Desktop Metal introduces Studio System+ and Studio Fleet for metal Additive Manufacturing
September 6, 2018
An example of Desktop Metal’s Studio Fleet offering in 5:2:1 configuration (Courtesy Desktop Metal)
Desktop Metal, Burlington, Massachusetts, USA, has added a new metal Additive Manufacturing system to its offering. The Studio System+ offers the office-suitable features of the original Studio System™ but is said to have added functionality for the production of small metal parts at higher resolutions. The company has also announced the introduction of Studio Fleet™, a custom-configurable solution which it states is designed to address challenges in low- to mid-volume part production.
“As our office-friendly systems are making their way to customers throughout the country, we’re excited to announce the launch Studio System+ and Studio Fleet, which together offer enhanced features for metal prototyping and low-volume production,” stated Ric Fulop, CEO and Co-founder of Desktop Metal. “Engineers and designers who are looking to push the limits of metal 3D printing with small parts or parts with fine details can now achieve even higher-resolution, with a customisable system configuration for greater process efficiency and throughput right on the shop floor.”
The original Studio System, which made its debut in 2017, was said to be the world’s first office-friendly metal AM system for rapid prototyping, intended to make metal AM more accessible, thereby enabling design and engineering teams to produce metal parts faster and without the need for special facilities, dedicated operators or expensive tooling. The three-part solution includes the AM machine, a debinder and a furnace, and offers process automation by integration with Desktop Metal’s cloud-based software.
The Studio System+ is said to incorporates new print capabilities as well as hardware updates designed for increased throughput. A new swappable high resolution printhead with supporting software profiles is said to allow the production of parts at higher resolutions, with finer features and improved surface finish. According to Desktop Metal, this opens up opportunities for new geometries and applications, with the ability to additively manufacture parts similar to those produced by Metal Injection Moulding (MIM).
In addition, a new in-chamber build plate camera captures a live stream video of the part as it is built, allowing users to closely monitor build progress. Improved software is reported to offer automatic mould lock prevention, part positioning and fleet management, while new stackable shelving within the debinding and sintering units increases part capacity for greater throughput.
A new retort box design is said to increase thermal uniformity, resulting in higher-quality parts. In addition, the system now offers the option to connect to external gas tanks or a house gas line, reducing the cost of consumables and resulting in lower cost-per-part.
Studio Fleet reportedly adds a custom-configurable, in-house metal AM solution to support a variety of production scenarios and scales for a wide range of low- to mid-volume applications across industries. It is expected to make it possible for on-demand metal AM to deliver accessible and scalable manufacturing which can be adapted to diverse business needs, part requirements and production volumes.
“Since the introduction of our original Studio System, we’ve worked closely with hundreds of customers across major industries— aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, cosmetics, and more— to identify key applications and their requirements to incorporate metal Additive Manufacturing into the design process” added Fulop. “This research continues to inform our product development, and we are excited to release an enhanced version of the world’s first office-friendly metal 3D printing solution that will help customers more effectively meet those needs.”
