GPI Expands Access and Adoption of Direct Metal 3D Printing with 3D Systems Technology

3D Systems has announced that they have formed a partnership with Midwestern 3D printing and prototyping services provider GPI Prototype & Manufacturing Services, Inc. to expand their range of direct metal 3D printing capabilities. GPI is already a leader in local direct metal printing services and the new technology will allow them to offer their customers in the automotive, aerospace, healthcare and personal electronics industries the ability to manufacture end-use production parts. 3DS will also have access to GPI’s extensive metal design and production experience to develop new industry applications for their metal 3D printing technology.

3D Systems ProX 300

Under the partnership, GPI will install several new 3DS Direct Metal Printers (DMP) at GPI’s recently expanded Illinois production facility. The new 3D printers will include a ProX 300 and two ProX 200 systems to support the expansion of their metal additive manufacturing services. Additionally, GPI’s staff metallurgical engineer as well as their metals applications engineer will work with 3DS to conduct research together using 3DS’ DMP metal 3D printing technology. The partnership will spearhead GPI’s new R&D and production capabilities while advancing the development of new 3DS DMP applications.

3D Systems Direct Metal Printing technology is a direct metal laser sintering process that uses a carbon dioxide laser to melt powdered metal materials into solid parts. The process is similar to selective laser sintering however SLS simply sinters the powder together while with the DMP process the material is completely melted rather than sintered, creating a fully dense metal object identical to traditionally manufactured metal parts. The 3DS ProX line of metal 3D printers include automated material loading and recycling systems and can be used with fifteen different materials, including stainless steel, tool steel, super alloys, non-ferrous alloys, precious metals and alumina.

“GPI has an excellent reputation and many years of experience in direct metal prototyping and manufacturing. We are delighted to be working with them to advance manufacturing innovation through access to our direct metal printing technology,” said 3D Systems Chief Revenue Officer, Professional Products, Charlie Grace.

GPI Prototype & Manufacturing Services, Inc. is a privately owned service bureau specializing in rapid prototyping using 3D printing and additive manufacturing technologies. The company was founded in1980 by Galloway Plastics, Inc. by Scott Galloway along with its sister company GPI Anatomicals. Their product design and engineering experience has been used to manufacture prototypes, promotional toys and products for McDonald’s and Kellogg’s, as well as devices manufactured for the pharmaceutical, medical device and medical implant markets.

Direct Metal Printing

“This collaboration with 3D Systems gives us expanded production capability in Direct Metal printing to meet the rapidly growing needs of our customer base. Direct Metal Printing is a game changer for manufacturing, allowing engineers to design complex components or organic geometries that have not been possible through traditional manufacturing. With the expertise of 3D Systems and GPI, our goal is to provide access to and adoption of this technology for our customers’ critical applications,” explained GPI President Adam Galloway.

Here is a promotional video from GPI about the new partnership with 3D Systems: