Digital Metal introduces DM 247 and DM 625 superalloy materials to its binder jetting systems
One is Inconel and the other is a non-weldable metal
Catering to rising demand for 3D printable superalloy materials from companies in the aerospace, automotive and industrial segments, Digital Metal is introducing two new materials, DM 247 and DM 625, which are both superalloy grades for use in extreme environments.
DM 247 is based on the non-weldable MAR M247, which is widely used as material for turbine blades and in other applications with elevated temperatures. DM 625 is an Inconel 625-grade. Its application areas range from seawater applications and chemical processing equipment to the nuclear industry and aerospace. Both DM 247 and DM 625 have undergone extensive in-house testing to ensure they meet our customers’ expectations.
“We have been receiving qualified requests for these materials from various large companies”, said Ralf Carlström, General Manager at Digital Metal. “Many producers within the aerospace and automotive business have long been anticipating high-quality superalloys that are suitable for 3D printing. Now we can offer them the perfect combination – our unique binder jetting technology and superalloys that are specially developed for our printers.”
The unique properties of Digital Metal’s binder jetting technology make it highly suitable for printing superalloys, including non-weldable grades, with near full density. Superalloys are metal materials that exhibit great strength and corrosion resistance even when subjected to high heat and stress. These properties make them especially suitable for use in challenging applications such as aerospace, automotive and chemical. However, so far it has been difficult to use non-weldable materials such as MAR M247 in 3D printing, where high solidification rates and thermal gradients are inherent.
Digital Metal’s unique binder jetting technology helps avoid most of these problems by printing at ambient temperature without applying any heat, followed by a separate sintering step. During sintering densification takes place without melting and with minimal thermal gradients during cooling from sintering temperature.
