Process

Metal 3D Printing (DMLS / SLM)

Updated August 2026
3D Printing Definition
Definition

Metal 3D printing encompasses industrial powder-bed fusion technologies such as Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) and Selective Laser Melting (SLM) that use high-wattage lasers to melt powdered superalloys (titanium, stainless steel, Inconel, cobalt-chrome) layer by layer into fully dense metal components.

Cost Impact

Metal printing follows a different cost model entirely: powder feedstock, inert atmospheres, stress relief and machining dominate, and quotes are per-part after DFM review. This platform focuses on FDM and resin economics, so treat metal numbers as context rather than a calculator output.

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Industrial DMLS/SLM Laser Melting Process

In a sealed inert argon gas chamber, a recoater blade spreads a 20–60 micron layer of spherical metal powder across the build platform. A high-power fiber laser precisely scans and sinters the metal cross-section, repeating the process layer by layer.

Filament-Based Metal FDM (Bound Metal Printing)

Desktop systems utilize metal-infused polymer filaments (containing 80%+ metal powder in a polymer binder). Once printed on standard FDM hardware, green parts undergo chemical debinding and thermal furnace sintering to yield solid metal parts.

Economics & Aerospace/Medical Applications

Metal 3D printing enables organic generative lightweighting and internal cooling channels impossible with CNC milling, widely utilized in rocket engine injectors, custom orthopedic implants, and high-performance motorsports.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can this calculator estimate metal printing costs?
No - it models FDM and resin economics. Metal processes such as DMLS use powder feedstock, inert atmospheres and post-processing with entirely different cost structures, quoted per part after DFM review.
What makes metal 3D printing expensive?
Powder cost and handling, build chamber atmosphere, support removal, heat treatment, and machining of critical surfaces. Even small metal parts carry setup costs that dwarf FDM economics.

Related 3D Printing Terms

Process

3D Printing

The process of creating three-dimensional solid objects from a digital CAD file by joining material layer by layer.

Read Definition
Process

FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)

The dominant extrusion 3D printing technology that melts and deposits spooled thermoplastic filament layer upon layer.

Read Definition
Process

Resin 3D Printing / SLA / MSLA

Vat photopolymerization technology that cures liquid photopolymer resin with UV light to produce ultra-high detail parts.

Read Definition
Process

SLS (Selective Laser Sintering)

An industrial powder-bed fusion 3D printing process that uses a CO₂ or fiber laser to fuse nylon powders into complex, support-free functional parts.

Read Definition

Cite This Page

Use these formats to cite this page in research, reports, and documentation. Both snippets are copy-ready.

APA 7

APA 
TryAR Labs. (2026, August 25). Metal 3D Printing (DMLS / SLM). MakerWorld Estimator. https://estimator.tryar.in/glossary/metal-3d-printing

BibTeX

BIBTEX 
@misc{tryarlabs2026metal3dprinting,
  title        = {{Metal 3D Printing (DMLS / SLM)}},
  author       = {{TryAR Labs}},
  year         = {2026},
  month        = {aug},
  url          = {https://estimator.tryar.in/glossary/metal-3d-printing},
  note         = {MakerWorld Estimator}
}

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