The Desktop Metal X25Pro is Now Powered by TurboFuse™ – a High-Speed, High-Strength Binder That Dramatically Improves 3D Printing Times

Rhea-AI Summary

Desktop Metal (NYSE: DM) has announced the integration of TurboFuse™, a high-speed, high-strength binder, with its X25Pro binder jet 3D printer. TurboFuse enhances 3D print speeds by about 50% and eliminates the need for heating each layer, which generally slows down the printing process. This binder shows improved adhesion to metal powders, resulting in stronger green parts and more efficient depowdering. TurboFuse is compatible with 16 metals and one cermet, expanding its application range. Eaton, a power management company, is currently beta testing TurboFuse at its Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence, reporting significant improvements in print times. The new binder will be showcased at the RAPID + TCT event in Los Angeles. Upgrade kits for the X25Pro are expected to be available in Q3.

Positive

• TurboFuse improves 3D print speeds by about 50%.
• Eliminates the need for heating each layer, increasing efficiency.
• Enhanced adhesion to metal powders yields stronger green parts.
• TurboFuse is compatible with 16 metals and one cermet.
• Reduces operating and per-unit part costs.
• Eaton reports nearly 4x reduction in print times during beta testing.
• Upgrade kits for existing X25Pro customers will be available in Q3.

Negative

• Requires purchase of an upgrade kit for existing customers.

Tech Expert

The introduction of TurboFuse is a promising advancement in the field of additive manufacturing, particularly for binder jet 3D printing. The claim of improved print speeds by 50% or more, depending on material and parameters, can lead to substantial improvements in production efficiency. For industries relying on 3D printing for rapid prototyping or low-to-medium volume production, this improvement can reduce turnaround times significantly. Moreover, the enhanced adhesion properties that TurboFuse brings, leading to higher-strength green parts, means less time spent in post-processing and a reduction in part failure rates. This technological leap directly addresses some of the key challenges in the binder jetting process, making it more competitive with traditional manufacturing methods. The compatibility with a wide range of metals and ceramics also broadens the scope of applications, potentially opening up new markets.

Market Research Analyst

From a market perspective, the launch of TurboFuse and its integration with the X25Pro could strengthen Desktop Metal's positioning in the additive manufacturing space. The additive manufacturing market is highly competitive, with numerous players vying for technological supremacy. By addressing speed and part strength, Desktop Metal is not just responding to industry demands but also differentiating itself from competitors. The partnership with Eaton and the deployment of TurboFuse at their Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence serves as a validation of the product's effectiveness and reliability. This could generate increased interest from other industrial clients, driving adoption. The upcoming exhibition of TurboFuse capabilities at RAPID + TCT, a notable industry event, is a strategic move to showcase these improvements to a larger audience, which could lead to enhanced market penetration and possibly increased stock value in the short-to-mid term.

•  The Desktop Metal X25Pro with TurboFuse binder takes Additive Manufacturing’s most trusted production binder jet 3D printer, with 40+ global installs, and turbocharges it with binder jetting’s fastest printing binder
• TurboFuse delivers about 50% higher print speeds in the X25Pro over other Desktop Metal binders, or more, depending on print parameters and material
• An intelligent binder that demonstrates enhanced adhesion to metal powders, TurboFuse dries quickly and accurately after saturation into the powder bed —eliminating the need to heat each layer, which slows down competing printers
• Among its benefits, TurboFuse delivers higher-strength green parts than a top binder jet 3D printing competitor, enabling faster and more effective depowdering that improves yields
• TurboFuse also features an aqueous, non-corrosive, non-volatile chemistry that is highly compatible with piezoelectric printheads — enabling a long 18-24 month printhead life, reducing costs and downtime associated with replacing printheads
• Eaton, an intelligent power management company with six Desktop Metal printers, including five Studio Systems, is a beta tester of TurboFuse binder on its X25Pro at its Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Southfield, Mich.
• Metal parts binder jet 3D printed on the X25Pro by Eaton and other companies will be on display at RAPID + TCT, North America’s largest additive manufacturing and industrial 3D printing event, June 25-27 in Los Angeles

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Desktop Metal (NYSE: DM), a global leader in Additive Manufacturing 2.0 technologies for mass production, today announced that the X25Pro production binder jet 3D printer can now process TurboFuse™ – an intelligent, high-strength binder chemistry that eliminates a heating step during printing and improves already-fast binder jet 3D print speeds by 50% or more, depending on selected print parameters and material.

Now offered on the Desktop Metal X25Pro production metal binder jetting platform, TurboFuse™ is an intelligent, high-strength binder that eliminates a heating step during printing and improves already-fast binder jet 3D print speeds by 50% or more, depending on selected print parameters and material. (Graphic: Business Wire)

TurboFuse is currently available for use on the X25Pro with 316L stainless steel, and will require purchase of an upgrade kit for existing customers. The binder is also compatible with 16 metals and one cermet, with parameter validation now underway.

Eaton, an intelligent power management company with six Desktop Metal printers, is currently beta testing TurboFuse on its X25Pro at its Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence, a part of Eaton Research Labs, in Southfield, Mich.

“Eaton is thrilled to collaborate with Desktop Metal to prove this new binder technology. Using the new binder, we have reduced our print times by nearly 4x from the previous binder system,” said Eric Johnson, Ph.D., Senior Manager — Additive Manufacturing, at Eaton Research Labs. “This is a game changer and significantly enhances the affordability of this technology.”

Ric Fulop, Founder and CEO of Desktop Metal, said the Desktop Metal team is delighted to finally unveil this new binder to the market, with availability of upgrade kits slated for Q3.

“TurboFuse is an intelligent chemistry developed specifically for binder jetting by the world’s most experienced binder jetting team at Desktop Metal,” Fulop said. “By implementing TurboFuse on the X25Pro, we have dramatically improved print speeds of the market’s most popular and trusted production binder jet system and delivered other benefits as well, such as stronger green parts and improved printhead life — all of which reduce operating and per-unit part costs.

“The entire team at Desktop Metal remains as committed as ever to binder jetting as we prepare to showcase significant customer parts produced on the X25Pro in aluminum, silicon carbide and more, at RAPID + TCT in Los Angeles. These parts demonstrate new milestones in binder jetting.”

With the launch of TurboFuse, Desktop Metal now offers the most diverse portfolio of binders for binder jet 3D printing — sold under the “Fuse” name — to process the widest range of metals and ceramics for specific properties and applications. The portfolio now includes TurboFuse, CleanFuse, AquaFuse, PhenolFuse, and FluidFuse.

The X25Pro is a mid-sized production metal binder jet 3D printer with a build volume of 400 x 250 x 250 mm (15.75 x 9.84 x 9.84 in). It is part of DM’s X-Series line of metal 3D printers featuring Triple Advanced Compaction Technology (ACT), which has discrete mechanical controls for dispensing, spreading, and compacting ultra-fine powders in binder jetting. This feature enables tight parameter control across a wide range of metal and ceramic powder types and size distributions.

For more information, visit TeamDM.com/X25Pro_TurboFuse.

About Desktop Metal

Desktop Metal (NYSE:DM) is driving Additive Manufacturing 2.0, a new era of on-demand, digital mass production of industrial, medical, and consumer products. Our innovative 3D printers, materials, and software deliver the speed, cost, and part quality required for this transformation. We’re the original inventors and world leaders of the 3D printing methods we believe will empower this shift, binder jetting and digital light processing. Today, our systems print metal, polymer, sand and other ceramics, as well as foam and recycled wood. Manufacturers use our technology worldwide to save time and money, reduce waste, increase flexibility, and produce designs that solve the world’s toughest problems and enable once-impossible innovations. Learn more about Desktop Metal and our #TeamDM brands at www.desktopmetal.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in these communications, including statements regarding Desktop Metal’s future results of operations and financial position, financial targets, business strategy, and plans and objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this document, including but not limited to: risks associated with the integration of the business and operations of acquired businesses; Desktop Metals’ ability to realize the benefits from cost saving measures; supply and logistics disruptions, including shortages and delays. For more information about risks and uncertainties that may impact Desktop Metal’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects generally, please refer to Desktop Metal’s reports filed with the SEC, including without limitation the “Risk Factors” and/or other information included in the Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 3, 2023, and such other reports as Desktop Metal has filed or may file with the SEC from time to time. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Desktop Metal, Inc. assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240620621041/en/

Investor Relations:

(857) 504-1084

DesktopMetalIR@icrinc.com

Media Relations:

Sarah Webster

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sarahwebster@desktopmetal.com

Source: Desktop Metal

FAQ

What is TurboFuse in relation to Desktop Metal's X25Pro?

TurboFuse is a high-speed, high-strength binder that improves 3D print speeds by about 50% on Desktop Metal's X25Pro binder jet 3D printer.

What improvements does TurboFuse bring to the X25Pro?

TurboFuse enhances print speeds by about 50%, eliminates the need for heating each layer, and offers better adhesion to metal powders for stronger green parts.

When will the upgrade kits for TurboFuse be available for X25Pro customers?

Upgrade kits for TurboFuse on the X25Pro are expected to be available in Q3.

Which materials are compatible with TurboFuse on the X25Pro?

TurboFuse is compatible with 16 metals and one cermet, with 316L stainless steel being currently validated.

How has TurboFuse impacted print times according to Eaton's beta testing?

Eaton reported a nearly 4x reduction in print times when using TurboFuse on its X25Pro during beta testing.

Where will TurboFuse be showcased?

TurboFuse will be showcased at the RAPID + TCT event in Los Angeles from June 25-27.