3D printed knives?

[Doc Dan]

Now that Blackland is releasing the first ever 3D printed stainless steel razor https://www.blacklandrazors.com/products/era
it made me wonder at the future of 3D printing of knives and if Spyderco would produce such a knife. Is this something Spyderco would explore? What would be the up and down sides of this technology for Spyderco? I think eventually it would bring costs down, but would such a knife be as strong and durable as a knife made in the regular way?

[VooDooChild]

This one is pretty cool but also expensive.

https://victoryknives.co.nz/titanium-knife-and-sheath/

It says 3d manufacturing technology, so I have no idea if its actually printed or not but it looks cool.

[JRinFL]

I feel it will be the future of most manufacturing in the future, knives included.

[Mushroom]

It’s not something that I get too excited about. I like 3D printing for prototyping not so much for production.

Maybe a Chaparral could feature some 3d printed scales at some point but I have next to no interest in a fully 3d printed knife from Spyderco. (Unless it’s one of their prototypes , but that would likely go on display as a collector piece.)

[zhyla]

I don’t know much about SLS/DMLS. Does it work with any steel? Can you buy cutlery steel in powdered metal form and print a blade?

You’ll always have to post process the prints as they come out tough and also need to be heat treated.

[Doc Dan]

This could be the future and might be cheaper and easier (eventually) than cutting out blanks or other methods. It might be easier on grinding. Who knows? The technology might develop in unexpected ways and there is no telling the industry that will take it there. Perhaps Spyderco will make us a knife made this way? I don't know if all steels can be used in such a fashion, however.

[kennethsime]

Perhaps with time.

My understanding of 3D Printed objects is that they're still mostly kinda low-definition, so to speak. I'm sure it depends on the quality of your printer as well as the kind of material used.

[Naperville]

I received some knife stands from a fellow forum member. They are fantastic, and 3D printing has come a long way in the last 10 years.

Printed knives are a novelty now, but once they get the materials science down it may be huge. I say give it another 10 years, and the best steels may be engineered for production in 3D printers. Metallurgy is a science. Scientists and engineers have to see it as a better way to make knives, and then we are off!

[JRinFL]

There is a company (Relativity Space) now printing rocket engines, not just parts like SpaceX, using 3d printing. Printing metals will be common practice sooner than we think.

[Josh Crutchley]

I remember someone from VBN Components was a member here and talked about Vibenite 480. If the blades came off the printer just needed sharpened and the pivot reamed, it could be viable. Currently most things you see metal 3d printed are impossible to make using classical methods so blades likely wont see much advantage if any. There would still be finishing needed so I don't think it will ever be cheaper than laser cut or fine blanked blades.

[Araignee]

3F printed knives are probably the future indeed. In turn it should open up a boulevard for on-demand, customised Spyderco models

[Fireman]

I remember someone from VBN Components was a member here and talked about Vibenite 480. If the blades came off the printer just needed sharpened and the pivot reamed, it could be viable. Currently most things you see metal 3d printed are impossible to make using classical methods so blades likely wont see much advantage if any. There would still be finishing needed so I don't think it will ever be cheaper than laser cut or fine blanked blades.

It is something that will be the future for more and more things. It is possible, just a matter of cost and the market place. I hope they make a mule to test.

[Doc Dan]

A knife could conceivably be printed using passes of different steels. There really is no end to what could be done, actually.

[Sharp Guy]

I don’t know much about SLS/DMLS. Does it work with any steel? Can you buy cutlery steel in powdered metal form and print a blade?

You’ll always have to post process the prints as they come out tough and also need to be heat treated.

When I worked in the cold-heading industry we used to get all our steel for parts in wire form on big spools. We worked with a lot of different stainless steels and even some carbon steels. Not sure how heating the steel to the point at which the material will flow will effect the characteristics but that seems like that would be the most logical process for 3D printing metal using the FDM process. There's actually several companies making 3D printers with metal capability but I honestly haven't really taken the time to really look at how these machines work. I few months back I was spit balling career moves and I came across an ad for a position at Desktop Metal. Working for a company that does something I'm actually interested in (like Spyderco ) is my goal and I find this technology fascinating. I took a shot and threw my hat in the ring but only got a very nice rejection letter. You'll never know if you don't try though

A quick look at Desktop Metals smaller Studio machine it's basically FDM as I thought. Looks like they use a furnace to sinter the part which is a very similar process of annealing plastic FDM parts but at much higher temps of course. Getting the material close to melting point bonds the layers and creates a very strong part

https://www.desktopmetal.com/

Additive manufacturing is will increase dramatically in the future. I have zhyla to thank for getting me interested in it. I've learned a heck of a lot in the last few years and I've enjoyed every minute of it

[Danke]

Probably not in my life but in my kid's there won't be as many trucks delivering goods. It'll just be raw material spools or slugs and store will have a couple huge printers. They'll order the print files from Spyderco and make your knife right there. Need a warranty replacement? Printed on site. Want an exclusive or older model; the same. No more panicked scramble to get one of two hundred blue PM2s.

It won't be quite Star Trek replicator yet but close. My kid took it in school and we've got a printer in the house.

[ekastanis]

CGS is DMLS printing firearm suppressors out of grade 5 Ti now, with very intricate geometry.

The part still needs to be heat-treated however, so I doubt they'll ever be printed at the LGS.

[yablanowitz]

When I see a 3d printer with "Austenite", "Martinsite" and "Bainite" settings, I'll consider a printed blade.

[zhyla]

seems like that would be the most logical process for 3D printing metal using the FDM process.

Hmmm, really? FDM is inherently slow since the print time scales with the volume rather than Z height like the other processes. But being less messy (no dust) does have its advantages for home hobbyists. I gave my FDM printer away a couple years ago, it’s all SLA all the time for me now.

[Sharp Guy]

seems like that would be the most logical process for 3D printing metal using the FDM process.

Hmmm, really? FDM is inherently slow since the print time scales with the volume rather than Z height like the other processes. But being less messy (no dust) does have its advantages for home hobbyists. I gave my FDM printer away a couple years ago, it’s all SLA all the time for me now.

Ok....I didn't really look around. Apparently there are SLA machines for metal. I guess I incorrectly assumed SLA couldn't be used because I thought SLA needed material that could be cured by light. I assume there's some other process they've adapted? The smaller "Studio" machine that Desk Top metal offer certainly appears to be FDM and it looks like they're getting great results to me but what do I know.

I've considered SLA but decided I didn't want to deal with resins due to the mess, odor, toxicity, price, lack of colors etc. I'm extremely happy with the results I'm getting with my FDM machines. I've never thought speed (or lack of) was a big deal. One of smaller machines has made literally thousands of parts one at a time. I could do multiples too but don't really need to. I'm about to set one machine up with Klipper which will allow me to dial up the speed substantially without any quality loss. They say 150mm/sec is pretty common. How fast are you running your SLA printer? Which one did you go with?

[wrdwrght]

When I see a 3d printer with "Austenite", "Martinsite" and "Bainite" settings, I'll consider a printed blade.

Beat me to it.

No doubt, however, that 3D printers will make short work of prototyping knives, which will in turn make collaborations a lot easier, what with data flying between computers and printers at opposite ends of the Internet.