3D printing company Desktop Metal has developed new software which it says can automatically correct for shrinking and distortion during sintering.
Live Sinter software can also help improve the shape and dimensional tolerances of sintered parts, make printing complex geometries easier and thus reduce post-processing costs, Desktop Metal said. In some cases, the software can reportedly enable parts to be sintered without the use of supports.
According to the company, the software can be calibrated to a variety of alloys and compensates for shrinkage and distortion by creating ‘negative offset’ geometries that, once printed, will sinter to the original, intended design specifications. It uses 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.
The software is compatible with any sintering-based powder metallurgy process, including metal injection molding (MIM), but will initially be available for use with the company’s 3D printing systems.
‘As manufacturers look to capitalize 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,’ said Ric Fulop, CEO and co-founder of Desktop Metal.
This story uses material from Desktop Metal, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
