Desktop Metal announces qualification of three different metals for 3D printing
Desktop Metal has announced it has qualified Copper Alloy C18150 for its Production System 3D printer, alongside Sandvik Additive Manufacturing, and an unnamed a ‘major global automaker’.
The company has also announced the qualification of Titanium Alloy Ti64 with TriTech Titanium Parts Binder jet 3D printing with the same system and the qualification for 304L Stainless Steel CETIM on the mid-size Shop System.
C18150, also known by the name chromium zirconium, is a high-conductivity and high-strength copper alloy that’s commonly used in thermal transfers applications like electrical connectors, welding electrodes, or other electronic and electrical components according to Desktop Metal.
The company says that a global automaker is now testing a unique 3D printer part design, which is being developed for a future production application, in C18150 using Sandvik’s Osprey metal powder.
“We are proud to announce that chromium zirconium copper is now a qualified material, bringing our world-leading portfolio of binder jet materials to 23 metals,” said Ric Fulop, Founder and CEO of Desktop Metal. “Simultaneous with our C18150 announcement, we’re also announcing 304L qualification on the Shop System ad Ti64 customer-qualification on the Production System, which demonstrates how our Team DM experts are collaborating with customers on application-specific material and part qualification projects for future additive manufacturing 2.0 production.”
Desktop Metal partnered with TriTech Titanium Parts in Detroit to qualify Titanium Alloy Ti64. TriTech Titanium Parts manufactures titanium parts for industrial and commercial markets, including automotive, marine and aerospace. Ti64, according to the company is a popular material due to its strength/weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility.
Desktop Metal claims that the use of binder jetting to produce Ti64 parts simplifies the production of complicated titanium parts. These parts can be difficult and costly to make using traditional manufacturing techniques.
“With binder jet 3D printing, titanium production of even the most complex geometries can be greatly simplified and achieved at a lower cost,” said Robert Swenson, owner of TriTech. “Our team is incredibly proud to be the first Desktop Metal Production System P-1 customer worldwide to binder jet 3D print titanium, and we’re excited to offer this new manufacturing technology to our customers.”
Desktop Metal said that the qualification for 304L is a complement to the full range of stainless-steel materials available on the Shop System middle-sized binderjet 3D printer. These include 17-4PH, IN625, 316L and Cobalt Chrome. According to the company 304L is a notable stainless steel for its high tensile strength and corrosion resistance as well as durability.
“304L is one of the many Additive Manufacturing materials that CETIM is studying and developing processes for on behalf of French industry,” said Christophe Reynaud, Ph.D., Additive Manufacturing Material Engineer at CETIM. “304L is a key material in the energy sector due to its corrosion resistance, suited for highly demanding environments such as civil nuclear applications. Coupled with the high versatility and responsiveness of the Shop System, it is now possible to considerably reduce the lead-time for critical 304L maintenance parts, avoiding long and expensive downtimes in the factory.”
Fulop added: “We are delighted to partner with the highly respected CETIM on qualifying 304L for use on the Shop System. This new material will enable manufacturers to produce complex geometries in 304L parts quickly and efficiently, regardless of whether they are looking for low or high volumes. 304L is a flexible, widely used stainless steel across many industries, and we’re delighted to offer it in our affordable, popular Shop System model.”
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