Metal 3D printing has long served the aerospace and medical industries, and is now making its way into watchmaking.
HBD Additive Manufacturing, in collaboration with CN Precision Technology, has developed an end‑to‑end manufacturing process for titanium watch cases – using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) combined with specialized post‑processing. The goal is to verify whether the design freedom offered by 3D printing can meet the watch industry’s demanding surface quality requirements.
The material of choice is TC4 titanium alloy (Ti‑6Al‑4V), which offers light weight, corrosion resistance, and skin‑friendliness with no irritation. However, conventional machining is extremely difficult: milling causes high tool wear and material waste, stamping limits complex shapes, and casting struggles to ensure dimensional accuracy for small, precision parts. LPBF fills the gap perfectly – no molds, no assembly of multiple parts, and the ability to print complex geometries, integrated structures, and fine transitions directly from a digital model.
The watch components are manufactured on the HBD‑400 system. This machine features a large build volume and supports up to six lasers working in parallel. With bidirectional powder recoating and multi‑laser strategies, multiple parts can be produced in a single build. It is reported that production time is cut by more than half compared to traditional processes. Changing the style of the case, dial, or bracelet simply requires modifying the print data – no need for new molds.
The real challenge, however, is surface quality. Watch industry components must not only be dimensionally precise but also withstand optical‑grade scrutiny. CN Precision, leveraging its expertise in post‑processing for watches and jewelry, has developed a dedicated post‑processing workflow for laser‑printed titanium. This collaboration proves a key point: for metal 3D printing to shine in consumer goods, the printing process and post‑processing must be treated as a complete, integrated chain.
