Desktop Metal, Inc., a global leader in Additive Manufacturing 2.0 technologies for mass production, and Evonik, a leading materials provider in 3D printing technology based in Germany, have announced their expanded collaboration on photopolymer and materials development. Specifically, the partnership involves the qualification of Evonik INFINAM® ST 6100 L photopolymer on Desktop Metal ETEC Xtreme 8K and the Pro XL printers.

Evonik INFINAM® ST 6100 L is a benchmark material in high-strength photopolymers for 3D printing. Specifically, it features ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 90MPa, flexural stress of 135MPa, and heat deflection temperature (HDT) of 120°C. Accordingly, the material delivers exceptional accuracy, surface finish, and resistance to many chemicals and UV degradation.

Meanwhile, the ETEC brand for polymer 3D printing of Desktop Metal is a leader in Digital Light Processing (DLP) hardware. It is a carefully curated portfolio of the world’s best additive manufacturing (AM) materials.

“Desktop Metal is delighted to add Evonik and its INFINAM® material to our highly selective portfolio of polymers, as we continue to offer customers the flagship material solutions in each performance class, ranging from stiff rigid plastics to high strength-to-weight ratio elastomers and foams,” said Walter Voit, Senior Vice President for Polymer Materials at Desktop Metal.

“Our hardware systems offer the size, speed, and quality required for high-throughput Additive Manufacturing 2.0 production of premium photoresins like ST 6100L.”

“Collaboration with customers and partners is an important driver of innovation for us,” said Vitor Lavini, head of Evonik’s photopolymer market segment in the company’s Additive Manufacturing Innovation Growth Field. “The validation of ST 6100 L on Desktop Metal’s printers – especially the ETEC Xtreme 8K – fits with Evonik’s vision that larger and faster DLP printers will increase productivity, substantially reduce costs per part, and enable series production in the long run.”

The properties offered by INFINAM® ST 6100 L make the material ideal for 3D printed production of molds, models, and tooling, as well as end-use parts in the aerospace, automotive, or electronics industries. Additionally, tools or parts 3D printed in INFINAM® ST 6100 can deliver very precise features and a smooth surface finish, especially when paired with the crisp 65μm resolution offered on the ETEC Pro XL. Parts printed in this material can also be machined and polished, in addition to other post-processing techniques.

High-Throughput Production with Breakthrough Materials

Mainly, a 3D printing process in use since 1999. DLP harnesses the power of light from a video projector. It cures photosensitive liquid resins into parts layer by layer, one quick flash at a time. Also, DLP is one of the fastest, most accurate forms of polymer 3D printing. Thus, it delivers high accuracy and a smooth surface finish with consistent material properties.

The ETEC Xtreme 8K is the largest industrial-grade DLP printer for high-volume production. With a 66-liter build volume and two overhead projectors, the Xtreme 8K is ideal for high-throughput tooling and end-use part applications, as well as the production of larger parts. Additionally, the ETEC Xtreme 8K offers a build volume of 450 × 371 × 399mm (17.72 × 14.61 × 15.71in). Manufacturing of the system is at Desktop Metal’s Polymer Center of Excellence in Richardson, Texas.

The ETEC Pro XL is a premium DLP printer with 385nm wavelength technology, 5mW/cm² power, and Hyperprint™ closed-loop printing, and has a tag price under $40,000. All these features work together to deliver premium results at high printing speeds. Also, the ETEC Pro XL offers a build volume of 249.1 × 140.1 × 165.1 mm (9.8 × 5.5 × 6.5in).

Parts 3D printed on the ETEC Xtreme 8K in Evonik INFINAM® ST 6100 L material will be on display during the 2024 Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) Conference in Chicago, from March 10 to 14 at the Evonik booth P12, Salon D.