Metal Binder Jetting is a promising technology, stepping up as a serial production solution in metal AM. However, like other sinter-based AM technologies, MBJ is yet to demonstrate its ability at producing parts in an industrial environment and within acceptable dimensional tolerances.
This paper presents an overview of key sinter-based AM technologies’ capabilities, comparing them to similar conventional processes and highlighting the remaining distance to industrial adoption. All studied AM technologies showed tolerance intervals between MIM ISO 2768 and lost wax D2 P690 standards. Two development paths are then investigated to improve repeatability in Metal Binder Jetting. The first is good practices, where repeatability influential parameters are identified and related recommendations are proposed. The second development is the optimization of an innovative bidirectional powder spreading method for a MBJ printer, allowing for better green density, rising from 56,5% to 58,6% on average. Significant improvements are shown in dimensional capability.

Keywords: sinter-based, MBJ, repeatability, binder jetting, sintering, indirect