Binder jetting: Binder jetting is a 3D printing process that glues layers of powder together with a liquid binder from a print head, usually followed by sintering for metal parts.
A binder jet printer spreads a layer of powder (metal, sand or ceramic) and an inkjet head prints a binder where the part should be. The result is a fragile “green” part. Metal green parts are cured, depowdered and sintered in a furnace, where they shrink noticeably in every direction, so the design is scaled up beforehand to compensate. Sand binder jetting makes moulds and cores for metal casting.
What it means for the price
There is no laser and no support in the bed, so builds are fast and parts can be nested in three dimensions, and the cost per part falls sharply as more parts share a build. The furnace cycle, the setters that hold parts during sintering and losses from distortion make up much of the price. The process suits small metal parts in hundreds or thousands better than single prototypes.
Example: if a build of 400 small parts and its sintering run together cost €2,000, each part carries €5 before finishing. The figures are an example.
Common confusions
Binder jetting does not melt the powder while printing, unlike LPBF, so the strength comes from sintering afterwards. Each part’s share of a build works like build share in polymer powder processes. Quotometry prices binder jetting today for metal and sand; metal parts go to the shop’s review by default; see the binder jetting process page.
Go deeper: What drives the cost of metal 3D printing (DMLS and LPBF)