Steel 3D printer recommendation

You could feasibly print a 3d mold and use it to create a metal casting mold.  I know I've read articles on that in the past, but you're not going to print in steel any time soon on a normal budget.

Type "3d printing in metal" into youtube or google.  You'll get on the right track.

Thanks Ian, I will take a look at shapeways.

Thanks also to cmetzel. I have already "googled" it but I am hoping to get some more informed opinion.

It may not be steel, but I know there are a lot of other metals out there with relatively low melting points that the Solidoodle could probably withstand and also come in thin enough wires to feed in as well. You might need to modify the extruder a little, but technically speaking, it's feasibly possible..

Well it could print gallium wire (melting point 29.3 deg c), and then have your print melt on a hot day

You are probably thinking of 'fixturing metals' link--> http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAK … TPG=INSRHI this is just one example I have seen at lest a dozen different melting points of these alloys from about 110F through 280F, I just can't find the link right now...I am sure google can turn up some info on the subject though.

EDIT:

Ok, here is a site that lists a variety of the alloys --> http://www.rotometals.com/Low-Melting-Alloys-s/21.htm  if i remember they are kinda expensive but when you need to hold something to machine and the part is unclampable these alloys can be priceless!

I think these would work fairly good in a 3d printer, you would probably have to change the head a little to compensate for some of the properties but I don,t see anything to hard...

electrical solder melts at around the same temperature as ABS.

the problem is that the properties of metals when then melt is completely different to plastics.

basically what I'm saying it, you can feed a roll of 60/40 solder, (50/50 solder has a lower melting temp though) through the solidoodle machine, it should both melt, and release solder from the hot end.

the trouble is metal won't extrude nicely, it won't be build up in layers.

if you try running a roll of solder through your machine what will happen is, solder will emerge from the hot end.
it'll run messily to where it wan't to go.
it won't stick to anything where you want it to.
any layer after the first layer will be messy.

retracting the solder from the hot end probably won't be easy either.

metal has been run through plastic printers before, it's how some rep-rap-ers have investigated printable electronics. -which started as ABS/PLA boards printed with recessed tracks,
then the filament is changed to solder and solder is just melted in to fill the tracks/traces.