3D Systems Certifies Corrosion-Resistant Materials for Metal Printing Platform

3D Systems adds Certified Scalmalloy (A) and Certified M789 (A) to its high-performance materials portfolio for use on its Direct Metal Printing (DMP) platform. The company says these materials are optimized to facilitate demanding industrial, high-strength, corrosion-resistant parts production for metal additive manufacturing (AM) applications in markets such as aerospace, motorsports and automotive, semiconductor, energy and moldmaking.

3D Systems has also worked with the material manufacturers APWorks and Voestalpine Böhler Edelstahl to certify these materials for use with its metal 3D printing technology. Customers now have the ability to work with the company’s Application Innovation Group (AIG) to efficiently certify these materials for use with its DMP Flex 350 and DMP Factory 350 printers for a faster time to market, the company says.

Scalmalloy is designed as a high-strength Aluminum alloy with a tensile strength of 520MPa and yield strength of 480MPa, which is said to be significantly stronger than the reference material AlSi10Mg. The high strength of Scalmalloy makes it well suited for AM of weight-efficient, load-bearing components, the company says. This material is said to enable manufacturers to produce high-strength, corrosion-resistant Aluminum parts facilitated by fully developed build styles available in 3DXpert software for the company’s DMP Flex 350 and DMP Factory 350 metal 3D printers. Parts produced using Scalmalloy can be chemically cleaned during postprocessing to remove surface residue and deliver a final part with optimal surface finish.

According to the company, the M789 (BÖHLER M789 AMPO) material enables customers to produce high-strength molds and tooling that can be hardened up to 52HRC and are also free of Cobalt. 3D Systems has attained certification of M789 for its DMP platform through collaboration with its partner, GF Machining Solutions, to address customers’ requests for a hard, corrosion-resistant tooling steel to foster advanced applications. The resulting parts are optimal for long-term use and able to withstand the rigors of repetitive manufacturing processes as well as use in regions with high humidity, the company says.