3 ms·

To be clear here, the ExOne machine does require sintering as a post-process. The way I see it, Desktop Metal's main innovation is their furnace technology. Fu

To be clear here, the ExOne machine does require sintering as a post-process. The way I see it, Desktop Metal's main innovation is their furnace technology. Furnaces are typically large, expensive, industrial machines that cannot be operated in an office environment. Having a compact, easy to use furnace is a BIG deal. They also combine classic convection sintering with microwave sintering technology. Microwave sintering is a fairly recent technology (developed ~2 decades ago by folks at Penn State) that has a gigantic amount of promise (volumetric heating, finer metal microstructure, and more energy-efficient). MW sintering has seen fairly limited adoption in the industrial space so I am happy that DM is pushing this technology further. The are pursuing two major technologies, an extrusion-based process (Studio system) and an inkjet-based process (Production system). I have seen parts from their Studio system and, from what I have seen, they are highly functional (comparable to casted parts). Whether $1 billion is the right valuation is a question for the VCs and the market to answer. But, in my opinion, they are developing a very compelling set of technologies (if they end up working as advertised).

jacquesm 9y ago
Any furnace capable of sintering metal parts is unsuitable for office deployment and will at a minimum need a fume hood and a way to vent the (very dangerous) fumes in a safe way. Typically that means you'll be operating machinery like this in an industrial setting.
- cc439 9y ago
  That and desktop sized muffle furnaces have been around for half a century and can be purchased for under $1,000. I see a 12.7 x 10.8 x 15.2 cm one in my company's catalog for $870 so I don't consider this a huge breakthrough.
  - ridgeguy 9y ago
    One advantage of microwave sintering over older methods (like muffle furnaces) is more even heating because energy is deposited throughout the volume of the part, not just at the surface. Reduced thermal gradients -> more predictable post-sinter part dimensions and more uniform mechanical properties. Those are yield enhancers that could give significantly better production economics.

jacquesm 9y ago

Any furnace capable of sintering metal parts is unsuitable for office deployment and will at a minimum need a fume hood and a way to vent the (very dangerous) fumes in a safe way. Typically that means you'll be operating machinery like this in an industrial setting.

cc439 9y ago
That and desktop sized muffle furnaces have been around for half a century and can be purchased for under $1,000. I see a 12.7 x 10.8 x 15.2 cm one in my company's catalog for $870 so I don't consider this a huge breakthrough.
- ridgeguy 9y ago
  One advantage of microwave sintering over older methods (like muffle furnaces) is more even heating because energy is deposited throughout the volume of the part, not just at the surface. Reduced thermal gradients -> more predictable post-sinter part dimensions and more uniform mechanical properties. Those are yield enhancers that could give significantly better production economics.