Recent Advances in the Biomedical Field with the Lithography-based Metal Manufacturing Process

Lithography-Based Metal Manufacturing (LMM) emerges as an advanced additive manufacturing (AM) technology dedicated to crafting functional metal components with superior surface aesthetics and heightened feature resolutions compared to alternative AM methodologies. LMM employs the concept of photopolymerization in metal manufacturing, where metal powder is intricately dispersed within a light-sensitive resin, forming a three-dimensional structure through layered exposure to light.The printed components undergo a subsequent debinding and sintering process, akin to other sinter-based metal manufacturing technologies. Following these steps, mechanical properties comparable to those achieved through Metal Injection Molding (MIM) can be realized. Additionally, the as-sintered parts exhibit Ra surface roughness values below 2 μm.In this work, we explore recent advances in the biomedical field, showcasing application examples in dentistry and surgical tools. Alloys of steels and titanium find utility in these applications, exemplifying the versatility of LMM in contributing to advancements within the healthcare sector.