I'm working with 3D printed titanium and I'm having a tough time finding suitable tools for support removal. I've read that I should use A2 tool steel or HSS tool steel, but manufacturers that make tools out of these materials are hard to come by. Ideally, I'm looking for tools with a hardness rating between 58-62 HRC, and closer to 62 if possible. While there are tools in this hardness range, most suppliers don't specify the hardness, making it really challenging to find what I need. If anyone has recommendations for snips, cutting pliers, chisels, or files that fit these criteria, it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
2 Answers
Have you thought about what exactly you need the tools for? Snips and pliers sound good, but you might want to reconsider woodworking chisels since they typically don't fit this use case. I'd recommend reaching out to Grainger to see what they have available. Also, consider cold chisels as they’re designed more for stone and metal work. Regular files should work on titanium too, just keep in mind they might wear out quickly!
For 3D printing, I think regular diamond files can work well. I've had success using some cheap diamond needle files on hardened steel, so you might not need anything overly fancy. Check out brands like EZE-Lap for reliable options. Also, Bessey offers HSS snips, but just make sure they’re the right size for your needs.
We 3D print using laser powder bed fusion, which makes titanium a must for our clients. During printing, we need support structures to prevent distortion. After printing, we manually remove these supports through various methods like snipping and grinding, but the tools we get often wear out too quickly. We're working on better breakaway supports, but we still need sturdy tools for now.