Sintering Kiln — Hardware

TVF FireX Sintering Kiln

A purpose-built desktop sintering kiln for metal, glass and ceramic FDM prints. Reaches 1260°C / 2300°F — well above the temperatures copper, bronze and steel sintering need. Touchscreen control, programmable schedules and a standard household plug.

1260°C / 2300°F Max Touchscreen Controller Standard 15 A Plug UL Listed Made in USA
TVF FireX Sintering Kiln

A purpose-built kiln for metal FDM

The FireX Sintering Kiln is the missing piece between your FDM printer and a finished metal part. Standard household ovens top out around 250°C; even most pottery kilns aim at the 1000°C ceramic glaze range. The FireX reaches 1260°C with the touchscreen control and programmable schedules that metal sintering actually requires.

It runs from a standard 115 V / 15 A household outlet (NEMA 5-15P plug), so you don’t need to wire in a dedicated 240 V line. Footprint is small enough for a workshop bench, garage or outbuilding — while still giving you an 8″ × 8″ × 6″ firing chamber for a typical small-part workflow.

This is the recommended kiln for TVF Filamet™ users. The temperature range, controller and chamber size are all matched to the typical metal-FDM sinter schedule. If you want one purchase that handles copper, bronze and steel, this is it.

Why this kiln, not a pottery kiln

Pottery kilns can technically reach metal-sintering temperatures, but they aren’t optimised for it. Six reasons the FireX wins for metal FDM:

Programmable schedules

Touchscreen lets you set ramp rate, hold time and cool-down separately. This is what TVF’s sinter schedules require — fixed-temp pottery firing won’t cut it.

Reaches 1260°C

Comfortably above the 970°C copper sinter, 970°C bronze sinter and ~1200°C steel sinter temperatures. One kiln, every TVF metal.

Standard household plug

115 V / 15 A on a NEMA 5-15P plug — the same outlet your toaster uses. No electrician required.

Right-sized chamber

8″ × 8″ × 6″ (203 × 203 × 152 mm) firing chamber — matches a typical 300 mL TVF crucible perfectly.

UL Listed

Independently safety-certified to UL standards. Important for workshops with insurance or compliance requirements.

Recommended by TVF

Tested and validated by The Virtual Foundry against their full Filamet™ range. Sinter schedules are written for this hardware.

What it sinters

The FireX is rated for the entire TVF Filamet™ range plus glass and ceramic prints. Compatible materials:

Metals

  • Copper
  • Bronze (89/11 tin bronze)
  • Stainless steel 17-4 PH
  • Stainless steel 316L
  • H13 tool steel
  • M300 tool steel
  • Inconel 718

Glass & Ceramic

  • Pyrex® (borosilicate glass)
  • Amaco 46-D ceramic

Plus any standard ceramic up to 1260°C if you want to use the kiln for pottery between metal runs.

Installation & placement

Plan where the kiln will live before it arrives.

Power

115 V / 15 A on a NEMA 5-15P plug — standard Australian-imported equivalent uses a 115V supply (a step-down transformer or a US-spec circuit will be required for AU operation; see FAQ).

Footprint

Outer dimensions are 15″ × 20.5″ × 14.5″ (381 × 521 × 368 mm). Plan for clearance on all sides — the outer surface gets hot.

Ventilation

Mandatory. Place in a workshop, garage or outbuilding with airflow — never indoors near living spaces. The binder burn-off in the early ramp produces smoke and odour.

Surface

Sit on a fireproof, heat-resistant surface (concrete, paver, or kiln stand). Keep flammable items at least 1 m clear in all directions.

Specifications

Specification Details
Maximum temperature 1260°C / 2300°F
Power 115 V, 15 A, 1800 W, 50/60 Hz, single phase
Plug type NEMA 5-15P (US standard)
Controller Mini touchscreen with programmable schedules
Chamber dimensions (W × D × H) 8″ × 8″ × 6″ (203 × 203 × 152 mm)
Outer dimensions (W × D × H) 15″ × 20.5″ × 14.5″ (381 × 521 × 368 mm)
Shipping weight ~58 lbs (~26 kg)
Certification UL Listed
Compatible materials All TVF Filamet™ metals + Pyrex® (borosilicate) + Amaco 46-D ceramic
Origin Made in USA

Safety essentials

A 1260°C kiln is serious equipment. Follow these basics every time:

  • Ventilation is mandatory. Operate in a workshop, garage or outbuilding with airflow. Never indoors near living spaces.
  • Keep flammables 1 m+ clear. Outer surfaces get hot. Sit the kiln on concrete, paver or a kiln stand.
  • Heat-resistant gloves only. Loading and unloading hot crucibles requires proper PPE.
  • Don’t open mid-cycle. Wait for the kiln to cool to safe handling temperature before opening the lid.
  • Read the SDS for your filament. Binder burn-off chemistry varies by material.
  • Never leave the early ramp unattended. Once the binder has burned off (usually first 1–2 hours), the rest of the cycle is safe to leave running.

Frequently asked questions

Will this work on Australian power?

The FireX is built for the US 115 V / 15 A standard with a NEMA 5-15P plug. To run on Australian 230 V mains, you’ll need a step-down transformer rated for the kiln’s 1800 W continuous draw — choose a transformer with at least 2500 W continuous capacity for headroom. Contact us before ordering if you’re unsure about your power setup.

What if I already have a pottery kiln?

If your pottery kiln reaches 1000°C+ and has a programmable controller, you can use it for TVF Filamet™ sintering. The FireX advantages are: temperature ceiling well above any TVF material, controller designed for sinter ramps, the right chamber size for a 300 mL crucible, and no risk of contaminating your pottery kiln with metal binder residue.

How long is the typical sinter cycle?

12–24 hours end to end — ramp + hold + cool-down. Most of that time is unattended. The first 1–2 hours (binder burn-off) need to be supervised in a ventilated area; after that the kiln runs by itself.

How big a part can I sinter?

The chamber is 8″ × 8″ × 6″ (203 × 203 × 152 mm). Your part needs to fit inside a crucible (typically the 300 mL alumina, ~93 mm diameter) with refractory ballast around it. Practical part size: roughly fist-sized green parts, accounting for ~15–20% shrinkage at sintering.

What’s the lead time?

FireX kilns are made-to-order in the USA. TVF’s estimated lead time is up to 17 weeks from order to ship-ready. International freight to Australia adds further transit time. Contact us for current ETA before ordering.

Can I sinter pottery and glass in it too?

Yes — the kiln is rated for borosilicate glass and Amaco 46-D ceramic out of the box, and it works for any standard ceramic up to 1260°C. If you mix metal sintering with ceramic firing, do a clean burn cycle between switches to avoid residue contamination.

Works with the rest of the TVF range

Pair with any TVF Filamet™ spool or starter kit. The temperature, controller and chamber are all designed around these materials.

Getting Started Bundle (Bronze)

The recommended starter bundle — bronze filament, Filawarmer, crucible and refractory ballast. Pairs perfectly with the FireX.

Copper Print & Sinter Kit

Same bundle structure but with Copper Filamet™ — the lowest sintering temperature in the TVF range.

(TVF-FIREX-KILN)

SKU TVF-FIREX-KILN
Brand The Virtual Foundry
Shipping Weight 40.0000kg
Shipping Width 0.800m
Shipping Height 0.570m
Shipping Length 0.590m
Shipping Cubic 0.269040000m3

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