BEGA and Desktop Metal 3D print aluminum lighting components

Desktop Metal, a developer of AM technologies for mass production, is set to showcase binder jet 3D printed aluminum lighting components designed by BEGA, a German-based global leader in fine architectural outdoor and indoor lighting. The parts were produced on the X25Pro mid-sized, production binder jet printing system with Al6061 powder.

“The Desktop Metal team continues to make incredible progress raising the bar in binder jet 3D printing with larger and more complex parts produced in Al6061 powder,” said Ric Fulop, Founder and CEO of Desktop Metal. “Our process for binder jetting parts that are capable of replacing complex, investment cast aluminum components continues to advance rapidly, with a number of production projects underway.”

After providing industry-first results for binder jetting aluminum on the InnoventX in 2021, Desktop Metal has continued to drive significant advancements for production-scale binder jetting in aluminum. In partnership with companies such as BEGA, Desktop Metal has now demonstrated a repeatable process for 99% dense aluminum with corrosion, thermal conductivity, fatigue, dimensional control, and T6 tensile properties – all of which meet or exceed the properties of common cast aluminum alloys.

The X25Pro used to produce the BEGA parts is a modified standard commercial system, specially outfitted with an inert or controlled atmosphere for use with reactive powders. The printer is located at Desktop Metal headquarters in Burlington, Massachusetts, where it is being used for a variety of commercial partner projects.

Binder jet 3D printing, compared to both traditional manufacturing and other forms of 3D printing, enables manufacturers to more affordably produce complex parts with unique benefits, such as size and weight reductions, part consolidation, and performance improvements. Thanks to the broad material flexibility of binder jet 3D printing, Desktop Metal employs a tiered qualification system for the production of powdered materials, identifying materials as R&D Qualified, Customer-Qualified for specific applications, and DM Qualified for standard use. In all, more than 30 metals and ceramics are qualified on the company’s printers.