---
title: "ETH spinoff a-metal launches compact metal L-PBF 3D printer"
url: https://www.voxelmatters.com/eth-spinoff-a-metal-launches-compact-metal-l-pbf-3d-printer/
date: 2024-12-14
modified: 2024-12-14
lang: en
author: "Davide Sher"
description: "For years, metal 3D printers have been out of reach for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) due to their high costs, large size, and complex operations. Recognizing this gap, ETH..."
categories:
  - "3D Printer Hardware"
  - "Additive Manufacturing"
  - "Decision Makers"
  - "Metal Additive Manufacturing"
  - "Product Launch"
tags:
  - "future"
image: https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/a-metal_ETH_1286.1741874075-640x480.jpg
word_count: 565
---

# ETH spinoff a-metal launches compact metal L-PBF 3D printer

For years, metal 3D printers have been out of reach for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) due to their high costs, large size, and complex operations. Recognizing this gap, [ETH spin-off a-metal](https://www.voxelmatters.directory/company/a-metal/) has introduced a groundbreaking compact system that is both affordable and easy to use, tailored specifically to meet the needs of SMEs.

## Revolutionary cartridge-based design

Unlike traditional 3D printers for metal, which require three separate areas for feeding, building, and managing overflow powder, a-metal’s innovative design eliminates the need for a powder feeder altogether. The team introduced powder cartridges that are placed directly on the recoating unit above the building chamber. This approach not only reduces the machine's footprint, making it comparable in size to a small refrigerator but also significantly enhances safety and ease of use.

By using cartridges instead of loose powder, a-metal’s system ensures that dangerous particles are contained, eliminating the risk of inhalation and allowing the machine to be operated without a laboratory environment. CEO Stephan Steiner highlights the benefits, explaining that their powder cartridges function much like printer cartridges, offering a safer, cleaner, and more efficient solution for users.

In operation, the cartridges supply the powder needed for the recoating process, while excess powder is collected through a small slot into an overflow container. This container can later be attached to a sieving unit, allowing the powder to be sifted and reused. The entire process operates in a closed, contact-free cycle, further enhancing safety.

![Introducing a compact and affordable metal 3D printer designed for SMEs. Discover how a-metal](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/a-metal_ETH_1286.1186735474.jpg)

## Transformative applications in dental and tools

The a-metal printer has a maximum production capacity of 150x150x150mm, making it ideal for a range of relatively small applications in industries such as aviation, lightweight construction, dental products, and injection molding tools. Currently, the ETH spinoff company is focusing on the latter two areas due to their transformative potential.

In injection molding, for example, the ability to create complex, conformal cooling channels within tool inserts enables improved cooling performance. Even small efficiency gains, such as reducing cycle times by fractions of a second, can have a significant impact on high-volume production. This not only lowers manufacturing costs but also reduces CO2 emissions.

![Introducing a compact and affordable metal 3D printer designed for SMEs. Discover how a-metal](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/a-metal_ETH_1286.1539751155.jpg)

In the dental sector, the technology enables laboratories to produce highly customized components in-house, a stark contrast to traditional methods that often involve outsourcing. Milling cutters, typically used for dental products, generate significant material waste and result in bulkier components. By bringing production in-house, dental labs can achieve better precision, reduce costs, and save valuable time.

## Driving adoption through collaborations

To refine its technology, a-metal launched a pilot program, offering ten machines to SMEs at a discounted rate for a six-month trial period. Eight of these machines are already in operation, providing valuable feedback for further improvements. This pilot program also allows the company to explore applications across different industries at an even lower initial CapEx.

Claude Werder, President of Samuel Werder AG, a CNC specialist, shared his perspective on the initiative, emphasizing that the concept, pricing, and dedicated support from a-metal during the pilot program were compelling factors in their decision to participate.

To bring this technology to a broader market, a-metal is seeking industry-aligned investors for its seed financing round. The company has invested heavily in developing both the electronics and mechanical systems from scratch, drawing on the results of CEO Stephan Steiner’s master’s thesis. While the development has been capital-intensive, the potential for the compact 3D printer to transform industries is immense.