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Process

Cold Metal Fusion

Process-Overview

Cold Metal Fusion prints a “green” part on a low‑cost plastic SLS machine by lightly fusing a metal‑powder and polymer‑binder mix; the loose powder is removed and reused, and the green part—already stiff enough to mill or drill—can be machined before it ever hardens. The part then sits in a solvent bath that dissolves most of the binder, after which a furnace slowly ramps to the alloy’s sintering temperature: the last 1–3 % binder burns off, metal particles fuse, and the part shrinks uniformly to about 97–99 % density. Optional finishing steps such as blasting, polishing, heat treatment, or hot isostatic pressing bring the part to final surface and mechanical specifications.

 

Example Parts
SLS Printing

SLS-Printing

Uses inexpensive, widely available plastic SLS hardware; full build volume can be packed tightly.

Powder Removal and Cleaning

Powder removal & cleaning

Fast, automated depowdering keeps material costs low and waste near zero.

Green Part Processing

Green-part processing

Let's you add features, improve tolerances, or remove excess stock while the material is still soft and tool-friendly.

Solvent Debind

Solvent debinding

Cheap, scalable, and environmentally friendlier than thermal debinding alone.

Sintering

Sintering

Produces a fully metallic, near-wrought part with consistent shrink and excellent mechanical properties.

Finishing

Finishing (optional)

Tailors surface roughness, micro‑structure, and density to the application.

Cold Metal Fusion (CMF) in six quick steps

  • SLS-Printing

    A standard polymer-laser-sintering (SLS) machine spreads a metal-powder plus plastic-binder mix and lightly melts the binder (<80°C). Layers build up with no support structures.

  • Powder removal & cleaning

    The cooled "cake"  is blown out or water-jetted. Unsintered powder is collected and reused.

  • Green-part processing

    The printed-green parts are strong enough for turning, milling, drilling, or grinding before they ever see a furnace.

  • Solvent debinding

    Parts soak in a temperature-controlled solvent that dissolves a portion of the binder; the solvent is distilled and reused.

  • Sintering

    Furnace ramps to metal-specific temperature; remaining 1-3% binder burns off, metal particles fuse, and the part shrinks uniformly (≈13% for 316L). Final density: 97-99%.

  • Finishing (optional)

    Surface treatments: grinding, polishing, blasting, anodizing, heat treatment, or HIP to reach final spec.