From time to time, we will see a 3D printer that can print the entire house with concrete or the entire rocket with metal. But usually, for the needs of our budget-friendly hobbyists, most of our 3D printers will print small plastic parts. However, if you have patience and a little salt water, take a look at this 3D printer, it can be modified to use any type of metal cutting parts, manufactured by [Morlock], he turned the printer into a 5-axis CNC machine.

Of course, this modification is not 3D printed metal. It converts the CNC function of a 3D printer into a machining tool using electrochemical machining (ECM). This process removes metal from the workpiece by passing the electrode through the metal in the presence of salt water to quickly corrode the metal. This is a very precise method of metal cutting without the need for expensive or heavy processing tools, which use parts that can be easily 3D printed or easily obtained. By using a 3D printer shaft and modifying the print bed to be salt water resistant, metal parts up to 3 mm can be cut no matter what kind of metal is used. [Morlock] also added two additional shafts to the cutting tool, allowing it to cut metal at strange angles.

Using a 3D printer to perform such CNC machining is an excellent way to obtain machine tool performance without incurring any costs. Of course, it requires some major modifications to the 3D printer, but it does not require the strength and rigidity required by standard CNC machines in order to extract parts from it with acceptable tolerances. However, if you are interested in using a more traditional method to guide such a machine, we recently launched a CNC machine, which can be made of common materials and assembled together at the lowest cost.

Thanks [Zane] for the tips!

I want to know how much work is required to achieve accuracy and precision below 50 microns.

It's more like a 3D subtractor, then a 3D printer...

Converting a 3D printer: conversion?

Very interesting concept, thanks for posting!

The ECM method of processing metals has great potential. It eliminates the noise, weight and stiffness required to work accurately with any type of rotating tool. Compared with cnc plasma and laser, it also has some advantages. I think the biggest disadvantage is speed and scope of work, but for small and complex jobs, it works well. It's hard to think of anything else on the desktop with this feature. It's great to see someone design a really streamlined version. I would be happy to have a 3 axis.

Yes, I am also very good with 3-axis. It will only generate tool paths. Focus on reliable tool speed/cutting width.

I am very happy to see this development. You can use a 3D printer to make a knife of any shape, and then apply a metal coating to it. The cutting process is slow, but still very useful, and can even handle hardened steel.

Can't wait for the first ECM processing to be the receiver

AR... well, it makes sense. It should be fun.

Can't wait for the first ecm machined engine block.

I spent some time studying engine head castings. The problem is the internal water and oil channels, any subtraction process will encounter difficulties. People do this by milling the inside and then welding the side plates and (as a traditional manufacturing) drilling holes in the oil passages. Although there is not much challenge to the engine block. Turbine blades, now...

Sewing machines, stand mixers, you know mechanical things, you really can't buy ready-made ones anymore, because every box store brand sells them as soon as they hear them, and they are filled with plastic gears.

It's really too bad, it doesn't scale well. The Faraday constant is really a headache.

But hey, people still make aluminum and glass, so maybe the extraordinary energy input and massive effluent per unit output mass is really not difficult to deal with-just count it in the product cost and damage the environment.

Really? Wow. It's like DMM (Destructive Marble Modeling) sculpting, or you don't know anything about processing or making anything.

Next you will tell us that mud is the most important invention, and writing is meaningless. I mean history and mathematics are racist.

Very insightful and useful comments.

And such a cute and smart username! I guess you are very popular at parties.

There is a similar/related technology called EDM, which is significantly faster and still has a lower tool force, which can still be handled by plastic tools. It is still not as fast as traditional processing, but it may be worth a look.

It is not faster. Quite the opposite. ECM is much faster than EDM.

I must hate it wrong. Thanks!

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