MetalFog pre-metallizes your 3D printed parts

Metal additive manufacturing is one of the main trends in 3D printing with strong growth in recent years – the new Wohlers Report 2018 explained that 1,768 metal additive manufacturing solutions were sold in 2017 compared to 983 in 2016, showing an increase of about 80%. It is a technology that remains expensive and represents a significant investment for many companies. With the expensive price tag that comes with metal 3D printing, French company Metalizz is offering an alternative with their pre-metallization machine called the MétalFOG®. Relatively compact, it provides a chemical pre-metallization of plastic parts and is adaptable to any working environment.

The metallization of plastics has become an increasingly common practice, offering many benefits to users. Giving a metal coating to plastic parts provides an additional protection that not only gives them greater strength but also protects them against heat and corrosion when it subsequently receives an electrolytic deposit. In addition, this metallization can also provide a purely aesthetic purpose combined with organic finishes (colored varnishes) – in sectors such as perfumery, the colored metal finish is an important element. Metalizz, therefore, saw an opportunity and took their chance to launch themselves into this market in February 2017 as a spin-off of the companies Chemconsult and Corima Technologies. Its MetalFOG® solution is an excellent complement to additive manufacturing.

The MetalFog machine is equipped with a touchscreen to facilitate its use

Streamlined metallization of parts

MétalFOG® is a post-processing machine that deposits a thin layer of metal (0.5 to 5μm, depending on the application time) by spraying it onto a plastic part. Ready to use, it is able to process a wide range of polymers such as PEEK, alumide, PE, PVC, PPS, PA, PET and many others. It can process parts contained in a virtual cylinder with a diameter of 200 mm by 300 mm maximum in height. This autonomous post-processing machine also makes electrically conductive parts that are not electromagnetic shielding applications.