large-scale structures such as bridges and buildings. This is possible due to the availability of large-format metal 3D printers that are capable of printing metal components with dimensions measuring up to 6 meters in length


3D Printed Automotive Spares

What is  Additive Manufacturing?


This is a type of 3D printing that uses a combination of metals to create a finished product. This process is used to create parts made from stainless steel and aluminium alloys that are difficult to create with other methods. These parts are often used in equipment and machines in which the weight of a part is critical. This process is challenging because you need very high-quality parts and they cannot be made with just one type of metal. It is best to use different alloys that are carefully blended together to create the right strength and properties in a part. To get the best results from this process, it is important to work with a company that has experience in this process. The company must be able to help you design a part that is strong and lightweight and uses the best combination of materials for your design.

 

Why You Should Use This Company for Your 3D Modeling and Printing Needs

As we’ve seen, there are many types of 3D printing and different materials used for each one. You can find plenty of companies that do plastic 3D printing, but the question is: What about those that offer more? What about those that offer plastic and metal 3D printing and can do both? What about those that can also do Mitchell and Son Additive Manufacturing?

What about those that can produce parts from a 3D design in a combination of plastic and metal? Well, the good news is: You have found the right company! This company has the expertise and the right equipment to handle all types of jobs, no matter how challenging they are. This company can take your 3D design and turn it into a finished product, whether it is in plastic or metal.

So, if you’re looking for a company that can provide a range of 3D printing services, then you should definitely use Mitchell and Son Additive Manufacturing Ltd

 

Conclusion

We have seen that 3D printing has become a very popular way to produce customized parts. There are many types of 3D printing and each one uses a different material. When you are thinking about using a 3D printing service, it is important to find one that can offer a range of materials. At Mitchell and Son Additive Manufacturing , you can get 3D printing in plastic, metal . What’s more, you can also use Mitchell and Son Additive Manufacturing for more complex parts. Other Services that they offer are

•            Injection Molding

•            CNC Machining

•            Vacuum Casting

•            Sheet Metal Service

•            Machine Tooling Service

•            Urethane Casting Services

 

•            CAD DESIGN / REVERSE ENGINEERING

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