Additive manufacturing with metal is gaining in popularity. This is shown, among other things, by the increasing number of 3D printing companies that specialize in metal manufacturing or offer machines for metal printing.
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Aluminum, bronze, chrome, stainless steel, iron and copper are just a few examples of the most commonly used metals. Of these, some – often in the form of alloys – are already applicable in the additive manufacturing industry, with the elements usually processed by laser powder bed fusion or electron beam melting. One particular metal that shows great potential in the field of additive manufacturing – especially for 3D printing in the automotive and aerospace industries – is tungsten, due to its great mechanical strength, high stiffness and high thermal load capacity. In fact, tungsten has the highest melting point of all metals at around 6,152°F (3,400°C), which on the one hand makes it perfect for use in energy and lighting technology, but at the same time makes it difficult to use to manufacture. The biggest challenge with using tungsten in additive manufacturing at the current state is that printed parts are often prone to cracking, which greatly affects quality. This problem is especially prevalent with […]
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