Contract manufacturing of small metal parts by 3D metal printing (PBF-LB) from lot size 1 in Leipzig.
3D-Metall Theobald e.K.
Karl-Heine-Straße 99, 04229 Leipzig (Business & Innovation Center) · DENew on Amplifa
The Company
3D-Metall Theobald e.K. is a specialized provider of 3D metal printing (additive manufacturing, Powder Bed Fusion / Laser Beam, PBF-LB) in Leipzig. The company manufactures single parts, prototypes and small series of up to approx. 100 pieces in steel (1.4404/316L, 1.4542/630/17-4PH, 1.2709) and bronze (CuSn10) with component sizes up to 100 mm and wall thicknesses from 0.15 mm. The portfolio includes design-for-manufacturing consulting, CAD work in Siemens NX, the printing job, post-processing by milling, filing, grinding and thread cutting, heat treatment as well as a three-stage micro-blasting process for surface finishing. The materials used were qualified in cooperation with HTWK Leipzig. Customers come, among others, from special-purpose machinery, medical technology, model making, tool and die making, trades, electronics and chemicals. The business is located in the Business & Innovation Center Leipzig Plagwitz.
- Site
- Leipzig
- Processes
- 3D metal printing (additive manufacturing, Powder Bed Fusion - Laser Beam / PBF-LB, SLM), Micro blasting (glass bead blasting, three-stage blasting process), Heat treatment (hardening/aging in furnace), Post-processing (face milling, filing, grinding, thread cutting, drilling), 5-axis CNC machining (via external partners), Plasma polishing (via external partners), CAD design and design-for-manufacturing consulting (Siemens NX), Milling of small parts (small milling machine, since 2019)
- Materials
- Chromium-nickel steel 1.4404 / 316L, Precipitation-hardening chromium-nickel steel 1.4542 / 630 / 17-4PH, Maraging tool steel 1.2709, Bronze CuSn10, Pure copper (99.9%), Stainless steel 1.4301 (Precistop positioning pin), Laser Beam Melting (Selective Laser Melting), Pure Copper (99.9%)
- Certificates
- ISO 9001
- Founded
- 2015
- Industries
- Special-purpose machinery, Medical technology, Model making, Tool and die making, Trades, Electronics
- 01
Consulting on additive manufacturing
- 02
CAD design (Siemens NX)
- 03
3D metal printing PBF-LB
- 04
Post-processing (face milling, filing, grinding, thread cutting, drilling)
- 05
Heat treatment / hardening
- 06
Micro-blasting (three-stage blasting process)
- 07
Inspection and shipping
Materials in 3D Metal Printing
Laser Beam Melting (Selective Laser Melting)
Additive manufacturing process for single parts, prototypes and small series in metal with high detail accuracy.
Chromium-nickel steel 1.4404 / 316L
Stainless steel for delicate small parts such as brackets, tools and spare parts.
Precipitation-hardening chromium-nickel steel 1.4542 / 630 / 17-4PH
Hardenable steel in the portfolio since 2023, suitable for hardenable precision parts.
Maraging tool steel 1.2709
Tool steel in the portfolio since 2026 for tool inserts and mold making.
Bronze CuSn10
Bronze for parts with integrated threads and applications with sliding properties.
Pure Copper (99.9%)
Printed since 2018; build parameters optimized in an HTWK project.
Heat Treatment (Hardening/Aging)
In the company's own furnace since 2023, among others for 1.4542 and 1.2709.
Micro Blasting / Glass Bead Blasting
Three-stage blasting process minimizes process-related roughness to Ra 1.94–3.62 µm.
Plasma Polishing
Surface finishing via external partners.
5-Axis CNC Machining
Machining of metal parts via external partners.
Leipzig Site
Leipzig
DEProduction, consulting and office (Business & Innovation Center Plagwitz)
- Part weight / size
- Components up to 100 mm (Ø 94 × 100 mm build volume)
- Lot size
- Lot size 1 to approx. 100 pieces
- Materials
- 1.4404, 1.4542, 1.2709, CuSn10, pure copper
- 2 PBF-LB systems (Trumpf)
- Drill-mill combination
- small milling machine
- heat treatment furnace
- 3 injector blasting machines Iepco Peenmatic 550S
- grinding workstation
Components and Applications
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3D metal printing (additive manufacturing, Powder Bed Fusion - Laser Beam / PBF-LB, SLM)Additive | Ra 1.94 µm - Ra 3.62 µm (after | 100 mm × 94 mm (build volume cylinder diameter) × 100 mm | – | 1 – approx. 100 pieces | 1.4404 / 316L, 1.4542 / 630 / 17-4PH, 1.2709, Bronze CuSn10 |
| Micro blasting (glass bead blasting, three-stage blasting process)Surface | Ra 1.94 µm; Rz 10.36 µm (side surfaces) | – | 3.5 mm | – | Steel, Bronze |
| Heat treatment (hardening/aging in furnace)Heat treatment | – | – | – | – | 1.4542, 1.2709 |
| Post-processing (face milling, filing, grinding, thread cutting, drilling)Machining | – | – | – | – | 1.4404, 1.4542, 1.2709, CuSn10 |
| 5-axis CNC machining (via external partners)Machining | – | – | – | – | Metal |
| Plasma polishing (via external partners)Surface | – | – | – | – | Metal |
| CAD design and design-for-manufacturing consulting (Siemens NX)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Milling of small parts (small milling machine, since 2019)Machining | – | – | – | – | Metal |
5 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PBF-LB additive manufacturing system (3D metal printer) | Trumpf | 2 | Build volume: cylinder 94 mm diameter x 100 mm height; laser spot 55 µm (steel) / 30 µm (bronze); | – | Leipzig |
| Drill-mill combination | – | 1 | – | – | Leipzig |
| Heat treatment furnace | – | 1 | – | 2023 | Leipzig |
| Blasting machine (injector blasting machine) | Iepco Peenmatic 550S | 3 | – | – | Leipzig |
| Milling machine (small milling machine) | – | 1 | – | 2019 | Leipzig |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
The material properties of the end products were extensively tested in cooperation with HTWK Leipzig. Each component is post-processed after the printing process; the surface roughness after glass bead blasting is Ra 1.94 to 3.62 µm.
| Evidence | Leipzig |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 |
Company History
- 2015
Company founded in the Business Innovation Center (BIC) in Leipzig Plagwitz.
- 2016
Workshop set up with the first PBF-LB system; market entry with bronze and stainless steel; operating as a service provider since 2016.
- 2017
First trade fair appearance at Intec; project to qualify material properties with HTWK.
- 2018
Move within the BIC and a second room; first print in pure copper (99.9%).
- 2019
Hiring of the first employee; small milling machine; HTWK project to optimize the build parameters of copper parts.
- 2020
Expansion by a third blasting machine and another post-processing station.
- 2021
Investment pause due to the pandemic.
- 2022
Second employee and second PBF-LB system; switch to Siemens NX; presentation at METAV.
- 2023
Heat treatment furnace; introduction of material 1.4542; first practical training; mini blasting drum Stratro XS.
- 2024
Website relaunch; introduction of the Precistop workpiece stop; updated parameter sets.
- 2025
Staff change; 2nd place in the Konstruktionspraxis ranking.
- 2026
New grinding workstation; introduction of material 1.2709; tenth anniversary.