Desktop Metal Introduces New Studio System+ and Studio Fleet 3D Printing Systems

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Last year, Desktop Metal got the attention of the 3D printing industry when it introduced the technology it had been working on over the past few years. The Desktop Metal Production System was the first metal 3D printing system to be designed for mass production, while the Desktop Metal Studio System was the first metal 3D printing system to be designed specifically for an office setting. Now the company has upgraded the latter, introducing the Desktop Metal Studio System+. The new system maintains the features of the original system, while offering higher functionality to print smaller parts with better resolution.

Desktop Metal is also introducing what it calls Studio Fleet, a custom-configurable solution to support a variety of production scenarios for low- to mid-volume applications.

“As our office- friendly systems are making their way to customers throughout the country, we’re excited to announce the launch Studio System+ and Studio Fleet which together offer enhanced features for metal prototyping and low volume production,” said Ric Fulop, CEO and Co-Founder of Desktop Metal. “Engineers and designers who are looking to push the limits of metal 3D printing with small parts or parts with fine details can now achieve even higher-resolution, with a customizable system configuration for greater process efficiency and throughput right on the shop floor.”

The original Studio System is a three-part solution consisting of printer, debinder and furnace, which automate the metal 3D printing process with the help of the company’s cloud-based software. The new Studio System+ features a swappable high resolution print head that allows for smaller parts with finer features and improved surface finish. It can print parts similar to those created through metal injection molding, featuring sintered voxels as small as 240 micro ns in XY by 45 microns in Z – smaller than a grain of table salt. This opens up new applications for parts in industries such as consumer electronics, automotive and medical devices.

The improved system also offers an in-chamber build plate camera that captures a live stream video of the build process, as well as new software improvements that include automatic mold lock prevention, part positioning and fleet management. New stackable shelving increases the part capacity of the debinder and furnace for greater throughput, and a new retort box design increases thermal uniformity for higher quality parts. The system also offers the option to connect to external gas tanks or a house gas line, reducing the cost per part.

Studio Fleet is built to scale and leverages Studio System+ technology for the rapid production of complex, high quality parts. It can be built in two configurations:

  • 3:1:1 – consisting of three printers, one debinder and one furnace, this configuration allows customers to realize a 200 percent increase in throughput for only a 50 percent increase in system cost
  • 5:2:1 – with five printers, two debinders and one furnace, this configuration allows customers to realize a 400 percent increase in throughput for a 100 percent increase in system cost

“Since the introduction of our original Studio System, we’ve worked closely with hundreds of customers across major industries—aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, cosmetics, and more—to identify key applications and their requirements to incorporate metal additive manufacturing into the design process,” said Fulop. “This research continues to inform our product development, and we are excited to release an enhanced version of the world’s first office-friendly metal 3D printing solution that will help customers more effectively meet those needs.”

The original Studio System is being shipped in volume to current reservation holders in the United States and will be available for reservation through October 5th, 2018. At that point, the Studio System+ will replace the current system, but it is available for reservation immediately. It retails for $60,000, and the computer system hardware is available for $160,000. All previously existing orders for the original Studio System will be given the opportunity to purchase the Studio System+ for a special discount.

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[Images: Desktop Metal]

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