Cold Metal Fusion (CMF) now available on the Sinterit Lisa X – Accessible Metal 3D Printing for Engineers

Metal Additive Manufacturing has traditionally been associated with high investment costs, complex infrastructure and specialist expertise. For many engineering teams, this has limited metal 3D printing to outsourced services or large-scale production environments.

The introduction of Cold Metal Fusion (CMF) on the Sinterit Lisa X marks a significant shift. By combining a binder-based metal process with a compact SLS platform, engineers can now access metal 3D printing in a more practical, cost-effective and flexible way.

CMF Video

What Is Cold Metal Fusion?

Cold Metal Fusion (CMF) is a binder-based metal additive manufacturing process that differs fundamentally from laser-based metal printing technologies such as L-PBF (laser powder bed fusion).

Instead of fully melting metal powder, CMF uses a metal feedstock combined with a polymer binder. During printing, only the binder is processed, allowing parts to be produced at low temperatures. The printed component, known as a green part, is then:-

• Depowdered
• Debound – to remove the polymer binder
• Sintered – in a furnace to achieve full metal density

The result is a high-performance metal part with mechanical properties comparable to conventionally sintered components.

Why Cold Metal Fusion Works on the Sinterit Lisa X

The Sinterit Lisa X is an “open-source” material SLS platform known for its controlled thermal environment and support-free printing capabilities. These characteristics make it particularly well suited to Cold Metal Fusion.

By qualifying CMF materials for the Lisa X, Sinterit enables engineers to explore metal additive manufacturing without investing in dedicated metal printers.

The Key Advantages include:

• Lower capital and operating costs compared with laser-based metal systems
• Reduced thermal stress on materials and equipment
• No need for support structures during printing
• Compatibility with established engineering SLS workflows

For design engineers and R&D teams, this means faster iteration and easier integration into existing development processes.

 

Cold Metal Fusion Workflow for Engineering Applications

Cold Metal Fusion on the Sinterit Lisa X follows a structured and engineering-friendly workflow:

1. Printing green parts using CMF feedstock on Lisa X
2. Depowdering and part cleaning
3. Optional green machining for threads or precision features
4. Debinding to remove polymer binder
5. Sintering to achieve final metal properties
6. Post-processing where required

This separation of printing and sintering allows engineering teams to focus on design optimisation and functional testing, rather than complex machine operation.

Use Cases

Cold Metal Fusion supports a growing range of engineering-grade metal materials, including stainless steels, nickel-based alloys and titanium variants. Typical applications include:-

• Functional metal prototypes
• Tooling and jigs
• Small batch production parts
• Components requiring realistic mechanical testing

For engineers, this enables material-accurate validation earlier in the design cycle, reducing development risk and lead times.

What Cold Metal Fusion Means for Engineers

By bringing Cold Metal Fusion to the Sinterit Lisa X, Metal 3D Printing becomes:-

• More accessible for small and medium engineering teams
• Suitable for in-house prototyping and low-volume production
• Easier to adopt using existing SLS knowledge
• Scalable through external debinding and sintering partners

While the technology is still evolving, ongoing qualification and beta programmes are helping refine process stability and design guidelines.

The Future of Accessible Metal 3D Printing

Cold Metal Fusion on the Sinterit Lisa X represents an important step towards democratising metal additive manufacturing. As material options expand and workflows mature, engineers will gain greater freedom to design, test and produce metal components without the barriers traditionally associated with Metal AM.

For engineering teams seeking a practical entry point into metal 3D printing, Cold Metal Fusion offers a compelling balance between performance, cost and accessibility.

This development empowers engineers to prototype, validate and manufacture metal components in-house, accelerating innovation while maintaining cost control and reliability.