Desktop Metal Qualifies Copper Alloy C18150 on the Production System™ with Sandvik Additive Manufacturing and Top Five Global Automaker
Desktop Metal, Inc. (NYSE: DM), a global leader in additive manufacturing technologies for mass production, in collaboration with Sandvik Additive Manufacturing, a world-leading producer of gas-atomized metal powders, and a top five global automotive manufacturer, today announced that copper alloy C18150 had been DM Qualified for binder jet 3D printing on the Production System™.
These complex demonstration parts are binder jet 3D printed on the Desktop Metal Production System™ P-1 in C18150, also known as chromium zirconium copper. The material has now been qualified for use on that high-speed printing platform in collaboration with Sandvik Additive Manufacturing, a world-leading producer of gas atomized metal powders, and a top five global automotive manufacturer, who is scaling a part design in C18150 for serial production on the Production System™ P-50. (Photo: Business Wire)
The Production System platform features high-speed Single Pass Jetting (SPJ) technology on two models: the P-1, for research and development of binder jetting projects for serial production, and the P-50, the world’s fastest metal binder jet system, offering the lowest cost per part, with SPJ technology.
Sandvik Osprey developed and provided C18150 powder that routinely delivered as-sintered densities of 98-99% when printed on the P-1, allowing the automaker to deliver a unique component design that is targeted for high-volume production on the Production System™ P-50 after additional development.
Chromium zirconium copper offers a combination of strength, conductivity, and corrosion resistance that makes it suitable for a wide range of industrial and commercial applications. It’s also able to withstand service temperatures up to 500°C, making it ideal for certain applications in the automotive industry.
“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 and 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 and Sandvik will discuss details of this project at AMUG 2023, held March 19-23 in Chicago. The topic will be part of a panel discussion from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Thursday, March 23, in the Joliet Room at the Hilton Chicago. The company will also provide an update on binder jetting of Ti64 and Al6061.
Our Material Qualification Process
Because Desktop Metal binder jet technology can 3D print almost any powder, the company has a tiered material qualification system for metals to signify the varying levels of material property results produced by our technology:
- DM Qualified: Printing and sintering profiles developed by DM, with fully characterized material and mechanical properties. Meets MPIF or other similar standards, where available.
- Customer-Qualified: These materials have been qualified by our customers with their own standards and are being successfully printed for their own applications.
- R&D Materials: Initial testing completed by DM demonstrating binder and process compatibility. Printing and sintering profiles are under final development.
This content was first published on the Desktop Metal website.
