Upgrade compatible UltiMaker S-Line 3D printers for metal 3D printing with the Metal Expansion Kit. Print Ultrafuse 17-4 PH stainless steel components using FFF technology, with dedicated Cura profiles and access to professional debinding and sintering services.
Product Overview
The UltiMaker Metal Expansion Kit enables compatible UltiMaker S-Line 3D printers to produce stainless steel components using Ultrafuse 17-4 PH metal-polymer composite filament. It provides the hardware, software functionality, and post-processing support needed to introduce metal 3D printing into an existing FFF workflow.
Each Ultimaker Metal Expansion Kit includes a voucher toward post-processing your 3D print into a full metal part within 10 business days. This is possible via BASF’s network of certified debinding and sintering services. Via an online portal, you can book your part’s post-processing on the calendar and check in on your part’s progress at any time.
The Ultimaker Metal Expansion Kit unlocks extra features inside the Ultimaker Cura 5 engine. These make metal print preparation simpler – automatically and accurately compensating for shrinkage that happens during sintering across all axes. You gain better control over your part and increased metal print success.
3D PRINT METAL WITH FFF:
Ultrafuse® 17-4 PH from BASF is a metal-polymer filament that offers an easy and low-investment entry into metal 3D printing. Compatible with 3D printers with an open material system, this composite filament contains austenitic stainless-steel type 17-4 PH powder. Tailored to existing MIM industry standard catalytic debinding and sintering, it produces high-quality final metal parts.
17-4 PH stainless steel plus a metal-optimized support material² offers the freedom to create strong parts with complex geometries. Plus, Ultimaker Cura 5 includes metal FFF features to give you full control and ensure a high-quality metal part.
The compact and cost-effective designs of the UltiMaker S Series 3D printers facilitates seamless integration and scalability for a budget-friendly metal 3D printing solution. With a remarkably low total cost of ownership, the Fuse 1 offers an efficient alternative to traditional manufacturing methods like CNC and other additive processes. Users can achieve substantial savings, up to 90%, in the production of essential metal tools and components.
Being able to 3D print either plastic or metal on the Ultimaker S series opens up a wider range of potential applications. And because you can quickly and easily switch between materials by changing out the print cores, your printer becomes even more versatile.
APPLICATIONS:
Application sweet spots for this material include:
- Non-critical parts used in final products
- Functional prototypes for testing concepts or processes
- Custom metal devices created for a specific tooling function
BENEFITS OF PRINTING WITH MFFF (Metal Fused Filament Fabrication):
Compared to other metal 3D printing options, MFFF has a very low cost of entry. Plus, it comes with no significant health and safety considerations, while providing a high-value return. This is possible by creating low-volume parts at a 90% lower cost than CNC machining with similar or shorter lead times.
Users successfully adopting MFFF have found it to be a complementary, additional technology to the existing range of metal fabrication options. In particular, MFFF allows users to produce small volumes of custom parts where design complexity carries no additional cost. And it’s when comparing feature complexity and preparation efforts vs. volumes and material waste that MFFF really begins to shine.
Plot it Opinion
The UltiMaker Metal Expansion Kit provides a practical route for businesses already using compatible UltiMaker printers to explore metal additive manufacturing. Rather than requiring an immediate investment in a dedicated metal printing system and industrial post-processing equipment, it combines familiar FFF technology with a specialist metal filament workflow.
For businesses considering metal 3D printing, the main advantage is the ability to manufacture complex stainless steel components while outsourcing the specialist finishing stages. Successful results still depend on suitable part design, the correct printing profile, and controlled debinding and sintering.
In addition to our Ultimaker Solution, we also offer Metal Printing with the “one click metal” 3D printer series
