3D Printed Steel Knife? Midgards Messer

[sixplymaple]

What are your thoughts? My first thought was that the steel is probably doo doo.

Proprietary MM3D steel for 3D printing…

Midgards knife MM3D the first knife made of printed hardened steel

Midgards Knife MM3D

midgards-messer-shop.com

Midgards Messer MM3D Custom Fixed Printed Steel Made in Germany (100 % STAINLESS) - Tools For Gents

Midgards Messer MM3D Custom Fixed Printed Steel Made in Germany (100 % STAINLESS) Midgards Messer MM3D Custom Fixed Printed Steel Made in Germany (100 % STAINLESS)

toolsforgents.com

 

[Synov]

We need Larrin

 

[Larrin]

3D printing of tool steel means some degree of porosity and a cast structure so it would not be my preferred method.

 

[SomebodySomewhere]

Deleted.

 

[sixplymaple]

I want to spend the crazy $ to buy one. That way I could send it to DBK to be tested/ruined lol.

 

[herisson]

My first thought was that the design is beyond ridiculous...

 

[Citori]

I’ve seen the 3d metal processes that use sintering, but my understanding is that what’s produced is something along the lines of pot metal … not really structurally tough. But I don’t know how much of that comes down to the feedstock.

The Walker Defense Research Nero is a rifle compensator that is 3D printed from Inconel. Sintered as it prints using a laser.

I have one that I haven't shot a whole lot, but it hasn't fallen apart yet.

 

[SomebodySomewhere]

Deleted.

 

[SomebodySomewhere]

Deleted.

 

[Citori]

Is a compensator structurally loaded, or is it more of a counterbalance? Certainly it would get percussive forces.

Not structurally loaded beyond the fact it has to support its own weight hanging off the end of the barrel.

As far as I can tell it is homogenous, as in the threaded section that attaches to the barrel is the same 3D printed material as the rest. I didn't think to look but guessing the threads are cut into it after printing.

In any case I don't know how well 3D printing works for something like a knife, but if it isn't there now it will be.

 

[sixplymaple]

In any case I don't know how well 3D printing works for something like a knife, but if it isn't there now it will be.

True!

 

[SomebodySomewhere]

Deleted.

 

[A.L.]

edit: nevermind

 

[brownshoe]

3D printing of tool steel means some degree of porosity and a cast structure so it would not be my preferred method.

Would it have characteristics similar to Boye’s cast 440C?

 

[Legendary_Jarl]

This is the second instance of "3D printed steel" I've heard of. Somebody on facebook made a 3D printer steel dagger for Lord of the Rings Boromir. It sounded fragile AF...

 

[davek14]

Certainly a novelty but raises many, many questions for me.

I’ve seen the 3d metal processes that use sintering, but my understanding is that what’s produced is something along the lines of pot metal … not really structurally tough. But I don’t know how much of that comes down to the feedstock.

They say this is “hardened,” but how?

Still, interesting.

Exactly. Powdered metal is fused with a laser. I've seen a few 3d printed parts (all aluminum) and they basically replaced castings. They were a lower cost way to make parts you might normally cast so as to avoid the cost of making a mold.

I've been out of the trades for a few years, so I'm sure technology has advanced. I'm also sure that very high end applications had very high end 3d metal printing even then (with a very high end cost of the printer). However, metal removal was used whenever it could be.

3d printing of metal is useful as hell for certain things, but I think metal removal will be used for most parts for a while, no matter how neat 3d printing is.

Many or most parts are not all that complex so as to have 3d printing make sense. You can pick up a used Haas machine tool pretty cheaply and a lot of small shops pay peanuts. I think a knife blade would be considered a straightforward part with no internal, hard to reach, complexity.

 

[Murindo]

Midgards Messer 3D prints plastic sheaths and scale inserts and one fixed blade knife that even they note is experimental and expensive ($ 750). This knife is 3D printed, then machined, and heat treated.

I have knowledge of 3D metal printing and 3D is capable of creating quality knives but the materials are limited and the costs are great.

The other knives offered for sale on the Midgards Messer site are of normal manufacture.

 

[Tsujigiri]

Interesting, but I'm a little suspicious. I'm sure for most people's uses, you could make an acceptable knife with 3D printing. But I remember working with 3D printed nylon and getting some weirdly flat stress/strain curves. For something that really tests the characteristics of a material like a knife edge, something like that could be very detrimental to performance. And I don't see good a reason for a knife blade to be made with such unusual contours that it can't be made with traditional manufacturing methods, so you're giving up something for nothing.

 

[flatgrinder]

Expensive, interesting concept, but I'm thinking that it could be brittle?

 

[sixplymaple]

Would it have characteristics similar to Boye’s cast 440C?

I doubt it, considering the layering when 3D printing. The bottom has got to get cool before the top when “printing”. Casting is done all in one shot.