The Virtual Foundry Podcast

There's no getting around it. We need ammonia. Not only in ways it's being used now, but to help us get to green energy production. Hydrogen is the future's green energy source but it's volatile and hard to transport. This is where ammonia comes in. It's stable and easy to move around. And hydrogen can be extracted from it using electrosynthesis. FFF Metal - that's metal 3D...

Looking for a model to print? Want to source a shape that's close to get you started on your own design? Trying to remember where you got that one model that one time? Check out Thangs.com. Thangs is the fastest growing 3d community with over 2.4 million available models to search, store, and collaborate. Join Tricia and Austin as they talk with Paul Powers, one of the creators of Thangs.com a...

Discover the Power of printing metal with your everyday 3D printer – from Creality and Prusa, to Ultimaker and Bambu Lab... Everyone can 3D print PURE metal parts. But why is FFF Metal so crucial? Let's rewind to the beginning with Brad, the visionary behind this concept. Why did he believe it was essential to venture into this innovative realm? Prepare to be inspired as we delve into the myri...

University and higher education students around the world are publishing papers about FFF Metal with The Virtual Foundry. Sometimes they are studying the process itself. Sometimes they are using the process in support of a larger project. They're all informative and it's exciting to be working with these young innovators worldwide. In this podcast episode, Brad and Tricia talk about: - The...

FFF Metal with The Virtual Foundry means you're 3D printing metal on your own equipment. Lots of people ask us, What's the biggest part I can make? Brad and Tricia talk through the sweet spot of part size in this podcast, and they cover what to do when you want to print something that's bigger than that. Brad shows the biggest parts we've made here (6lbs of copper!) and the challen...

The Virtual Foundry walks its own talk with an FFF Metal 3D printed flange adapter in use on our extruder - the very machine we use to make Filamet™ metal, glass and ceramic 3D printing filaments that print in any FFF 3D printer. This case study shows how the part was designed (including some tips for DFAM), how short it took to make (2 days!) and how it's used on the machine. -- Use Instructi...

Join Tricia as she interviews Partner Innovator Highball and gets the latest on his development work with microwave sintering and other FFF Metal techniques. We'll go back to the beginning to hear about his earliest experiences, then fast forward to today for a look at what's on his development table now. Highball's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Mr-Highball How to Calibrate...

In this episode, Tricia is out of the office so it is up to Brad and Austin to tell you all about the kilns that you can use with Filamet™. Referenced in the podcast: Podcast V3E10 - Why Titanium and Aluminum are Different: https://youtu.be/wYOfXh-ed-0 Can you Sinter 3D Printed Bronze in a Forge: https://youtube.com/shorts/AQqYCCsTfh4?feature=share -- Use Instructions: https://thevirtualfoundry.co...

Join Brad, Austin and Tricia for a discussion on green part strength. The Virtual Foundry's Filamet™ metal, glass and ceramic FFF/FDM 3D printing filaments print in common, off-the-shelf 3D printers like Creality, gMax, Raise3D and Ultimaker. Learn more about the prints printed with Filamet™ in this podcast. What are green parts? How strong are they? Are they conductive? What if I want to poli...

Listen in as Brad and Tricia talk through the origins of FFF Metal - *How Brad came up with the idea *The early versions of the process *See a photo timeline of the creation of the technology that will spur $54B in metal parts by 2030. Brad's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-woods-6b6b0214 Tricia's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tricia-suess-2327205 -- Use Instr...

In this episode, Tricia interviews Martín Prieto, Additive Manufacturing Technician for Filament2Print, TVF's European reseller. Learn about the markets Filament2Print serve (hint: it's more than just the EU), the services they offer and what you call sun-bathing in Northern Spain. Filament2Print: www.filament2print.com -- Use Instructions: https://thevirtualfoundry.com/help/ TVF Shop: https://sho...

If you've written in to The Virtual Foundry, you've likely received a response from Austin. Meet the man behind the email! Austin fills you in on everything he does at TVF, why Filamet™ is cool, and where to find his Horrible Podcast. Mentioned in this video: Stoughton High School FabLab: https://fablabstoughton.org/ Halmstad University FabLab: https://www.hh.se/english/collaboration/collaboration...

Brad and Tricia talk through the ins and outs of infill for your Filamet™ metal 3D printed parts. What is the ideal amount? What if I don't want to use the ideal amount? How do I decide? -- Use Instructions: https://thevirtualfoundry.com/help/ TVF Shop: https://shop.thevirtualfoundry.com/ Write to us: info@thevirtualfoundry.com

Gordon LaPlante at gCreate shares the work he's done with Copper, Bronze and Stainless Steel 17-4 Filamet™. Phone holders, rockets, Medusa and more! You'll learn about the equipment Gordon used, including the gMax 2 PRO, gCreate's large format 3D printer. And some speculation about what would happen if you printed two different materials into the same part. gCreate: https://www.gcreate.com/ gCreat...

Join Tricia for an interesting conversation with PhD Candidate Amogh, Associate Professor Senad and Professor BG of Halmstad University in Sweden. "What we like in particular, all three of us, is this type of open architecture. You buy material. You are free to choose your printer. You are free to choose your debinding and sintering furnace. And that we have a community so that every one of us is...

Precious Metal Clay and FFF 3D printing have a lot in common! They both start with a powdered base metal, then hold it together with a binder. Once your shape is formed, you debind and sinter your part. There are a few differences too and you'll hear all about it in this podcast episode. More resources: Metal Clay: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_clay Understanding Sintering in Metal Clay: htt...

With special guest: Tom Stock, Research Engineer on the Fusion 360 Additive Team at Autodesk. Listen in as Tricia interviews Tom about the addition of The Virtual Foundry Filamet™ Metal 3D Printing Filament print profiles in the latest update release of Fusion 360. - How to find the profiles - How printing with Filamet™ metal filament is different than printing with plastic - What materials are av...

Most materials from The Virtual Foundry debind and sinter in open atmosphere, meaning no gasses or vacuum required. But Titanium and Aluminum are different. Listen in as Brad and Tricia talk about what makes them different and why you can't sinter these two materials in open atmosphere. -- Use Instructions: https://thevirtualfoundry.com/help/ TVF Shop: https://shop.thevirtualfoundry.com/ Write to...

Get to know MatterHackers as Tricia interviews Dave Gaylord, Vice President. Hear about David's work in 3D printing, the addition of FFF Metal to MatterHackers' portfolio of products, and who designed King Arthur's round table. https://www.matterhackers.com/ David's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-gaylord-080b5631/ -- Use Instructions: https://thevirtualfoundry.com/help/ TVF Sh...

You've done the work... You printed with Filamet™ metal 3D printing filaments in your FDM/FFF 3D printer. You put that part through the debind and sinter cycles in your kiln. Now, how can you make that part all shiny and beautiful? Read below to learn a few techniques for shining up your printed part: Wire Brush Tumbling Buffing Wheel Spoiler Alert: You'll also learn what a Viking's favorite car i...

The 3D printing nozzle is that single important connection between your 3D printer and the object you're creating. Learn all about the nozzle in this podcast: - What diameter nozzle to use when printing Filamet™ - What material nozzle to use when printing Filamet™ - Do I need a gem-tipped nozzle? - Why did the cell phone get glasses? -- Use Instructions: https://thevirtualfoundry.com/help/ TVF Sho...

In this second edition of Partner Innovator Frequently Asked Questions, Brad and Tricia answer: - How should I store my Filamet™ - How much retraction should I use? - Why are my sintered parts black and crumbly?  And, most importantly, why did the invisible man turn down the job offer? -- Use Instructions: https://thevirtualfoundry.com/help/ TVF Shop: https://shop.thevirtualfoundry.com/ Write...

Tune in to this podcast to learn the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about Filamet™ and how to use it. What slicer settings should I pay attention to? Can I hold the sinter temperature for longer than the website says? Can the sintering powders be reused? How do you plan a party in space? -- Use Instructions: https://thevirtualfoundry.com/help/ TVF Shop: https://shop.thevirtua...

"It's incredibly liberating to know that you can just create whatever shape you want."  Join Brad and Tricia in a discussion about the last 7 years, the creation of Filamet™ and the future of metal 3D printing. This isn't an evolution in manufacturing technology, it's a revolution. -- Use Instructions: https://thevirtualfoundry.com/help/ TVF Shop: https://shop.thevirtualfoundry.com/ Write to...

They're our neighbors to the north and the official resellers of The Virtual Foundry products in Canada. And, they're so much more! They're got a full menu of services to go along... scanning, printing, sintering. Listen in and get the full details.  Canadian Additive: https://www.canadianadditive.ca/ 64 Hatt Street, Unit G07 Dundas, Ontario, L9H 7T6 +1 416-479-0009 sales@canadianadditive.ca...