Copper Filamet™ pellets

Due to the high amount of metal particles, clogging may occur in nozzles with a diameter of 0.4 mm, so it is recommended to use nozzles with an outlet diameter of more than 0.5 mm.

As far as infill, the average recommended amount is 30-70 % but it largely depends on what kind of part the user wants to obtain and whether the part will be sintered or not. For more indepth information please watch this video:

Video 1: The recommended infill for the TVF materials. Source: TVF.

It is very important to store Copper Filamet™ pellets pellets in an airtight bag to prevent them from absorbing moisture from the environment before use. If the pellets have moisture in them, the filament to be manufactured may contain small imperfections.

Once the filament has been manufactured using Copper Filamet™ pellets, it is also recommended to store the filament in a dry place or in an airtight bag. This prevents the filament from absorbing moisture, thus obtaining better results during 3D printing.

Whether using a filament extruder such as Filastruder or a direct pellet extruder, parts 3D printed with Copper Filamet™ pellets must undergo a sintering process to achieve all-metal parts:

Sintering process

Necessary materials:

• Metallurgical furnace.
• Refractory crucible
• Refractory powder
• Sinter coal

STEP 1: Placing the piece

1. Fill the crucible with refractory powder leaving 25 mm free on the surface of the crucible.
2. Immerse the piece in the refractory powder making sure to leave a gap of at least 15 mm between the surface of the piece and the walls and upper and lower parts of the crucible. The refractory powder must not be compacted.
3. Place the crucible in the furnace.

STEP 2: Thermal Debind.

1. Heat at a rate of 55.6 ºC/h until 482 ºC is reached.
2. Maintain at 482 °C for 4 hours.
3. Allow to cool to room temperature.
4. Turn off the oven and unplug it to turn off the power.
5. Remove the piece and the refractory powder from the crucible.

STEP 3: Preparation for sintering

1. Fill the crucible with refractory powder leaving 25 mm free on the surface of the crucible.
2. Immerse the workpiece in the refractory powder making sure to leave a clearance of at least 15 mm between the surface of the workpiece and the walls and top and bottom of the crucible. Do not compact the refractory powder.
3. Cover the surface with 25 mm of sintering charcoal. If possible, place a lid on the crucible (without sealing it, it is used to preserve the sintering charcoal).
4. Return the crucible to the furnace.

STEP 4: Sintering

1. Heat at a rate of 111.1 ºC/h to 1052 ºC.
2. Hold at 1052 ºC for 5 hours*.

STEP 5: Cooling

1. 2 Allow to cool to room temperature.

* Recommended time for a bucket of up to 50mm. For larger pieces it will be necessary to increase the time.

Users who do not have a furnace with the necessary properties to sinter parts printed with  copper Filamet pellets and achieve the final properties of this metal, can contact us and we will assess their viability through our collaborators with the capacity to carry out the necessary post-processing to obtain the desired final result.

* The typical values detailed in this table should be considered as a reference. For more information you should consult the technical data sheet of the product.