Desktop Metal and University of Toledo develop nickel-based powders

Desktop Metal is working with the University of Toledo Institute of Applied Engineering Research to accelerate the development of several nickel-based alloys for Desktop Metal’s Single Pass Jetting (SPJ) technology. The materials in development include nickel-titanium (Nitinol) alloys, Rene alloys and non-weldable nickel-based, high-temperature metal powders. The partners are specifically developing the powders using Desktop Metal’s Production System.

The new nickel-based materials have the potential to open up new metal binder jetting applications across the aerospace and healthcare industries, among others. Nitinol, for example, is a shape memory alloy that has many uses in the medical sphere. Rene alloys, for their part, are ultra-high-temperature nickel-based superalloys that offer benefits to the aerospace industry. The university lab will also explore the development of copper materials for conductive applications and advanced aluminum alloys for automotive applications.

As part of the agreement between Desktop Metal and the academic institution, the University of Toledo Institute of Applied Engineering Research will install a Production System P-1 in its lab for material development purposes.

“By combining our metallurgy, software, chemistry and design expertise, this partnership will allow us to pursue the development of numerous advanced materials,” said Behrang Poorganji, Ph.D., Research Professor and Director of Advanced Manufacturing at the University of Toledo College of Engineering. “We believe our collaboration with Desktop Metal will accelerate our education, training and workforce development, which will be key to successful technology adoption in the industry for the future years ahead of us.”

Ric Fulop, Founder and CEO of Desktop Metal, echoed the enthusiasm, saying: “We are thrilled to partner with The University of Toledo on this disruptive technology development, opening up a tremendous opportunity for medical, aviation and space applications. Our Production System platform enables the development of new materials for binder jet 3D printing that can be used for at-scale production. We’re proactively partnering with leading research universities around the world to accelerate materials development and look forward to working with The University of Toledo to advance the development of Nitinol and other critical alloys for binder jetting.”

In other Desktop Metal news this week, the company completed its acquisition of binder jetting company ExOne and announced the acquisition of Meta Additive, a company developing a hybrid binder and material jetting 3D printing process.