Desktop Metal Introduces New Model to Production System Platform Ahead of First Shipments Starting Q1 2019

FRANKFURT, Germany–(BUSINESS WIRE)–With preparations underway for the first customer installation of its mass production system in early 2019, Desktop Metal today announced several major advancements and expanded capabilities to the Production System™, the most fastest in the world, offering the lowest cost per part with the highest capacity of any metal 3D printing system available. At formnext 2018, the leading international additive manufacturing trade show, the company will preview a wide range of 3D printed metal parts, from mass serialization to high-volume, high-volume production and consolidation from assembly to simplified manufacturing of complex metal parts.

Installation of the first production system is scheduled for Q1 2019 at a Fortune 500 company among Desktop Metal’s first Pioneer customers. Additional customer installations at leading automotive, heavy-duty and metal parts manufacturers will follow throughout 2019, with wide availability in 2020.

“We are excited to provide the international engineering and design community with more in-depth insight into the power of the production system with updated innovations and a comprehensive exhibit of metal parts that will be on public display for the first time. this week,” said Ric Fulop, CEO and co-founder of Desktop Metal. “As we continue to expand our roster of global customers and partners, businesses that embrace the groundbreaking technology available with the production system and facilities expected to begin rolling out in the coming months, Desktop Metal is looking to make further evolving the industry beyond prototyping to now include large-scale metal fabrication.

Developments of the production system
Powered by Single Pass Jetting™ technology, the production system is the first and only metal 3D printing system for mass production that offers the speed, quality and cost per part needed to compete with traditional manufacturing processes . It is over 4 times faster than any binder jetting competitor and offers a 100 times speed improvement over any laser based system. Since its introduction, advances in production system technology and capability have expanded to include:

• Accelerated print speeds up to 12,000cm³ per hour, making it the world’s fastest metal 3D printer with the highest capacity;

• The company’s flagship configuration now features an expanded build volume of 750 x 330 x 250mm, a 225% improvement, designed for higher throughput and efficiency;

• Two full-width print bars, advanced powder spreaders, and an anti-ballistic system that spread powder and print in one quick pass over the build area, making it the printhead most sophisticated single-pass inkjet ever installed in a binder-jet system;

• Using 32,768 piezo inkjet nozzles that allow the widest range of binder chemistries to print a range of metals – including tool steels, low alloy steels, titanium and aluminum – at a rate of 3 billion drops per second;

• First and only binder jetting system with an inert industrial environment, including gas recycling and solvent recovery, to safely print reactive metals in mass production; and

• Ability to print over 60 kilograms of metal parts per hour.

shapenext 2018
As well as showcasing the latest developments and technologies within the production system, Desktop Metal will also showcase an overview of printed metal parts and applications across all industries at formnext 2018, demonstrating the range and complexity now achievable for production. massive. Featured exhibits, spanning automotive, industrial machinery, consumer products, manufacturing, tooling and more, will be on display November 13-16 in Hall 3.0 – Booth C10.

• Spauger Bit – Simplified fabrication for complex metal parts
  The Spauger Drill Bit, by Desktop Metal Pioneer customer Milwaukee Tool®, features a complex geometry that traditionally required multiple manufacturing steps to produce, including time-consuming dedicated setups for milling, turning and grinding operations. The production system has revolutionized the process by reducing the number of spauger manufacturing steps from over 20 to four, and producing up to 1,400 spauger tips per four hour build.

• High variety manufacturing – mass serialization in high variety/high volume production
  The production system is capable of mass customizing generatively designed gear lots to varying quantities with mass production efficiency. Instead of having to post-process each part using laser or electrochemical etching, ink marking or dot hammering, parts can now be printed with serial numbers – or other customization details – in place, creating a full build volume of unique parts with no need for post-processing.

• Print-in-Place Hinge – Assembly Consolidation for High-Volume Production
  Standard hinge designs, such as those used with eyeglasses, typically consist of two leaves that are linked by a central pin and rotate around it. Assembling these small components can be time consuming in large quantities and often requires precision engineering tools and equipment to manufacture. The production system is capable of printing over 45,000 pre-assembled 12 x 5 x 6 mm eyewear hinges in a single four-hour build. The hinge shown at formnext has been manufactured with the pin printed directly into the mating leaf joint – eliminating assembly time and reducing the risk of disassembly with use over time.

About Desktop Metal
Desktop Metal, Inc., based in Burlington, Massachusetts, USA, is accelerating manufacturing transformation with end-to-end metal 3D printing solutions. Founded in 2015 by leaders in advanced manufacturing, metallurgy and robotics, the company is addressing the unmet challenges of speed, cost and quality to make metal 3D printing an essential tool for engineers and manufacturers around the world. Since inception, the company has raised $277 million in funding from a portfolio of partners and strategic investors, including Ford Motor Company, GV (formerly Google Ventures), GE Ventures, BMW iVentures, Lowe’s, New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and many others. Desktop Metal was selected as one of the world’s 30 most promising technology pioneers by the World Economic Forum; named to MIT Technology Review’s 50 Smartest Companies list; and recognized among the most important innovations in engineering in popular science “The best of what’s new.” For more information, visit www.desktopmetal.com.