Desktop Metal upgrade enables titanium and aluminium Binder Jetting
May 10, 2024
Desktop Metal, Inc, headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, USA, has announced the launch of a Reactive Safety Kit for its Production System P-1 metal Binder Jetting (BJT) Additive Manufacturing machine. The P-1 is capable of processing 17 metals, but the Reactive Safety Kit is required for the Additive Manufacturing of titanium and aluminium.
Reported to be in development and testing for more than two years, the P-1 Reactive Safety Kit features ATEX-rated components, as well as critical hardware and software updates to ensure the highest level of safety. ATEX certification is given to equipment that has undergone rigorous testing outlined by European Union directives and is considered safe to use in specific environments with explosive atmospheres.
“Titanium and aluminium are two of the most frequently requested materials at Desktop Metal, and we’re proud to say that we can now offer a commercial 3D printer with the necessary safety features to binder jet 3D print these materials,” stated Ric Fulop, founder and CEO of Desktop Metal. “Based on our ongoing projects with major manufacturers, we know our technology is well on its way to unlocking new designs that deliver higher performance, weight reductions, and other benefits – all with our high-speed 3D printing technology that makes Additive Manufacturing more affordable for production volumes. We are diligently following our roadmap to deliver high-volume production of these materials on our largest printers in the future.”
A number of Desktop Metal’s customers are already binder jetting titanium and aluminium today. “Our team at TriTech has found Binder Jetting to be a good complement to our Metal Injection Molding (MIM) business,” said Robert Swenson, owner of TriTech and also the former owner of AmeriTi. “With binder jet 3D printing, titanium production of even the most complex geometries can be greatly simplified and achieved at a lower cost. We’re excited to offer this cutting-edge manufacturing technology to our customers.”
Additionally, Desktop Metal has several projects in development with manufacturers sing a variety of speciality materials developed by Kymera International, including titanium and aluminium.
“Since formalising our partnership in 2021 through a Joint Development Agreement, we have been excited to work closely with Desktop Metal to develop a range of metal powder solutions optimised for the Binder Jetting process,” said Joe Croteau, Technology Manager – Specialty Materials with Kymera.
A global supplier of specialty materials and surface technologies, Kymera International has contributed decades of metallurgical expertise and process knowledge to offer sintered aluminium alloys with excellent performance.
“Kymera’s well-established relationships with a diverse group of customers has given us the opportunity to focus on the needs of high-volume manufacturers, and we are proud to now have a commercially established solution. Over the past two years, we’ve successfully printed a variety of aluminium geometries and part sizes through multiple programs.”
The production System P-1 is qualified to additively manufacture seventeen metals, including stainless steels, low-alloy steels, copper alloys, tool steels, nickel-based alloys, precious metals, and more.
With this announcement, titanium (Ti64) is now classified as Customer-Qualified on both the P-1 and X-Series models when upgraded with an inert atmosphere and other safety features. Aluminium is also now classified as Customer-Qualified on the X-Series and R&D Qualified on the P-1 when upgraded with an inert atmosphere and other safety features.
