“Affordable” 3D printers print metal this fall

Founded in 2015 the startup Desktop Metal announced a commercial version of their 3D printer for printing metal products — DM and DM Production Studio. The developed technology has allowed to refuse from harmful powders and expensive laser sintering systems, and take steps to speed up the printing process. It helped the team attract the attention of Google, BMW, Stratasys and other companies who have already invested in the project nearly $100 million.

Showed

The technology is suitable for the production of parts on an industrial scale

Device Desktop Metal support printing in a variety of metals and alloys, including steel, aluminum, titanium, copper and so on. Oven can heat up to 1400 °C without reaching the melting temperature of the material at which it begins to lose its shape. Model DM Studio suitable for installation in the office. Like regular 3D printers, it prints the thread from a mixture of metal powder and binder polymer. In the sintering process with the use of microwaves of large power polymer completely burned.

DM Studio is a toy on the background of DM Production

In DM Production uses a different principle. First, on the plot area to 300х200х200 mm layer of metal powder with a thickness of 50 microns (the thickness of a human hair), and then the printer sprays a bonding agent and the surface dried under high temperature. The process is continuously repeated, and then the workpiece is placed in a furnace. According to the manufacturer, the performance reaches up to 8200 cm3/h, which 100 times faster than traditional laser 3D printers on metal.

How much is it?

Price DM Studio starts at $50 000 for the printer and up to $120,000 for a full set of equipment. The larger DM Production costs from $360 000, but the existing laser or electron beam system will cost even more — $800 000 for them not the limit, there are even setup for $1.8 million

When to wait?

Pre-orders for 3D printers Desktop Metal opens in may. Delivery DM Studio will start in September this year, and DM Production will be available only in early 2018.

Source: 3ders, Desktop Metal, TechCrunch