❓ Can I print this on my printer?
✅ Filamet™ is compatible with nearly all FFF/FDM based 3D printers on the market. Switch out the nozzle for a 0.6mm hardened steel nozzle and get printing! The list of printers that have been used and the ones that are not compatible can be found here: https://thevirtualfoundry.com/trusted-printers/
❓ How strong are parts right off the printer?
✅ They are quite a bit stronger than you may expect. You can throw them around a little and handle them just fine. Generally, they will not handle load nearly as well as the base PLA would on its own.
❓ How does the debinding and sintering process work for Filamet™?
✅ Unlike other bound-metal systems that require hazardous chemical baths, Filamet™ uses a purely thermal debinding process. You place the printed "green" part into a kiln (like the FireX) packed with refractory ballast in a crucible. As the kiln heats up, the plastic binder cleanly burns away. The kiln then reaches the specific sintering temperature of the metal (e.g., ~885°C–1232°C for stainless steel), fusing the metal particles into a pure metal part.
❓ How much do parts shrink during the sintering process?
✅ Because the plastic binder is removed, parts will shrink as they densify into solid metal. As a general rule, expect an isostatic shrink rate of approximately 5–7% for Copper and Bronze, and 10–12% for Stainless Steels. You account for this by scaling your 3D model up in your slicer software prior to printing.
❓ How does The Virtual Foundry's Filamet™ differ from other metal 3D printing systems like Markforged or Desktop Metal?
✅ Traditional metal 3D printing systems cost upwards of $100,000, require proprietary hardware, and rely on multi-stage chemical debinding. The Virtual Foundry drastically lowers the barrier to entry by allowing you to use existing FDM 3D printers and a single-step thermal debinding process. Our system requires zero chemical solvents, making it safer and significantly more affordable for labs, classrooms, and studios.
❓ How should I store Filamet™?
✅ Filamet™ materials are less hygroscopic than traditional PLA. While it won’t hurt them to be wrapped with a desiccant packet inside, it shouldn’t be necessary. You will want to avoid any direct heat like from a heat vent or direct sunlight. You would also want to avoid high levels of humidity like in a room that’s not climate-controlled in the summer. Other than that, the material should last a long time for you.
❓ How do you calculate the filament density?
✅ We use the Archimedes method to determine filament density.
❓ Is Filamet™ electrically conductive?
✅ While in its printable spool form, Filamet™ has a PLA binder and it is not conductive. Through sintering, the PLA binder is burned off and the remaining object has the same conductive properties of whatever metal it is.