3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) today announced it has achieved
significant progress in the creation of the world’s largest,
fastest most precise powder metal 3D printer. Through a combination
of multiple lasers, large build chamber, and unique material
deposition processes, the Company is poised to enable the Combat
Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Army Research Laboratory
(ARL) with technology designed to address their specific
application needs for long-range munitions, next-generation combat
vehicles, helicopters, air and missile defense capabilities. This
unparalleled additive manufacturing solution – comprising
materials, hardware, software and services - reinforces 3D Systems’
dedication to customer-centric innovation, creating value through
solutions designed to address its customers’ unique application
needs.
Since the $15 million contract award in the third quarter of
2019, 3D Systems’ engineering and applications experts have drawn
upon their deep expertise and experience to develop a unique
9-laser, 1m x 1m x 600mm metal 3D printer which is the only of its
kind in the industry.
“When we embarked on this project, we needed a faster way to
produce critical components for major ground combat subsystems,”
said Ms. Stephanie Koch, ARL's Advanced Manufacturing, Materials,
and Processes Program Manager. “The progress that has been made on
this project to date is monumental. We look forward to the coming
months as we progress to a full-scale production solution that will
enable innovative new capabilities for transformational
overmatch.”
“Development and demonstration of this first of its kind
technology has far reaching implications across our industrial base
as it shapes and transforms the supply chain around it,” said Lisa
Strama, president and CEO of NCMS. “This project has also provided
the unique ability to concurrently plan for and address a complex
ecosystem for maximizing the benefit to US manufacturers’
competitiveness from the outset.”
At the end of October 2020, 3D Systems completed the first test
print, using a selective powder deposition process. This unique
concept limits the amount of material needed to produce very large
parts by depositing the material only where it is needed in the
build – accelerating time-to-final part and reducing material cost.
The build chamber also includes a heated build plate to reduce
thermal stress and also improve deposition quality during the
build.
To create this next-generation platform, 3D Systems is
leveraging key technologies from its Direct Metal Printing (DMP)
platform, which is foundational to the Company’s DMP Flex 350, DMP
Factory 350, and DMP Factory 500 3D printers. One of the most
important components is the optical train that enables each of the
next-generation printer’s nine lasers with its own melt pool
monitoring system for enhanced quality control. By employing
the same optical system as used in its DMP platform, the Company
can leverage the existing material library which has been
extensively tested and fine-tuned for optimal performance. Pulling
from the data associated with these high-performance materials
accelerates development of new materials.
The Company is also integrating its industry-renowned vacuum
chamber concept for high, repeatable quality. 3D Systems’ inerting
process is many times faster and consumes substantially less argon
(at least ten times less) than conventional metal 3D printers. The
inerting process dramatically reduces the oxygen level during
processing to below 25ppm, which is revolutionary compared to the
500-1,000 ppm in most conventional metal 3D printers. This results
in exceptionally strong parts of high chemical purity while powder
quality remains high through the lifetime of the material’s usage.
This results in a significantly reduced total purchase cost of
compressed argon over machine lifetime as well as savings enabled
by powder reusability for lower Total Cost of Operation.
The inclusion of six high contrast single-lens reflex (SLR)
cameras within the build chamber delivers a comprehensive view of
the build in-situ. Each camera is positioned above the powder bed
with direct top-down view. This unique viewpoint eliminates the
need for image manipulation, resulting in the ability to obtain
build data real-time thus accelerating the process. The firmware
within the system is capturing all digital input including sensor
data, positional information, melt pool data and powder bed
pictures into an SQL database. This enables full insight into the
build and is invaluable for part and process validation and
qualification. Additionally, 3D Systems is leveraging the same
proven additive manufacturing software used within its DMP platform
to optimize designs and streamline processes to accelerate print
times and reduce material consumption.
“3D Systems was founded on a spirit of innovation, and our
customers play a key role in catalyzing this process,” said Chuck
Hull, co-founder and chief technology officer, 3D Systems. “Our
collaboration with ARL is allowing us to elevate our research and
development efforts, achieving many industry firsts on our way to
empowering the ARL to meet their goals. Our accomplishments through
the first phases of this project will fuel the next, on our way to
helping ARL scale their capabilities and bolstering their supply
chain.”
According to the U.S. Army Additive Manufacturing Implementation
Plan, the Army has been using additive manufacturing (AM) for two
decades to refurbish worn parts and create custom tools. Once
developed, the Army will leverage its manufacturing experience by
placing the new large-scale systems in its depots and labs.
Subsequently, 3D Systems and its partners plan to make the new 3D
printer technology available to leading aerospace and defense
suppliers for the development of futuristic Army platforms.
Forward-Looking StatementsCertain statements
made in this release that are not statements of historical or
current facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of the company to be materially
different from historical results or from any future results or
projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. In many cases, forward-looking statements can be
identified by terms such as "believes," "belief," "expects," "may,"
"will," "estimates," "intends," "anticipates" or "plans" or the
negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.
Forward-looking statements are based upon management’s beliefs,
assumptions, and current expectations and may include comments as
to the company’s beliefs and expectations as to future events and
trends affecting its business and are necessarily subject to
uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the
company. The factors described under the headings "Forward-Looking
Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the company’s periodic filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other
factors, could cause actual results to differ materially from those
reflected or predicted in forward-looking statements. Although
management believes that the expectations reflected in the
forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking
statements are not, and should not be relied upon as a guarantee of
future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to
be accurate indications of the times at which such performance or
results will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included
are made only as of the date of the statement. 3D Systems
undertakes no obligation to update or review any forward-looking
statements made by management or on its behalf, whether as a result
of future developments, subsequent events or circumstances or
otherwise.
About 3D Systems More than 30 years ago, 3D
Systems brought the innovation of 3D printing to the manufacturing
industry. Today, as the leading Additive Manufacturing solutions
partner, we bring innovation, performance, and reliability to every
interaction - empowering our customers to create products and
business models never before possible. Thanks to our unique
offering of hardware, software, materials, and services, each
application-specific solution is powered by the expertise of our
application engineers who collaborate with customers to transform
how they deliver their products and services. 3D Systems’ solutions
address a variety of advanced applications in Healthcare and
Industrial markets such as Medical and Dental, Aerospace &
Defense, Automotive, and Durable Goods. More information on the
company is available at www.3dsystems.com.
About NCMS
The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) is a
cross-industry technology development consortium, dedicated to
improving the competitiveness and strength of the U.S. industrial
base. As a member-based organization, it leverages its network of
industry, government, and academia partners to develop,
demonstrate, and transition innovative technologies efficiently,
with less risk and lower cost. The NCMS is proud to work with the
Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and the Advanced Manufacturing,
Materials, and Processes (AMMP) program to advance and enable
additive manufacturing to create next-generation manufacturing
breakthroughs. AMMP will respond to requirements for affordable,
complex parts that currently cannot be readily built. For more
information, visit www.ncms.org/ammp.
Investor Contact: investor.relations@3dsystems.comMedia Contact:
press@3dsystems.com
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