Desktop Metal launches Live Sinter software for metal Additive Manufacturing

November 11, 2020

Desktop Metal has officially launched its Live Sinter software for metal Additive Manufacturing (Courtesy Desktop Metal)

Desktop Metal, Burlington, Massachusetts, USA, has officially launched Live Sinter™, a software solution designed to eliminate the trial and error required to achieve high-accuracy parts using sinter-based metal powder manufacturing processes such as binder jet Additive Manufacturing and Metal Injection Moulding (MIM).

The company states that the software corrects for the shrinkage and distortion parts typically experience during sintering, and opens the door to building geometries that, without the software, would present significant challenges to sinter.

By improving the shape and dimensional tolerances of sintered parts, first-time part success for complex geometries is expected to be improved, and the cost and time associated with post-processing minimised. In many cases, the software can enable parts to be sintered without the use of supports.

While compatible with a number of sinter-based metal powder manufacturing processes, Live Sinter will initially be made available to customers of Desktop Metal’s Shop System™, shipping in late 2020, and Production System™, shipping in 2021.

“The manufacturing industry is witnessing the transformative power that Additive Manufacturing has across many industries, from automotive and aerospace to heavy machinery and consumer products, with respect to quality, performance, and cost savings,” stated Ric Fulop, CEO and co-founder of Desktop Metal. “We believe Live Sinter will be a critical companion in continuing to drive forward the success of Additive Manufacturing.”

“As manufacturers look to capitalise on the flexibility of volume production delivered through technologies such as Binder Jetting, Live Sinter is a first-of-its-kind solution that offers a path to predictable and repeatable outcomes by demystifying the sintering process,” he added.

Developed in collaboration with Desktop Metal’s material scientists, Live Sinter can be calibrated to a variety of alloys. The software predicts the shrinkage and distortion that parts undergo during sintering, and automatically compensates for such changes, creating ‘negative offset’ geometries that, once additively manufactured, will sinter to the original, intended design specifications.

These negative offsets are the result of a GPU-accelerated iterative process, in which the software proactively pre-deforms part geometries by precise amounts in specific directions, allowing them to achieve their intended shape as they sinter.

Andy Roberts, Desktop Metal’s VP Software, commented, “Live Sinter was developed by joining forces with – instead of fighting against – sintering-based challenges. In doing so, the software generates negative offset part geometries that sinter to the intended shapes and dimensional specifications.”

“It also tackles some of sintering’s biggest challenges, such as the use of setters,” he continued. “For years, creating setters that prop up parts in the furnace relied on the intuition of few engineers with years of hands-on experience. Now, the process is easier, more predictable, and more controllable using Live Sinter.”

www.desktopmetal.com

Live Sinter in-depth

In the latest issue of PIM International, Desktop Metal shared the details of Live Sinter in depth in a pre-launch preview. Read the article here or view below:

In the latest issue of PIM International…

Download PDF

Extensive MIM, CIM industry and sinter-based AM industry news, plus the following exclusive deep-dive articles and reports:

  • INMATEC Technologies: Celebrating 25 years as a driving force behind Ceramic Injection Moulding
  • A year of change: Turbulence in China’s MIM industry as markets evolve
  • Ceramic Injection Moulding: The impact of variotherm and conformal cooling technology on part quality and process capability
  • The Additive Manufacturing of multi-material and multi-functional ceramic components

The latest news from the MIM, CIM and sinter-based AM industries

Don't miss any new issue of PIM International, and stay up to date with the latest industry news. Sign up to our fortnightly newsletter.

Sign up

Join our community

Discover our magazine archive…

The free-to-access PIM International magazine archive offers unparalleled insight into the world of MIM, CIM and sinter-based AM from a commercial and technological perspective through:

  • Reports on visits to leading part manufacturers and industry suppliers
  • Articles on technology and application trends
  • Information on materials developments
  • Reviews of key technical presentations from the international conference circuit
  • International industry news

All past issues are available to download as free PDFs or view in your browser.

 

Browse the archive

 

Looking for suppliers of materials, production equipment and finished MIM, CIM or sinter-based AM parts?

Discover suppliers of these and more in our advertisers’ index and buyer’s guide, available in the back of PIM International.

  • Metal powders
  • MIM, CIM & AM parts producers
  • Binders & feedstocks
  • Feedstock mixers
  • Furnaces & furnace supplies
  • Atmospheres & gas generation
  • HIP systems & services
  • Injection moulding machines
  • AM technology
  • Debinding systems
View online
Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap