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Industrial additive manufacturing provider Makerly has expanded its production capabilities with metal 3D printing based on Selective Laser Melting technology. The service is intended for companies that require high-precision prototypes, replacement components and small production runs without investing in dedicated molds or complex tooling.
Metal additive manufacturing enables components to be produced directly from digital CAD models. A laser selectively melts layers of metal powder, gradually forming a dense three-dimensional part. This workflow allows manufacturers to create internal channels, lightweight structures and complex shapes that may be difficult or expensive to produce through conventional machining or casting.
Makerly uses the Xact Metal XM200G system for the production of industrial metal components. According to the company, the process can achieve material density of up to 99.5%, with mechanical characteristics suitable for functional applications rather than presentation models alone.
The system has a build volume of 150 × 150 × 150 millimetres and is designed for small, precise components as well as medium-sized functional parts. The technology can be applied at different stages of product development, from testing an initial design to manufacturing a limited commercial batch.
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Focus on functional industrial components
The new production direction complements Makerly’s existing work with polymer Multi Jet Fusion printing. While polymer materials remain suitable for housings, brackets, adapters and lightweight functional components, metal printing addresses applications that require higher mechanical strength, thermal resistance or long-term stability under demanding operating conditions.
Potential applications include tooling components, equipment parts, technical prototypes, replacement elements and components for the automotive, medical, energy and manufacturing sectors.
The company currently works with materials including 316L stainless steel and Corrax. Stainless steel 316L is valued for its corrosion resistance, ductility and impact resistance. It is widely used in industrial equipment, food-processing systems, marine environments and certain medical applications.
Corrax is also used for components requiring strength and resistance to challenging environmental conditions. Material selection depends on the geometry of the part, its operating environment, expected mechanical loads and post-processing requirements.
More information about Makerly’s metal 3D printing service is available on the company’s website.
Production without dedicated molds
One of the main advantages of metal additive manufacturing is the ability to begin production without creating a separate mold for every component.
Traditional production methods remain highly efficient for stable, high-volume orders. However, tooling costs can become a barrier when a company needs only several prototypes, a replacement component or a limited batch.
With digital manufacturing, design changes are introduced directly into the CAD model. A revised version can therefore be produced without replacing a physical mold. This is particularly useful during product development, when dimensions, mounting points or internal structures may still change after testing.
Metal 3D printing can also support the production of components that combine several previously separate parts. Reducing the number of connections and assembly operations may simplify the final product, although every design still needs to be evaluated for manufacturability.
Post-processing remains part of the workflow
Printed metal components may require additional operations depending on their final purpose. These can include heat treatment, polishing, milling, grinding or other surface-finishing processes.
The required workflow is determined by dimensional tolerances, surface quality and mechanical requirements. For this reason, the cost and production time cannot always be calculated from the weight of a part alone. Geometry, printing orientation, support structures and post-processing complexity also affect the final estimate.
The expansion into metal printing reflects a broader shift in additive manufacturing. The technology is increasingly being used not only for rapid prototyping but also for functional parts and production-ready components.
For manufacturers, the main benefit is not that additive manufacturing replaces every established process. Instead, it provides an additional production option for projects where flexibility, complex geometry and the ability to manufacture without dedicated tooling are more important than very high production volumes.