Metal 3D Printing Services

Rapidaccu delivers precision metal additive manufacturing using Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) and Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technologies. From aerospace-grade titanium to corrosion-resistant stainless steel, we produce complex metal parts with exceptional mechanical properties.

6
Metal Alloys
±0.1mm
Tolerance
15+
Years Exp.
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Metal 3D Printing Services

What is Metal 3D Printing?

Metal 3D printing, also known as metal additive manufacturing, builds parts layer-by-layer using high-powered lasers to fuse metal powder. This enables the creation of complex geometries, internal channels, and lightweight structures impossible with traditional manufacturing methods.

DMLS Technology

Direct Metal Laser Sintering uses precise laser beams to selectively fuse metal powder particles, creating fully dense parts with mechanical properties comparable to traditionally manufactured components.

Design Freedom

Create complex internal cooling channels, organic lattice structures, and topology-optimized designs that reduce weight while maintaining structural integrity.

No Tooling Required

Eliminate expensive tooling costs and long lead times associated with casting or machining. Ideal for prototypes, low-volume production, and custom parts.

Metal 3D Printing Advantages

Why choose metal additive manufacturing over traditional methods

Lightweight Designs

Topology optimization and lattice structures reduce weight by up to 70% while maintaining strength. Critical for aerospace applications where every gram counts.

Part Consolidation

Combine multiple components into a single printed part, reducing assembly time, eliminating fasteners, and improving reliability.

Rapid Prototyping

Go from CAD to metal part in days instead of weeks. Perfect for design verification, functional testing, and iterative development.

Conformal Cooling

Internal cooling channels follow part geometry for superior heat dissipation in molds, tooling, and thermal management applications.

Low-Volume Production

Economical for quantities from 1 to 1000+ parts without tooling investment. Scale production as demand grows.

Material Efficiency

Unused powder is recycled and reused. Minimal waste compared to subtractive manufacturing which can waste up to 90% of raw material.

Technical Specifications

Industry-leading precision and quality standards

Dimensional Accuracy

  • Standard tolerance: ±0.1 mm (±0.004″)
  • Layer thickness: 20-50 μm
  • Minimum feature size: 0.4 mm

Build Volume

  • Maximum part size: 250 × 250 × 325 mm
  • Multiple parts per build for efficiency
  • Supports nested geometries

Material Certifications

  • Aerospace: AS9100, NADCAP
  • Medical: ISO 13485, FDA compliant
  • Material test reports available

Post-Processing

  • Heat treatment (stress relief, HIP)
  • CNC machining for critical features
  • Surface finishing (polishing, coating)

Applications & Industries

Metal 3D printing serves critical applications across diverse sectors

Aerospace

Turbine blades, fuel nozzles, brackets, lightweight structural components

Medical

Custom implants, surgical instruments, orthopedic devices, dental prosthetics

Automotive

Racing components, custom exhaust, heat exchangers, jigs and fixtures

Industrial

Tooling inserts, conformal cooling molds, wear parts, custom machinery

Energy

Gas turbine components, oil & gas valves, power generation parts

Defense

Weapon components, UAV parts, electronics housings, tactical equipment

Electronics

Heat sinks, RF components, enclosures, thermal management

Research

Academic research, material testing, novel applications, prototyping

Design Guidelines for Metal 3D Printing

Optimize your designs for successful metal additive manufacturing

Design Best Practices

  • Minimum wall thickness: 0.4 mm for most metals, 0.6 mm for titanium
  • Support structures: Required for overhangs >45°, consider orientation
  • Holes and channels: Minimum 1 mm diameter, consider powder removal
  • Text and engraving: Minimum height 0.5 mm, depth 0.5 mm
  • Clearance gaps: Minimum 0.5 mm between moving parts

Common Design Pitfalls

  • Avoid: Large flat surfaces parallel to build plate (causes warping)
  • Avoid: Enclosed cavities without powder removal holes
  • Avoid: Sharp internal corners (use fillets ≥0.5 mm)
  • Avoid: Extremely thin features in unsupported areas
  • Avoid: Threads smaller than M3 (post-machine instead)

Need Design Assistance?

Our engineering team provides free Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) consultation to optimize your parts for metal 3D printing. We review your CAD files and suggest improvements for manufacturability, cost reduction, and performance enhancement.

Contact Our Engineers

Start Your Metal 3D Printing Project

Get expert guidance on material selection, design optimization, and manufacturing strategy

Our Location

Rongli Industrial Park, Dalang
Longhua District, Shenzhen, China

Get in Touch

info@rapidaccu.com

Request a Quote

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about metal 3D printing services

    What is the difference between DMLS and SLM?

    Both are laser-based metal powder bed fusion processes. DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering) sinters powder particles together, while SLM (Selective Laser Melting) fully melts the powder. In practice, modern machines achieve full melting and the terms are often used interchangeably. Both produce fully dense metal parts with excellent mechanical properties.

    How strong are metal 3D printed parts?

    Metal 3D printed parts achieve mechanical properties comparable to or exceeding traditionally manufactured components. Post-processing like heat treatment and Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) can further enhance properties. Parts are fully dense (>99.5%) and meet aerospace and medical industry standards including ASTM and ISO specifications.

    What surface finish can I expect?

    As-printed surface finish is typically Ra 6-10 μm, with a slightly rough texture from powder particles. Post-processing options include bead blasting (Ra 3-6 μm), machining (Ra 0.8-3.2 μm), polishing (Ra <0.4 μm), and various coatings. Surface finish requirements should be specified in your technical drawings.

    Can I print functional threads and tapped holes?

    External threads M6 and larger can be printed directly but may require thread chasing. Internal threads are best post-machined for precision and clean finish. We recommend designing holes 0.2-0.3 mm undersized for subsequent tapping or machining to ensure accurate thread engagement and smooth operation.

    Do you provide material certificates and test reports?

    Yes, we provide complete material traceability including powder lot certificates, build parameters, heat treatment records, and dimensional inspection reports. For critical applications, we can arrange third-party testing for tensile strength, hardness, microstructure analysis, chemical composition, and non-destructive testing (NDT).

    How do I prepare my CAD file for metal 3D printing?

    Export your 3D model as STL or STEP format. Ensure the model is manifold (watertight) with no gaps or inverted normals. Include technical drawings for critical dimensions, tolerances, and surface finish requirements. Our team reviews all files and provides feedback on design optimization, support requirements, and manufacturability before production.