Digital Metal Launches Tool Steel Alloy for Binder Jetting

The latest material addition to Digital Metal's company portfolio is DM D2, a tool steel alloy that provides an effective combination of abrasive wear resistance and toughness. DM D2 is suitable for a wide range of applications, but most commonly for cutting and deformation tools, the company says.

When tool makers specify a steel for their equipment, they often choose D2 as it is hard enough to suit the task of stamping and forming other metals without losing its shape, according to Digital Metal. Its new DM D2 is a high-carbon, high-chromium D2 tool steel alloy that can be heat treated to high hardness and compressive strength. It offers high wear resistance and is suitable in cold work applications that require sharp edges and abrasion resistance, Digital Metal notes.

“We have been receiving more and more requests for a D2 tool steel suitable for use with our printers. We have designed the DM D2 to deliver excellent surface finish, flexibility, as well as strength and hardness,” says Christian Lönne, CEO at Digital Metal. “This alloy is very stable during heat treatments, which allows for tailoring of the final material properties through various heat treatments after sintering.”

About Digital Metal

Digital Metal has commercialized 3D metal printers for the production of small components with advanced geometries. The company also offers printing services of metal components. Among the customers are many of the leading technology companies such as Honeywell, MTC (The Manufacturing Technology Centre, UK), Koenigsegg, Bosch, Montfort Watches, CETIM (the French Technology Center for Mechanical Industries) and Volvo. Close to 1,000,000 components have been produced, and more than 30 different geometries are in serial production at the production plant in Sweden.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.