Wide 3D printing material library, developed in-house.
[Materials]
Developed by an in-house team of world-leading materials scientists and 3D printing innovators - as well as industry partners around the globe - Desktop Metal materials are designed to ensure print success and produce high-quality metal and composite parts.
In addition to materials that are already available, our team is always working to develop new materials and processes to make 3D printing accessible to all industries and applications.
Our materials
_Materials overview
Desktop Metal provides a wide range of both metal and composite 3D printing materials to produce parts for every application.
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Composite
Micro Automated Fiber Placement (µAFP) - a miniaturized version of the systems used to create aerospace components - enables Fiber™ to reinforce critical paths with continuous carbon fiber or fiberglass. Combined with industry-tested composites like PEEK, PEKK and PA6 nylon, the result is parts that are as strong as steel yet as light as aluminum.
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Metal
The metallurgy behind the Studio System™, Shop System™, and Production System™ is built upon the material science and established powder supply chain of the metal injection molding (MIM) industry. When combined with our in-house expertise in material processing, binder compounds, and metal 3D printing, the result is high-quality metal parts with affordable material costs.
17-4 PH stainless steel is a precipitation hardening steel used in a wide range of industrial applications including those with mildly corrosive environments and high-strength requirements.
Characterized by its corrosion resistance and performance at both high and low temperatures, 316L stainless steel is a fully austenitic steel ideal for harsh environments.
Characterized by its hardness and abrasion resistance, H13 tool steel is a hot work steel with exceptional hot hardness, resistance to thermal fatigue cracking, and stability in heat treatment—making it an ideal metal for both hot work and cold work tooling applications.
One of the most versatile steels, 4140 steel is characterized by its toughness, high fatigue strength, and abrasion and impact resistance, making it a great all-purpose steel for industrial applications.
Characterized by its electrical and thermal conductivity and ductility, Copper is ideal for electrical equipment, plumbing, and heat transfer applications.
17-4 PH stainless steel is a precipitation hardening steel used in a wide range of industrial applications including those with mildly corrosive environments and high-strength requirements.
17-4 PH stainless steel is a precipitation hardening steel used in a wide range of industrial applications including those with mildly corrosive environments and high-strength requirements.
Application Examples
Manufacturing machinery
Chemical processing
Food processing
Pump components
Valving
Fasteners
Jigs and fixtures
Material Overview
17-4
17-4 PH stainless steel is a martensitic precipitation - hardened stainless steel.
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Material
PA6 + Carbon Fiber¹
Development Stage
DM Qualified
Compatible System(s)
Fiber™
Description
Our PA6 nylon with carbon fiber reinforcement boasts a tensile strength 30x stronger than ABS and a high fatigue level—making it great for 3D printing high-wear manufacturing jigs and fixtures.
PEEK is characterized by its exceptional mechanical properties and high resistance to surface abrasion, is inherently flame retardant, and can withstand high temperatures (above 200 °C). When 3D printed with continuous carbon fiber, the resulting composite is strong, stiff, and well-suited for extreme environments.
Excellent mechanical properties, chemical resistance and surface abrasion
Flame retardant
Continuous Use Temperature between 200-250 °C
Carbon Fiber (CF)
High strength & stiffness
Low coefficient of thermal expansion
High fatigue level
Somewhat brittle
Chopped Fiber Filament
Carbon Fiber
Continuous Fiber Tape
Carbon Fiber
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Material
PA6 + Fiberglass
Development Stage
Active R&D³
Compatible System(s)
Fiber™
Description
Fiberglass-reinforced PA6 nylon is a low-cost material which renders lightweight, high-strength and corrosion-resistant parts—making it a great match for sporting goods applications where parts are exposed to the elements and have a low target cost per part.
PEKK is characterized by its high tensile and compression strength, resistance to chemical abrasion, and ability to withstand high temperatures (above 250 °C). When reinforced with carbon fiber, resulting 3D printed parts are exceptionally durable and safe for operations where ESD compliance is required.
1. DM Qualified: Printing and sintering profiles developed by Desktop Metal for the Production System, with fully characterized material and mechanical properties.
2. Customer Qualified: Printing and sintering profiles developed in partnership with customers and/or partners for the Production System, with material and mechanical properties suitable for customer/partner applications.
3. Active R&D: Initial testing completed by Desktop Metal demonstrating binder and process compatibility. Printing and sintering profiles under final development.
