Binder Jetting Technology for Metal Materials

Abstract

In the additive manufacturing field, powder bed fusion processes such as selective laser sintering or electron beam melting are mainly applied to fabricate metal parts. These devices, however, are still used in very limited applications like surgical implants, aerospace equipment due to their high introduction and running cost.

In contrast, binder jetting method has been rapidly expanding its application to metal materials in recent years. This paper presents the outline of the binder jetting technology, the latest trend of the companies applying this technology to metal materials, and the technology development efforts of RICOH Company, Ltd. to which the author belongs. Finally, the future prospects are discussed.