3D Printing 100% Recycled Metal with 6K Additive

[@HDEFMAN1]

Jamie from 6K Additive did an amazing job of describing his company's technology. Joel kept things running along with is intelligent questions.

[@3DPrintingNerd]

I would LOVE to be able to chat with Jamie more!

[@Bruce1Parsons]

@@3DPrintingNerd Could you imagine how many rabbit holes he could make you go down in a podcast format? The elements they are working with are alone a whole podcast each it. Then how they refine them from scrap or even how they source it.. Then you get into their actual processes of how they 3d print which I would hate to be them being at the forefront of any technology sucks! I died when he said Unimelt again and I was like I should probably look this up and then you asked and I didn't feel like a idot for not knowing it.

[@spastic_plastic178]

There are not many speakers that impress me, but I really enjoyed Jamie's way of talking. And he knew how to joke too :)

[@Willam_J]

OMFG! We are living in the future! I’m a retired EE, and enjoy restoring old electronic equipment. Many times, there is a special mechanical part, which hasn’t been available for decades. This printer could make those parts. We’ve already been using 3D printers, for things such as old radio knobs and buttons. I recently restored a piece of Ham Radio equipment, using my laser cutter, to reproduce a part in the tuning encoder. A small, special, plastic part, stood between this radio being trash, or treasure. This would open up some amazing possibilities to keep other products repairable. It’s often the case, that something gets thrown own, because one unavailable part keeps it from being repaired. Manufacturers should be required to release their CAD files, once their supply of replacement parts dries up. Then again, if you can repair the old one, you won’t need a new one. (Yeah, Apple, I’m looking at you. I love your products, but your repair policies are immoral. 😂) Growing up, we didn’t have much money. Because of this, we took care of what we had, and at least *tried* to repair something, before replacing it. Even though I can more than afford to just throw things away, now, I still have that “Let me take a crack at it” mentality. I’ve saved my wife and I, a fortune, over the years. Eventually, we’re going to run out of places to dump everything. Anything that can be repaired, is one less thing in a landfill, and more money in your pocket. 👍

[@C-M-E]

High res metal printing at reasonable cost is practically the holy grail right now. Imagine getting metal prints (I'd even take aluminum for certain things) for resin prices. Sign me up!

[@lukaskirschnick8185]

But I would imagine this isnt cheap at all.

[@username4441]

@@lukaskirschnick8185 it requires a damn reactor

[@3DMusketeers]

The recycling of the powder is HUGE! In most cases you can only reuse around 20-30% of the powder unless you have a special process. Theirs is INSANE! Great show! Jamie definitely not only knows his stuff, but knows how to talk to normies like us!

[@sirave6017]

How are they able to use 100% recycled material if normally only 20-30% can be used? What is the difference in the process? Are there more impurities? Do they do multiple melts and process for longer to remove more impurities? Do they clean incoming scrap more? What's the difference? Because 100% vs 20-30% is massive.

[@averagepeople9802]

@@sirave6017 hey so I think you are misunderstanding what he's saying. So all the input material for the 3d prints is being sourced from potentially 100% recycled material. This 20-30% is talking about the actual powder during manufacturing. The bed of powder can only be 20-30% reused in another print. This is because the metal will oxidize and the part will become mechanical brittle. Its like printing rust instead of metal. There process allows the metal powder to be reused in multiple prints without refill for longer meaning that the powder you buy will be used more instead of being wasted after every print fill. Hope this makes sense.

[@armandoa2484]

Amazing how far additive manufacturing has gone! From consumer based units for printing toys and trinkets to practical parts for repairs around the home. To industrial applications. Thanks for another great video!

[@techpriest4787]

Too bad that metal printing is not for home use yet.

[@bobert4522]

It’s been in industrial manufacturing since the 80s.

[@SteveSiegelin]

I have managed to print a little bit of titanium using a small desktop laser. It was very challenging and at first all I was getting was titanium BBs on a micro scale! I can still only get one layer height and it is very fragile but I wanted to see if I can do it! The titanium I'm using is titanium dioxide and it goes right back into normal titanium when it's blasted with the laser. My goal is to have some kind of new laser by January. I've been using lasers for Ruby Fusion as well as other corundum and have even managed to cut extremely thin Steel but I cannot cut aluminum with the laser I have at the moment due to the fact that the aluminum dissipates heat too quickly. Seeing things like this make me so excited because it means that I'm even closer to being able to obtain an actual metal printer! Thank you as always Joel, looking forward to the next video!

[@AgentPothead]

The print quality was really good and being able to reuse the powder is a huge thing, but I think my favorite part of this is Jamie discovering the name for gyroid infill.

[@jeremysutton22]

Can we talk about Joel's interviewing skills, cause they are on another level entirely! I also enjoy the extra info put in text on the bottom, though I wish they'd stay up longer cause I read slowly.

[@josephneider7332]

pause

[@830jps]

The more you read books the faster you read everything else. My first 300page book took me a month to read. And the last book only took 3 days. I think the reason why the text doesn't stay long is to pull focus back to the subject. Happy Holidays

[@B1GJano]

very informative! I love learning about things in the AM space in this video that quite frankly, I didnt know existed. This technology is seriously impressive science!

[@philippeholthuizen]

Very cool how they create the spherical particals, makes a lot of sense to have better flowing grains for SLS-type processes! Cool find, Joel!

[@mvadu]

That 6k processed metal vs non processed is exactly the difference between river sand vs the sand in Sahara, and why UAE has to import sand from Malaysia.. In concrete you want the non spherical sand..

[@EliotTruelove]

I thought the exact same thing.

[@Jessterrr]

Outstanding interview! The details about partial flow were interesting. The material movement in the bottles was cool to see. It's tough to visualize a future where we put old stuff through a reshaper and just keep doing that instead of mining more and more material but that's what it sounds like they're doing @6k206

[@KnightsWithoutATable]

What's also cool about this using scraps is that the support material can go right back into the process since they make their base material from 100% scrap. That cuts cost on materials like titanium by a significant amount.

[@thecarbonprop]

These are some of my favourite 3DPN videos. Giving us a sneak peak behind some of the incredible printing technologies being developed. Keep up the awesome interviews. I can tell the folks you interview really unwind and and enjoy your excitement when they start explaining what their stuff does. You’re such a great interviewer.

[@Nanobits]

3D printing is going to give us the ability to produce AI designed components that we could never have made with standard manufacturing process. I think we are heading in a very good direction on the industrial stage.

[@mmmmmmm8706]

Great point!

[@VAXHeadroom]

This made me realize something concerning a research project I've been working on for a decade. Vague-posting I know, but thanks for the info! :)

[@johnkrummrich4948]

It is the best of times and the worst of times we are living in. Seriously smart people out there doing cool stuff.

[@markmalonson7531]

So great.Thank you 3dprintingnerd and Formnext Firm participants.

[@Gridlivin]

3:45 I also add that oxygen will make titanium combust if the powder breaks down enough and gets super fine which is a risk when you ti blast the parts after printing. Titanium fines could cause a flash fire in the back of the blast cabinet but to counter this, Argon is introduced as a mitigation.

[@WetDoggo]

the 6k "proprietary process" consists of removing the oxygen from the titanium. I'm not sure if you could do it by just heating it up under an inert atmosphere/vacuum or electricity OR even chemically. removal of the hydrogen is most definitely done by heating it up

[@garagemonkeysan]

Super fascinating. Joel is a smart interviewer. Asks all the right questions so we all can understand. Mahalo for sharing! 🙏🙂🐒

[@JonathanKamler]

Nerdy point of clarification for the 3D Printing Nerd...The structures that you are calling "gyroid infill" makes for a nice infill, but is not in fact infill per se in this case. The topology structure has a functional, operational purpose and typifies "triply-periodic-minimal-surface" topologies that are becoming increasingly popular in additive-tailored heat exchangers. The structure allows for segregation of two or more working fluids with maximum surface area, maximum mixing, and minimum flow resistance. So calling it "in fill" misses the point, purpose, functionality, and properties of the structure.

[@3amali1]

I wish there was more emphasis on the way scrapped metal is made to be powder with hydrogen enrichment. Making metal powder is usually a very energy hungry process so great to see their way of doing it.

[@cavemandanwilder5597]

Gyroid infill is best infill.

[@samhale5413]

So really they're a materials processor for 3d printing metal powders. Good stuff. Now I want a 3d printed tungsten spork.

[@3DJapan]

In the past I've done metal printing at Shapeways that looked just like this final result, unless you have them polish it. I guess any powder based SLS printing would look like that.

[@JinKee]

I wonder how fine you can make the powder before it starts burning in air. I know Aluminium at 200mesh is a fire hazard.

[@dingosmoov]

Learned a lot from this video. Again another good one. Especially good was showing the differences of the materials in the bottles. Thanks!

[@MrGerhardGrobler]

And another mind blown. How many do I have left?

[@haddow777]

Ugh. Metal is the most recyclable material around with the possible exception being glass. In fact, many time s recycling metal can be easier than using freshly mined metals because they've already been purified, which isn't easy. You can also guage it for already being mixed with various base metals. Stainless steel for instance isn't something you just dig up and melt into shape. You have to precisely mix various elements together to make it. Also, I think he mentioned they only use a fraction of the scrap metal. It would be interesting to hear the specifics on power consumption involved because it sounds like a lot of processing. They melt it into tiny rounds metal prices they then use and melt later. So, multiple times each piece of metal is melted in the process. Also, likely, even though they use a small fraction of all the metal, they likely melt it all down in the processes where they sort what us usable and what isn't. Also, I would have to imagine adding Hydrogen to the metal and then extracting it again takes energy. Really have to wonder how that total energy consumption really compares to new steal being made or the scraps being formed the old fashioned way. Plus, I never really trust people who throw around jargon, including greenwashing jargon, and then sprinkle in propriety all over the place. They scream cash grabber.

[@satyarpm]

Really cool tech! If they are able to make plasma respherification sustainable, this would be a game changer for printing with reused powder.

[@zodsinclair8500]

Imagine you have a home shop & a huge Pile of metal scrap from all of the cutting machines you can actually afford to buy....& you have 1 of these 'home' version machines, to turn those scrap pieces in unique parts you couldn't make with a lathe.

[@TerraMagnus]

Looking forward to being able to print metal in my garage.

[@williamwilkinson4756]

This is incredible. My mind has been blown!

[@JViz]

Pretty sure the infill pattern for the second part is Voronoi.

[@lovetsky]

Here is something to think about - How much energy in different processes, do you spend on turning the "metal scrap" into an actual spherical metal powder particles you can then turn into the powder? Also, how do you keep the "very spherical powder particles" from taking in the humidity that will turn the "so cool flowing powder" to a "sandy not so flowing" one?

[@OkalaborationO]

Unimelt is actually the name of the alchemist wizard they recruited straight outa hogwarts

[@__--JY-Moe--__]

heavy metal man, like a Bee-hoss! featured, & not creatured! he turns dr. no into dr.yes!!

[@mtyler2469]

Gyroid is the best! There are some pretty cool changes coming to manufacturing.

[@ronbrideau8902]

A fume hood that is a magnifying mirror may be applicable.

[@watsonstudios]

I would coin the infill on the small multi print as a "voronoi infill"

[@palbi]

6:05 I wouldn't say fractal, I would call that organic structure. Sadly, it is not available for infill yet on Prusa Slicer, but surely it will be all the rage in the next few years. It's pretty awesome for supports in certain cases.

[@830jps]

It would have been cool if you could let us hear what the Tungsten plate sound like when dropped on the table

[@mmmmmmm8706]

Circular economy stuff is great. Recycling the scrap into reusable source material is just as cool as printing metal objects. I wonder how scalable, expensive the process is vs the cost of processing raw material into various metals? Will this scale to large companies? Is that the plan? It is awesome …

[@djbassay2k5]

0 oxygen environment "theory": make the oxygen denser by cooling/refrigerating, ideally near to visible sublimation point somewhere in between -183c and -100c. using pascal's law and hydraulics (water tank with 2:1 100:1 ratio to draw the now more viscous oxygen gas down (bottom of chamber should be proper geometry)

[@jamesmiller2096]

Ok powdered titanium is scary. It burns like you wouldn't believe. I was in to amateur rocketry years ago, and tried a batch of fine titanium as a fuel I WILL NEVER try that ever again. . Now I'm not 100%sure what the alloy was, all I saw was a blueish flash and my test stand was vaporized . Mind you I tried a lot of crazy formulas. But this stuff scares me. So please be safe with any powdered metals.

[@robertmorey4104]

That is awesome technology. I can't wait for metal printing to be more cost effective than machining or casting for the average Joe.

[@thetruthexperiment]

The only thing cooling a power plant should be hot water spinning a turbine.

[@EstSotoS]

Wait, no outro song? I felt like something was missing and ended up playing the outro from another 3DPN video :P

[@kevin_delaney]

Sometimes I hate what these companies market themselves, because after all this, WHAT'S IT COST? I just wanna know so I can see if I can incorporate the cost into the business. What's it cost.

[@vaporjoes]

Ill wait until someone makes a machine for home use. I remember when plastic was just for factories.. not anymore.

[@slevinshafel9395]

i wonder how they melt thungsten and no oxigen help. I like PLASMA too. The spherical to me look some fashion to me but for sure when work on it and the nozzel get clogged than you ask where is my spherical powder. Good job 6K.

[@modulator7861]

incredible!

[@morkovija]

now I just need Ben from Applied science reproduce their unimelt in his garage X)

[@3DJapan]

6:10 It looks like a Voronoi pattern.

[@VincentGroenewold]

Very interesting, I would like to see the sources, like who supplies it and what can't be used (that always happens). Other than that, very impressive stuff coming out of this.

[@thetruthexperiment]

Isn’t heat the point of a nuclear power plant or are we talking about isotopic research reactors?

[@mritunjay2624]

Surprised by the fact that the dude didnt know about the gyroid infill

[@greengrowlocks566]

They don't use steel in reactors because it absorbs neutrons and becomes radioactive? Don't they use Beryllium and Zirconium?

[@morkovija]

man, 100% recyclable, cheap steel/aluminium 3d printing would be amazing alternative to plastics

[@santiagoblandon3022]

Ready to print some Beskar? haha

[@WetDoggo]

"low oxygen" just means it's not oxidized as much (oxidized = "rust")

[@AngieMeadKing]

New sub, trying to learn more about 3d printing!

[@3DPrintingNerd]

Thanks for the sub, Angie! Have a look around, LOTS of fun videos to watch!

[@coulterjb22]

Awesome! Any vendors there showing off Joule Printing? (like running welding wire at high speed).

[@SpeedDeamon95]

Don't know why I was thinking this might some, somewhat affordable $2k printer 😫

[@slevinshafel9395]

i think is posible to make that peace with stamps. Slice it and make stamp on each layer(will increase cost but if is mass production can worth it) and glue the stamps after this must include some oven and other thigs. I would like see some comparation betwen 3D printed and stamp. But complex shape and leak test. I say that because imagine i need a preburn with comex shape for 1000000 spaceships. Make it on CNC is expensive and 3D print is take too long. with stamp can be done fast and cheap(but need test)

[@nobodyuknow4911]

0.o? Steel (stainless or otherwise) is already among the most sustainable materials on the planet and has been recycled since antiquity. The reason why they are leaning toward recycling already-made products is that the specific alloy of stainless steel (like 304, 440, etc) is already a known result, and they don't have to worry about the cost of making new metal at a foundry. As to their super secret process of breaking it down, they are using the extremely rare, and super duper secret technology of a ball mill................... There will of course be mechanical cutting, tearing, and shredding of the metal into small enough pieces to put into the ball mill first, but metal pulverization is a thoroughly understood and established technology decades old. Glad to see them making a very interesting 3D printing technology with ultra-fine metal powders, but the sales pitch is riddled with a bit more "wizz bang techno speak" than it needs to be.

[@arcadealchemist]

salvage & recycling for small locations then 3D printing parts. feels like death stranding tech.

[@yagoa]

steel is one of the least thermally conductive metals

[@anthonyrich1592]

So if it's 6000 degrees Kelvin shouldn't it be 6kK? :)

[@vicgarbutt3310]

what id the 6k powder was pre-heated just before spreading?

[@Richard110888]

Interesting video but its irritating how every time the info graphics come up they never stay on screen long enough to read. Yes we can pause the video but I'm not sat there poised ready to stop the flow of the video every 5 seconds

[@rubix71]

show it print!

[@Printed_Riffs]

I’ll take 2.

[@user-px2sn8pr5t]

how far away from home use? cost etc...

[@ex8722]

Has 6k made a warp drive yet or can he comment on that? 😃

[@calinbeale2634]

Its called "Atomization"

[@ryanpongracz8051]

It's companies like this that Elon Musk will buy up in a second just to continue to solve space exploration problems and speed up development.

[@tonupif]

Красавчег про солнце вообще отлично.

[@tobeproduced]

Ok so big thing....ALL METAL IS RECYCLED! ALL OF IT, YOU DONT THROW METAL AWAY, ITS ALWAYS MELTED BACK DOWN.

[@TheSquigy]

Was... Was that the Sonic Heroes theme...

[@jay-by1se]

This all sounds almost worthless once cost is factored in. Scrap is always way more expensive to work with.

[@AintHumanArt]

🙏

[@joejohns3543]

This tech is so cool!

[@NOBOX7]

@ 1:04 NOOOOOO , it isssnt at allll ........ Im outa here after that comment .

[@timgivney]

That's some great engineering

[@marz.6102]

*"Has he lost his mind, can he see or is he blind"*

[@GilmerJohn]

Stainless isn't a good thermal conductor.

[@ijcarroll]

That 'cool' pattern looks like a voronoi pattern.

[@hookprobe]

ping - me , i can 3d design for them

[@JamesWhite-yj7sd]

what's up with the hair ??????????????????????????????????????

[@Nossieuk]

'open additive' yet the guys says the word proprietary every 30 seconds.... sad.

[@Roskellan]

Not so sustainable after it has been in a reactor for a while I would have thought. Definitely like a 3D printer that could print that though - around £800 would be good :-)

[@Gallardo6669]

Stop interrupting and let people speak....

[@m.anejante1687]

he invented so much BS it hurts my brain...

[@DanFrederiksen]

Metal print is very cool. but we need effing cost effective printers. where are the chinese ikea knockoffs for 500$. We need to defeat the overpriced clowns. Laser sintering is just not an expensive principle. And metal powder can be dirt cheap.

[@qwert0091]

Stainless steel - "great thermal conductor". Been smoking much?

[@BobCollins42]

A lot of interesting info here, but they could have not used the word "proprietary" so many times. I cringed each time he said it. Note: I doubt his investors were his audience here, and the rest of us get the message that we are closed out.

[@3DPrintingNerd]

I can see how it can be taken that way, but think of it also as showing off industrial level tech, and being able to look at places people may be interested in working. There are a lot of patents and proprietary things at the industrial AM level. Not all stuff filters down to consumer tech, but it's STILL very interesting to see what's out there. I've heard from a LOT of people who have found jobs at industrial companies because they saw them on my show. I hope that makes sense.

[@BobCollins42]

@@3DPrintingNerd I really did appreciate the coverage and I learned a lot. Thank you! I see using the word proprietary as signaling to investors-who often value monopoly positions-and not to the majority of your viewers. In fact, most of the DIY and consumer 3D printer community has immeasurably benefited from the open-source ethos of their designers and and the products made available.

[@3DPrintingNerd]

@@BobCollins42 I think at the industrial level, "proprietary" is more about signaling to customers that they have a process or material that no one else does. At least, that's been what I've sort-of gleaned while at the shows. I fully understand where you're coming from as well.

[@TheJttv]

Recycled materials and "no one can tell". Highly doubt. Currently the standard practice is to toss used powered as clumps can ruin a print among other things. Now if they are reforming that material it is a different story but not a onsite thing

[@Noviceinventor]

Too much talk want to se the printer printing

[@jorgem3625]

6:08 it is called "VORONOI INFILL".