BASF highlights potential of Ultrafuse 316LX in PIM International exclusive
September 14, 2018
BASF’s 316LX filament presents a number of opportunities for companies entering into Additive Manufacturing (BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH)
BASF SE’s Catamold® feedstock is synonymous with the high-volume production of components by Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) and the product’s launch, more than thirty years ago, was the catalyst for the industry’s global growth. Today, BASF has adapted this technology for metal Additive Manufacturing via Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) with the development of its Ultrafuse 316LX filament.
This technology offers the company’s existing MIM customers a low-investment route into metal AM, whether for prototyping or the development of entirely new applications. Ultrafuse 316LX can be used with almost any FFF AM system, and once a part is built, no additional post-processing steps are required prior to its debinding and sintering.
Taking advantage of the reliability and high productivity of catalytic debinding, Ultrafuse 316LX enables the simple production of fully-sintered 316L stainless steel components, making it an ideal option for companies already using catalytic debinding and sintering in their manufacturing operations, who can easily step into and explore metal AM and debind and sinter their parts alongside traditional MIM components, eliminating the cost and time involved in special furnace runs, toll-sintering or equipment acquisitions.
In this exclusive article for the September 2018 edition of Powder Injection Moulding International magazine (Vol. 12 No. 3), BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH highlights the significant potential of this technology as a cost-effective entry point into metal AM. PIM International can be read for free below or as a PDF download via the magazine website.
