MIM, or Metal Injection Molding[1] uses a plastic or wax binder with metal powders to create an injected molded part, and then the binder is burned out to create an almost dense metal part. Anyone using castable (with requisite equipment) who could test that idea out? I’m assuming that the metal powder (say, aluminum[2]) would need to be at the nano partical scale to stay in solution correctly. Any thoughts on if this idea could work?
Not sure if that is possible with a resin based printer because the particles would probably settle too fast no matter how fine and to get any reasonable density to the final object (minimize shrinkage) the resin may be too opaque for the laser to be able to cure the carrier.
exactly. all good points, (and hence my challenge to test it), but right now we just don’t know. Your intuition could very well be true, and I must admit I lean toward it as well, but what if it can work, even if partially? it could open up an avenue for further research. nothing ventured…
I don’t claim any knowledge of this subject, but I would think that lasers and particles wouldn’t play well together, with the metal bits throwing reflected laser light all over the place? Maybe at a fine enough mesh this would be a non-issue?
Along similar lines, what about some finely chopped fiber fill (glass or carbon or kevlar)? Should provide a great deal of strength to structural parts if a part becoming ‘fuzzy’ from little strands of glass wasn’t a problem.