Desktop Metal qualifies nickel alloy Inconel 625 for Studio System 2
July 29, 2022
Desktop Metal, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, has announced the qualification of nickel alloy Inconel 625 for its Studio System™ 2 Additive Manufacturing machine. Aside from IN625, the machine now allows users to additively manufacture from eight materials: Ti6Al4V, copper, 4140, H13 & D2 tool steel and 17-4PH & 316L stainless steels.
“The Studio System 2, which features our streamlined and easy-to-use, two-step process, remains the most flexible metal 3D printer in its class,” stated Ric Fulop, founder and CEO of Desktop Metal. “It’s never been more important for manufacturers to have the agility of on-site, on-demand metal production, and the Studio System is a perfect gateway into metal 3D printing for production. Adding IN625 to the portfolio only amplifies the flexibility of this proven system.”
IN625 is a high-performance nickel alloy known for high levels of strength, temperature resistance, and corrosion resistance. These qualities make it a popular material choice for applications in the aerospace, chemical processing, and offshore energy industries.
The strength of IN625, however, makes it a difficult and expensive material to machine into complex shapes. The process typically requires a skilled machinist and special CNC cutting tools, strategies and coolants to shape. It’s reputedly not uncommon for cutting tools to be broken or deformed when milling Inconel stock or for the material to deform when the outer layer hardens too quickly in response to machining.
