Pure Copper, DM Cu, is the latest addition to Digital Metal®’s binder jetting system. For those who are not familiar with Digital Metal®, it is a Höganäs company that develops and commercializes metal binder jetting technology.
It’s been a few years now that the manufacturer has started revealing the key materials that constitute its material offering. Pure copper completes a portfolio that already includes superalloys DM 247 and DM 625 and tool steel alloy DM D2™.
It is a big step for a manufacturer to provide the ability to process Copper. Although it enables great applications, its processing often raises several constraints. Its physical properties of copper and its alloys make it challenging to achieve good surface quality and low porosity.
However, for several industries, the advantages it delivers are worthwhile using it. Indeed, its thermal and electrical conductivity properties of pure copper make it ideal for a wide range of applications. Good conductivity, or heat transfer, is for example a requirement in electronics, heat exchangers, heat sinks and engine parts. 3D printing of components in copper also offers unprecedented freedom, enabling design for optimal functionality with very few restrictions. In addition, copper is known for its antibacterial properties.
According to Digital Metal®, printing with 99.9% pure copper brings out the best of the material compared to copper alloys commonly used in laser-based systems.
“Printing with pure copper using Digital Metal’s binder jetting technology is one of the most anticipated material launches ever, and totally new within binder jetting. Copper has been high up on our customers’ wish list and timing is perfect with the demand for copper applications soaring in fast growth areas such as e-mobility and heat conductivity. We have been developing the process for some time internally, but I would really like to emphasize the value of the excellent cooperation with key customers in our fast-growing Digital Metal User Group. It has been a great help and we are now very pleased to deliver a high-quality copper process for Digital Metal binder jetting”, said Christian Lönne, CEO at Digital Metal.
Discover Digital Metal in the dossier “Comparing the potential & limitations of binder jetting and MIM”.
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