DESKTOP METAL – PRODUCTION SYSTEM
Metal 3D printing for mass production
Created by the inventors of binder jetting and single-pass inkjet technologies, the Production System™ delivers the speed, quality and cost-per-part needed to compete with traditional manufacturing methods. It’s the fastest way to print metal parts at scale.
100x faster
Breakthrough Single Pass Jetting™ technology delivers speeds up to 12,000cm3/hr—more than 100x faster than quad-laser metal printers and over 4x faster than the closest binder jetting alternative. With zero tooling required, it’s the fastest way to manufacture complex metal parts.
20x lower cost
Low-cost MIM powder, high throughput, and simple post-processing deliver per-part costs that are competitive with traditional manufacturing processes—and up to 20x lower than today’s metal 3D printing systems.
The process
1. Print
State-of-the-art print bar containing 16,384 nozzles works in conjunction with powder spreaders to disperse metal powder and print in a single pass across the build area, jetting up to 1.5 billion drops per second.
2. Depowder
Parts are removed from the build box and cleared of any loose powder that remains in channels and crevices in preparation for sintering.
3. Sinter
Heated to temperatures near melting, remaining binder is removed causing the metal particles to fuse together and the parts to densify.
The fastest way to print complex metal parts.
Powered by Single Pass Jetting™ (SPJ™), the Production System features bi-directional printing where all steps of the print process—powder deposition, spreading, compacting, ballistic suppression, and binder jet printing—are applied with each pass over the build area. Whenever there is movement, there is printing—making it the fastest way to print complex metal parts.
Speed
up to 12,000 cm3/hr
Build Volume
490 x 380 x 260 mm
Resolution
<50 µm voxels
Bi-directional printing
With each pass over the build area, the printer spreads metal powder, binder, and anti-sintering agents to create a new layer while avoiding any wasted motion.
High-density 3D nesting
Production System parts are not welded to a build plate. Instead, they’re self-supported by loose powder-enabling full use of the build volume and higher productivity per build. The software automatically arranges each part, nesting them to maximize throughput.
Constant wave spreading
The non-contact system maintains a uniform powder wave in front of the compaction roller. This creates a powder bed with consistent density throughout the build regardless of the build box length, traveling at speeds as high as one meter per second.
Low-cost, low-flow powder
Constant wave spreading enables the use of low-cost, low-flow MIM powders with irregularly-shaped particles.
Cold printing
Binding agents are printed at room temperature without the need for heat activation, allowing for the immediate transfer of the build box to downstream processes.
Ballistics suppression & software based redundancy
The ballistics suppression mechanism prevents clogging of jets—drastically reducing variability in the print process and increasing the longevity of the printhead. An optical inspection system combined with software based redundancy eliminates the need for printhead redundancy and dramatically reduces maintenance requirements.
Inert processing
An inert processing atmosphere ensures maximum safety and quality by controlling oxygen content within the process—making it possible to print with reactive metals like titanium and other high-performance alloys.
Automated printhead maintenance & diagnostics
Integrated maintenance and automated diagnostic modules work with the ballistics suppression mechanism to deliver the robust and reliable printhead performance.
Modular build box
The build box is a low-cost, removable component designed for efficient and easy transfer to downstream processes.
Open materials & process platform
Manufacturers can procure metal powders directly from suppliers and manually adjust key processing parameters for greater quality control, as well as well as control in their supply chain.
