Chapter 9

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Moving to Metal

It is possible to 3D print in metal starting with a powder that is fused (sintered) by a laser or glued with a binder. As of this writing, this remains a very expensive process, and these are not desktop consumer printers. However, there are ways to move from a 3D print in plastic to a cast metal object relatively cheaply. 3D printing can make traditional prototyping processes faster and more efficient.

This chapter goes through the highlights of two common techniques for casting metal parts: sand casting and lost-wax investment casting. The intent here is not to teach you how to do metal casting; you will need more ...

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