Does any of the 3D printable metals stick to a magnet? And how brittle it actually is - I mean when I drop a glass shaped 3D metal object? Thanks in advance, T
Well, steel is magnetic, so...yes. As for how brittle it is, I think that would depend on the size and thickness of the object. If you mean a glass such as the tumbler I am presently holding, I think that would be just fine in metal.
Well yes, only the raw steel is magnetic. Stainless steel is not and so are all the soft metals from aluminum to bronze to silver...
Not all stainless steels are magnetic, fortunately the one Shapeways uses is. I don't know if you could permanently magnetise it, but it is attracted to a magnet.
The Stainless alloy used here is alloy 420. And yes it is definitely magnetic. Quite strongly actually. Maybe even more so than a solid bar of the same alloy! Which is strange considering this is a composite including nearly 40% bronze. The lab guys tell me it has something to do with the use of powdered metal and the heat treatments the prints go through. Weird science for sure.
So other than powdered metal, can I order new limbs and/or extra internal organs from Shapeways yet? I'll design them myself? I'm thinking like a third eye or wolverine claws? (chuckle)
I tried to google for alloy 420 for some additional data on it's magnetic properties but didn't gain much. So it is able to quite well carry the magnetic field. In my application I would appreciate a low remaining magnetism, the less the better. So how about remanence - the remaining magnetism after the current is off from a coil or permanent magnet has been moved from contact? Any numbers or practical "feel" when swept with a permanent magnet and tested to nails or something?
Take a look towards the bottom of this page (martensitic) I tested my daughter's Leo Pendant with a couple of 10mm cube N42 NdFeB magnets... the residual magnetism is enough to hold dressmakers' pins.