The Virtual Foundry (TVF) offers an open market fused deposition modeling (FDM)/fused filament fabrication (FFF) pure metal 3D printing solution. Filamet, a composite 3D printing filament, works with nearly all existing 3D printers and sinters with simple atmosphere furnaces that have been commercially available for decades.
The materials and supporting technology developed by TVF allow rapid real-world metal prototypes and easily scalable short-run manufacturing systems.
The metal powders that make up Filamet are encased in a PLA compliant binder, making it far safer and much less expensive than existing laser-based metal 3D printing solutions. Using Filamet means there is no special handling equipment and Filamet debinds with heat (no solvents) during the sintering process, avoiding separate debinding hardware and processes.
TVF manufactures and sells Filamet, 3D printing accessories, and sintering furnaces. They continue to develop new materials and research new methods of metal fabrication. Currently available materials include stainless steel 316L, copper, bronze, and iron filaments with 15+ more materials available by special order. TVF also develops custom solutions from a wide range of materials from any element or compound that can be sintered.
Standard furnaces range from 100mm x 100mm x 100mm (3.9" x 3.9" x 3.9") to 400mm x 300mm x 300mm (15.7" x 11.8" x 11.8"). Custom-sized, shaped sintering furnace are available upon request.