Get your parts 3D printed in metal from a manufacturer near you. Our guide lists the top services and how to order everything from 3D-printed stainless steel tools and titanium implants to gold jewelry and copper heatsinks.
Demand for metal 3D printing has skyrocketed thanks to advancements in technology, new metal materials, and the lower price of metal 3D printers. But for many engineers and industrial designers, investing in their own metal 3D printers is still not in the cards. Fortunately, there’s a growing number of contract manufacturers with fleets of metal 3D printers ready to custom print your part whether it’s a prototype, a final functional part, a unique spare part, or a work of art.
In fact, metal 3D printing as an industry is projected to reach a value of $5.51 billion by 2027, in part because metal 3D printing has proven to be faster and cheaper than traditional metal manufacturing methods for single parts and low volumes.
Leading the way are several growing on-demand metal 3D printing services, such as Materialise, which opened a new $9.2-million, 3,500-square-meter metal 3D printing facility last year in Germany, or Morf3D, which also opened a new advanced manufacturing center and HQ in Texas.
Metal 3D printing services are definitely burgeoning, and in this article, we present our pick for nine of the top companies that offer metal 3D printing services, plus 3D printer manufacturers that also offer print on-demand. Although the term “top” is subject to interpretation, we used the following evaluations to make our picks:
- Service area: A company that can serve a wider area is a stronger contender.
- Range of materials: With more materials comes more expertise on which materials are best for your application.
- Range of technologies: There’s more than one way to print metal. Companies that offer a range of technologies can give your price, speed, and quality options.
- Services: Offering additional services, such as design, on top of printing demonstrates the company’s ability to serve various different customer groups and guide you to the best solution for your needs.
- Lead and quote response time: You can’t rush quality, but a faster response and lead times are guaranteed to keep customers happy.
Industry-Specific Metal 3D Printing
Not included on our list are the metal 3D printing services that specialize in one industry, such as Sintavia for aerospace, Cooksongold for precious metal jewelry, or Tangible Solutions for medical implants and surgical tools. Also, we made a special section at the end for the metal 3D printer manufacturers, such as EOS and ExOne, that also offer metal 3D printing on demand. These may be of special interest if you’re looking to test the parts from a particular printer before you invest in one.
Which Metal Printing Method is Right for Me?
There are about 10 ways to 3D print metal parts: metal binder jetting; laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), which is also called direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) or selective laser melting (SLM); metal extrusion, which is also called fused deposition modeling (FDM) with metal filament or metal rods; electron beam melting (EBM); wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM); directed energy deposition (DED) conducted with either an electron beam or a laser beam; and specialities, such as metal lithography, cold spray, and metal micro 3D printing.
These fall into technology categories loosely based on whether you’re printing with metal filament, metal powder, or metal wire. There are even metal-infused resins, metal rods, and metal pellets as material options, all producing parts with different attributes.
Selecting which metal technology to use is a balance of needs. Consider the importance of detail and shape, size, strength, type of metal, cost, printing speed, and volume. All of the current technologies have pros and cons when it comes to these considerations and, unfortunately, no method 3D prints super-strong parts, quickly, cheaply, and perfectly, so pick your priorities.
Take a look at our overview of metal 3D printing methods for a grounding in the technologies, but also ask your service provider for recommendations.
Marketplace of 3D Print Services
With dozens of potential service providers to chose from, you can spend weeks tracking down the best price and delivery options. Fortunately, there are a few marketplaces of 3D print services, such as Craftcloud, where you simply upload your 3D model and receive multiple quotes from suppliers from which you choose the best fit.
| Company | Service Area | Metals | Technology | Services | Response Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FacFox | Global | Steel (stainless, tool, high-strength), aluminum, titanium, aluminum, copper, brass, Inconel 625, Co-Cr, precious metals | Metal binder jetting, laser powder bed fusion, wire arch additive manufacturing, metal injection | Custom projects, prototyping, post-processing, testing and quality assurance | Instant quote. Product from 2 days. |
| Craftcloud | Global | Steel (stainless, maraging), aluminum, copper, titanium, Inconel 625, precious metals | Metal binder jetting, laser powder bed fusion, metal filament | Design consultation, custom projects, 3D modeling | Instant quote. Product from 5 days. |
| Oerlikon AM | Europe, US, China | Aluminum alloys, nickel alloys, cobalt chrome, steels (maraging, stainless, tool), titanium, copper alloys | Laser powder bed fusion | Custom materials testing and development, prototyping, design and application engineering, industry expertise, post-processing | |
| Materialise | Global | Stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, Inconel IN718, precious metals | Laser powder bed fusion | 3D modeling, white labeling, manufacturing partnerships, design consultation | Instant quote. Product from 11 days. |
| FIT AG | US, Europe, Japan | Titaniums, alumiums, aluminum alloys, Iconel, stainless steels, coppers | Laser powder bed fusion, wire arch additive manufacturing, electron beam melting, cold spray | 3D modeling, design for AM, concepting, prototyping, iterative design, post-processing, CNC, assembly | Instant to same day quote. Product from 5 days. |
| Protolabs | Global | Steels (maraging, stainless), aluminum, Inconel, titanium, copper, cobalt chrome, brass | Laser powder bed fusion | Design for AM, post-processing, CNC, learning materials, 3D laser scanning | Instant quote. Product from 1 day. |
| Fathom MFG | US | Steel (stainless, maraging), Inconel, titaniums, aluminum, cobalt chrome, nickel alloy | Laser powder bed fusion | 3D modeling, design for AM, concepting, prototyping, iterative design, post-processing, CNC, assembly | Instant quote. Product from 3 days. |
| Sculpteo | Global | Stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, brass | Metal binder jetting, laser powder bed fusion, metal filament | Laser engraving and cutting, learning materials, 3D modeling, design and production consultation | Instant quote. Product from 2 days. |
| Sandvik AM / BeamIT | Global | Steel (tool, maraging, stainless, duplex), titanium, copper, aluminum, nickel alloys, special alloys, custom metals | Laser powder bed fusion, binder jetting | Custom materials, advanced post-processing, testing, design for AM, 3D modeling, non-destructive testing, tomography and X-Ray dimensional controls | NA |
| Stratasys Direct | Global | Steels (stainless, tool), aluminum, nickel alloys, titanium, cobalt chrome | Laser powder bed fusion | Design services, engineer consulting, CNC, injection molding, urethane casting | Instant quote. Product from 2 days. |
How to Order Metal Parts
If you’re not familiar with metal 3D printing, aim to familiarize yourself with the material options and types of printer technology before ordering. Of course, the experts at any of the printing companies below can also guide you though the options, but in general, you’ll want to consider the mechanical and aesthetic qualities that your final parts must have. These will inform which material is used, the printing process, and the post-process finishing.
For example, if you need a functional metal prototype to test under real life conditions, such as for a car or bicycle, you’ll want a metal that meets your strength requirements, but is still affordable, such as tool steel. However, if you’re looking for a final functional part that needs high-heat and corrosion resistance, such as for an induction coil, you’ll want to consider copper.
Obtaining a Quote
In general, almost all metal printing services offer an online quoting platform or they will provide a quote after their metal printing experts evaluate your project. The more complex your project, the more personalized consulting you may need.
The workflow generally follows these steps:
- Create an account and sign in.
- Upload your 3D model to the manufacturer’s online system.
- Choose your desired material and finishing details, in addition to the number of parts.
- Review the pricing quote that’s generated either instantly or after expert evaluation.
- Place the order and the item goes into manufacturing.
Now, let’s have a look at our top performers!
THE BEST METAL 3D PRINTING SERVICES
FacFox
Founded in 2014, FacFox serves the metal additive manufacturing market primarily in China, but they deliver for international clients as well. They have clients in Asia, Europe, and the U.S. FacFox is not just about airplanes and automotive, but also serves a wide variety of other industries, including medical, dental, and artistic segments.
With dozens of 3D printers, FacFox is able to harness several technologies for various applications, including selective laser melting, binder jetting, metal injection, and wire arc additive manufacturing. They also have a perfectly adequate list of available materials.
On top of metal 3D printing, FacFox offers a slew of additional services, including design consultation, testing and quality assurance. FacFox is even able to provide its customers with customized process parameters and software solutions that are tailored to the customer’s specific needs.
Craftcloud
Craftcloud by All3DP isn’t just a 3D printing service. It’s a marketplace of 3D printing services that enables manufacturers and engineers to compare prices and services from different service providers and find the right custom manufacturer at the right price.
With partners around the world, Craftcloud presents you with the best services in terms of price and lead time, with no additional fees. Quotes are generated in real-time based on your uploaded models and location. Using the platform is as simple as any other 3D printing service, but with many more options available. You can choose from common metals like aluminum, titanium, and steel, or precious metals like sterling silver and gold. Depending on the material you select, you can also request a particular finish.
Other helpful features of Craftcloud are its professional network and support staff. If your part isn’t suitable for printing, or you simply don’t have a design, experts and professional partners will help you get your design off the ground. And if you’re having trouble with the order or delivery processes, the Craftcloud team is ready to assist.
Oerlikon AM
Oerlikon AM is a division of the Swiss technology giant OC Oerlikon that was set up in 2016. They have production centers in Europe, the U.S., and China. From these three centers, Oerlikon is able to serve customers on all continents.
In materials, Oerlikon relies entirely on its alloy powders, developed in-house. Although the selection isn’t quite as varied as with some other services, having their own proprietary materials allows Oerlikon to make precise material recommendations for your specific needs.
The on-site material production allows them to even create customized materials for their customers. They’re also able to provide in-depth engineering and design consulting from concepts to production, in addition to post-processing and testing services.
With their extensive experience in additive manufacturing and focus on demanding industries – like aerospace and automotive – Oerlikon has a narrower service scope than some other providers. That’s not a bad thing, though – they know exactly what they’re good at and are making the most out of it.
Materialise
Based in Belgium, Materialise, known for its 3D printing software, offers both a rapid prototyping service and an on-demand additive manufacturing for volume production. It’s self-service online portal called iMateralise enables you to upload your part, pick your metal, and receive it in the mail. For a little more support and information, there’s the Materalise portal that features a automated check for the 3D printing suitability of your part and consultation with engineers. Their services are structured by industry, having set up a department for each major client group, including medicine, optics, and jewelry.
What’s particularly great about i.Materialise is the amount of information they provide in advance. They share a lot regarding the technology used for each type of metal, the maximum sizes of objects that can be printed, their estimated delivery times, useful tips on how to design the 3D model, and much more.
The company also provides several business integration solutions, like manufacturing partnerships and white label integration. This makes it easy for your firm to partner with Materialise to provide parts and services for your customers under your own name. If you sell your own digital 3D models, there even an integration partnership that enables you to offer your customers a way to order a print of your models from Materialize and you get a cut.
FIT AG
FIT is a German additive manufacturer that’s been delivering custom metal parts and components globally for more than 20 years. They have facilities in the US, Japan, Russia, and Europe.
When it comes to metals, FIT offers a wide range of materials and technologies and several conventional production technologies as well. Together with their development expertise for 3D printed components and their extensive post-processing possibilities, they offer metal additive manufacturing for everything from medical implants and aerospace parts to spare auto parts and sculpture.
FIT shines when it comes to expertise and has 250 employees on the job. They boast that they make the entire value chain of 3D printing available to customers – from product design through to engineering, production, and post-processing. As a development and implementation partner, they’re not an upload-and-order shop like Sculpteo or Protolabs. They’re more of a guide for additive manufacturing who can show you the best path to reach your project goal.
They provide individual consultation and training services on the topic of additive manufacturing. And, because they know additive manufacturing is not always the best solution in every single case, they also have numerous conventional technologies, such as CNC milling, injection molding, vacuum casting, or elastomer manufacturing.
Protolabs
Minnesota-headquartered Protolabs makes their claim to fame with speed. The company promises very short lead times. They have also recently released an all-new digital quoting platform, which provides not only instant quotes, but also design analysis. In 2021, Protolabs joined forces with the online manufacturing platform Hubs, further enhancing their production capabilities.
Although Protolabs doesn’t (at this time) provide 3D modeling services, the offer an automated design for manufacturability analysis. If you have questions after the online quotation process, Protolabs’ expert engineers will walk you through your material and design choices, and help you determine optimal part orientation for printing.
In addition to 3D printing, the company offers CNC machining and sheet metal fabrication services. If you feel the need for speed, Protolabs is the service for you.
Fathom MFG
Fathom gives Protolabs a run for its money when it comes to speed. The company says it can deliver 3D printed metal parts with its DMLS technology in as few as three days. That’s an impressive speed, although it comes with one limitation – Fathom MFG only serves the US market.
They provide a great deal of information about their process and materials, including potential application suggestions. In materials, Fathom has a good number of options available, including more exotic materials like nickel alloy.
The company provides several finishing and post-processing options for part orders. They also provide extensive engineering and design support, from concepting and 3D modeling to prototyping, topography optimization, and more. As a cherry on top, they have CNC machining and metal cutting capabilities.
Fathom is the speed demon of metal 3D printing services with a great deal of customer support – if you’re located in the U.S.
Sculpteo
Sculpteo (now a part of the BASF group) originated in France and has an additional manufacturing plant in San Francisco, US. They also have various offices in other European countries. Although they primarily focus on Europe and the U.S., Sculpteo does provide worldwide shipping.
Their services include an online 3D printing service, laser engraving, and an in-house software platform called Fabpilot, which they offer on a subscription-based model. Sculpteo serves a great number of industries, but they particularly highlight automotive, medical, and eyewear sectors.
Sculpteo also has an extensive learning and education library and blog. It provides useful, up-to-date information for both beginners and 3D printing experts. The company also offers design consulting, 3D modeling, simulation, and production services.
Sandvik AM / BeamIT
Swedish engineering group Sandvik has more than 150 years of metallurgy experience, so they know metal. They brought this expertise to additive manufacturing with the 2013 launch of Sandvik AM. So, if you’re looking for the most seasoned metal veterans to produce your parts for you, Sandvik’s the company to go for.
Sandvik AM has this list’s largest variety of metal alloy powders, including several specialty and high-performance materials. The list is constantly expanding, too – just in April 2021 Sandvik AM launched a new super duplex steel powder. They also offer the option to customize materials for your specific application. To work with its materials, the company uses powder bed fusion and binder jetting technologies.
With more than a century and a half of experience, you’d expect Sandvik to be able to provide in-depth consulting and advice – and they do. The company offers design services, in addition to extensive advanced post-processing and testing options, thanks to their knowledge of all things metal. In 2019, Sandvik acquired a significant stake in BeamIT, the Italian 3D printing company with more than 59 printing systems across Europe and the UK at 7 factories.
What is especially significant at Sandvik and BeamIT, is that they hold several quality certifications including for automotive components. When you need the kind of sureness only years and years of experience can bring, you should definitely contact Sandvik AM.
Stratasys Direct
Stratasys is one of the largest 3D printer makers in the world but we’re not putting them in the section below with the other printer makers who also offer on-demand services because Stratasys actually doesn’t make metal 3D printers – unless you count the MakerBot which can print with metal filament.
Their print service, called Stratasys Direct, uses laser powder bed fusion machines from EOS to offer metal prototypes, end-use parts, and volume manufacturing. In fact, Stratasys Direct has one of the largest fleets of metal 3D printing machines for manufacturing services in North America.
Stratasys Direct benefits from its parent company’s 30 years in additive manufacturing with material scientists and engineers who know their stuff. You can call on them for design and engineering help or browse through the tutorials and guides on their site.
METAL PRINTER MANUFACTURERS WITH PRINT-ON-DEMAND SERVICE
If you have a shop full of metal printers and a staff staff experts in the technology – like you’ll see at any large metal printer manufacturer – you might as well put that to work making custom parts. Or at least that must be the thought behind some of the metal part-on-demand services offered by 3D Systems, ExOne, and Digital Metal among others, which all offer metal printers.
So how are these service providers different and why might you want to consider working with one of them?
The first reason is the heightened level of expertise with a particular printer technology. The printer’s manufacturer will know the ins and outs and limits of their technology down to the smallest details. This can make it easier for them to assist you with the choice of technology, materials, and parts design.
Working directly with a printer manufacturer also gives you a chance to demo their machines’ capabilities in case you want to buy one. If you’re considering a metal 3D printer purchase for your operation, it might be worth it to order some on-demand parts from a manufacturer to evaluate the machine – especially if you already have a specific printer in mind.
It could also be that you already own a printer from one of these companies, but your machine is just too busy to deal with a suddenly increased workflow. Ordering on-demand printing services from your trusted manufacturer is a good option for getting more parts done, and you’ll know exactly what kind of parts quality you’ll get.
For all these reasons, consider these best on-demand metal printing services offered by 3D printer manufacturers.
ExOne
ExOne is known for their Innovent and X1 metal printers, among others. Their global on-demand printing coverage is achieved through local partnerships, through which they have a strong presence in Europe, the US, and Eastern Asia. They use binder jetting technology and mainly focus on metal, sand, and ceramics as their primary materials. Their metal material offering is somewhat limited, with only steel, Inconel, and bronze in the ExOne-certified category, but they offer plenty of information to evaluate each material.
MX3D
Dutch MX3D manufactures the M1 Metal AM System, a robotic printer based on WAAM technology. For their global on-demand printing service, the company has 10 such units ready to serve its customers. MX3D focuses on medium- and large-scale components for a great variety of industries, such as oil and gas, automotive, and maritime. They are able to print in with steel, aluminum, and copper alloys, and they also offer post-processing services.
3D Systems / QuickParts
3D Systems, based in South Carolina, has an on-demand manufacturing service that’s so popular they just sold it to a private equity firm. The new company will operate as QuickParts and can produce parts in steel, aluminum, titanium, cobalt chrome, and nickel alloy. They offer printing and consultation service globally, and can also provide additional services like CNC machining and casting patterns.
GE Additive
GE Additive Print Services, part of the General Electric group, makes use of their EBM and DMLM metal 3D printing technologies, most of which have been obtained through mergers and acquisitions. They also provide their own materials, as well as their consultancy and training services. They focus on medical, automotive, military, dental, and aerospace industries. Although their services aren’t available online, they do offer US customers a full range of printing services via their Print Services Center in Pittsburg. The company also provides limited services in Europe through their Lean Manufacturing facilities.
Digital Metal
Sweden’s Digital Metal offers an on-demand metal printing service using its DM P2500 binder jetting printer. The company focuses on small, complex parts in the fields of manufacturing, dental, medical, aerospace, and luxury goods. Their material selection is admittedly very limited, comprising only steel and copper, but they do serve a global customer base and can produce highly detailed parts very quickly.
EOS
Although Germany’s EOS doesn’t directly 3D print your metal parts, they do have a handy list of additive manufacturers with EOS machines who do contract manufacturing, including several in Africa, an underserved area.
Are You Sure You Want That in Metal?
Before you jump at metal 3D printing, you should ask yourself one vital question: do you really need your part printed in metal?
You may have always used machined metal parts for a certain application in the past, so it only seems reasonable that you should go for metal with 3D printing as well. However, that’s not always true. Often, an engineering-grade plastic part can provide similar or even better functionality, while at the same time cutting down part weight and manufacturing costs. Plastic is often cheaper than metal, after all.
Only an expert additive manufacturing engineer can make the call on what would be the best material. This is why partnering with a 3D printing company that provides in-house design and engineering consultation is so valuable. They will be able to tell what the most suitable material for your application is.
Not only that, a full-service design and printing company can guide you through the entire process. You only need to have your part concept, and they can advise you on the best design, material, and post-processing options. If they offer services such as iterative design and topography optimization, they might very well be able to produce a more durable and cheaper part out of materials you didn’t even consider.
That said, it might be that you actually have a decent bit of metal 3D printing experience. Maybe you’ve used several printing services, or even used to have a printer of your own, and you know exactly what you need. In such a case, you can safely opt for a printing service that offers less comprehensive additional services. This can often bring the printing cost down as the company doesn’t have as many experts on its payroll.
Practically all of the printing services listed above provide at least some kind of design consultation, and a few also have extensive material guides and learning resources available. It’s a good idea to start by reading up on what they’re saying about your application. And when in doubt, you can always simply contact a couple of services about your project. They will be ready to help you, and if they’re not, you will know that one wasn’t the right partner for you.
Source: The 10 Best Metal 3D Printing Services in 2022 | All3DP Pro