Massachusetts-based Desktop Metal has revealed its metal 3D printing technology. The company has announced two 3D printers, the USD $120,000 DM Studio for rapid prototyping and the DM Production for production, which is expected to cost around USD $360,000 with additional equipment pricing to be determined.
Because Desktop Metal relies on powders from the metal injection molding (MIM) market, the company suggests that its technology can use the over 200 alloys found in MIM. So far, it has demonstrated the use of two varieties of stainless steel, Chrome Moly alloy steel, C11000 copper, Kovar F-15, Inconel 625 and H13 tool steel.
The DM Studio is described as about 10 times less expensive than industrial selective laser melting (SLM) systems and the DM Production is described as being one hundred times faster than SLM technology.