-
-
We are happy to advise you. Please contact our team for further information. info@am-pioneers.com
Shop System
Desktop Metal Shop System: Metal Binder Jetting for Industrial Mass Production
The Desktop Metal Shop System is an industrial metal binder jetting system designed for the cost-effective production of complex metal components. As one of the world’s first binder jetting systems developed specifically for mechanical engineering, manufacturing facilities, and metalworking companies, it enables the rapid and cost-effective mass production of metal parts.
Would you like to find out more about the Desktop Metal Shop System and its possibilities for your production?
Printing process
The Desktop Metal Shop System is based on the Metal Binder Jetting process, in which metal powder is processed layer by layer and selectively bonded using a liquid binder. The components then achieve their final strength and material density through the sintering process. This process enables significantly higher productivity than traditional laser-based metal 3D printing methods and is particularly well-suited for medium to high production volumes. The Metal Binder Jetting process consists of three steps
Step 1 – Print
The binder jetting process describes the layer-by-layer application of metal powder. A binder is then applied via several thousand nozzles according to the component cross-section in order to bind the loose powder. This process is repeated until the build volume is filled with the metal parts and loose powder.
Step 2 – De-powdering
Once the printing process is complete and the binder has hardened, the components are transported to a powder station in a construction kit, where the loose powder is removed. An integrated powder recycling system recovers 98% of the loose powder.
Step 3 – Sintering
After depowdering, the metal parts are sintered in a furnace at temperatures of up to 1400 °C. At temperatures close to the melting point, the binder escapes from the component and the molecular chains fuse together, allowing the desired mechanical properties to be achieved. The finished metal part is comparable to a cast part with a density of 98%.
Central advantages
High-resolution print head
The Desktop Metal Shop System features an industrial print head with approximately 70,000 nozzles, enabling a high-resolution metal binder jetting process for complex metal components. Even fine structures, small details, and intricate geometries can be reproduced with precision. This makes the system particularly well-suited for applications with high demands on accuracy and surface quality.
Scalable manufacturing
The Desktop Metal Shop System was specifically designed for scalable mass production and enables the cost-effective production of tens of thousands of metal parts per year. Depending on the configuration, the flexible build volume is available in 4, 8, 12, or 16-liter sizes and can be optimally adapted to different production requirements.
No support structures
The metal binder jetting process does not require support structures, as the parts are fully stabilized by the surrounding loose metal powder during the printing process. This makes it particularly efficient for producing complex geometries, internal channels, and delicate structures.
LiveSinter
Desktop Metal’s integrated LiveSinter™ software enables the simulation and automatic compensation of component shrinkage and deformation during the sintering process. LiveSinter™ offers a decisive advantage for reproducible industrial production processes in metal binder jetting, particularly for complex metal components.
Applications
The classic, high-priced production of heavy blades by stamping or metal injection molding is replaced by the Shop System. In addition, the production lead time is drastically reduced and a durable component is mass-produced.
This textured gear knob is an example of customized series components. With the shop system, individual parts can be produced on-demand, increasing design flexibility and avoiding storage costs.
This swirler is used to force the diesel fuel mixture into the burner of an engine. The smallest changes to the geometry of the component can have a drastic effect on burner performance and fuel consumption, so constant adjustment is important.
Qualified materials
| Material Group | Examples | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Stainless Steel | 17-4PH – 1.4542 | Functional components, medical grippers |
| Stainless steel | 316L – 1.4404 | Food industry |
| Stainless steel | 304L – 1.4307 | Energy industry |
| Cobalt alloys | CoCrMo | Aerospace, medical technology |
| Nickel-based alloys | IN625 – 2.4856</ td> | Aerospace, Offshore, Chemical Industry |
| Nickel-based alloys | IN718 – 2.4668 | High-temperature applications |
FAQs - Customer Questions About the Desktop Metal Shop System
What is metal binder jetting?
Metal Binder Jetting is a sintering-based additive manufacturing process for producing metal components in industrial 3D printing. In this process, metal powder is applied layer by layer and selectively bonded with a liquid binder. The printed components are then debound and densified in a sintering furnace, which gives them their final strength and material density.
The process belongs to the family of binder jetting technologies and was developed specifically for the cost-effective series production of complex metal components.
The process typically comprises three steps:
- Printing
A thin layer of metal powder is applied. A print head then applies the binder precisely according to the component geometry. This process is repeated layer by layer.
- Depowdering
After printing, the so-called green parts are removed from the powder bed and excess powder is removed. Most of the loose metal powder can be reused.
- Sintering
The green parts are then heated in a sintering furnace. During this process, the binder first burns away and the metal particles fuse together to form a dense metallic component with high mechanical properties.
What is the difference between binder jetting and metal binder jetting?
Metal Binder Jetting is a type of Binder Jetting process and refers to the processing of metallic materials.
Binder Jetting = umbrella term for the process using various materials
Metal Binder Jetting = specialized variant for the production of metal components followed by sintering
What are the advantages of the metal binder jetting process over MIM?
Compared to traditional metal injection molding (MIM), the metal binder jetting process offers significant advantages—particularly for complex geometries, shorter development times, and small to medium production runs.
No tooling costs: Metal binder jetting does not require injection molding tools. This eliminates high initial investments, which can quickly amount to tens of thousands of euros with the MIM process. This enables significantly more cost-effective production, particularly for small and medium-sized production runs.
Faster development and time-to-market: New components can be produced and iteratively optimized within a few days using the metal binder jetting process. In contrast, the production of an MIM mold often takes several months. This significantly shortens time-to-market.
Cost-effective small- and medium-volume production: While MIM is primarily suited for very large production runs, Metal Binder Jetting offers advantages for variable batch sizes and frequent design changes. This makes the process ideal for:
- Prototypes
- Small-batch production
- Replacement parts
- Customized components
- Iterative product development
What are the advantages of metal binder jetting over laser-based processes?
Compared to laser-based metal 3D printing processes, Metal Binder Jetting offers particular advantages in the following areas:
- Productivity
- Scalability
- Unit costs
- Build volume utilization
- Mass production
This makes the process particularly suitable for industrial applications involving higher production volumes.
Which e-commerce platform users are there in Germany?
Max Power Life Sciences GmbH is a DIN EN ISO 13485-certified metal 3D printing service provider for the medical technology industry. The company focuses on the development and manufacturing of medical devices and components using metal binder jetting. https://maxpowerls.com/
Image source: Max Power Live Sciences
Additive Willmann is a metal 3D printing service provider based in the Black Forest with a focus on the aerospace industry. The company works with manufacturing technologies such as SLM (Selective Laser Melting) and Metal Binder Jetting (MBJ). https://www.additive-willmann.com/
Image source: https://www.additive-willmann.com/mbj-technologie/
Are you looking to buy a metal 3D printer? We can assist you with expert advice and a live demonstration of the shop system.
If you are interested in purchasing an industrial metal 3D printer, we will guide you through the entire process, from the initial feasibility analysis to installation and process optimization. This includes:
- Component and cost analysis
- Prototype production
- Consulting on material selection
- Installation and training
- Maintenance and technical support
Where can I see the Desktop Metal Shop System in action?
At our technology center in Esslingen, you can see the Desktop Metal Shop System in action and evaluate sample parts. We would be happy to assist you in evaluating the right Metal Binder Jetting System for your application.
Let's talk about your requirements
We provide an efficient introduction to industrial 3D printing, advise you on suitable
3D printing processes and make you fit for additive manufacturing.