Engineers Can Now Produce D2 Cold Work Tool and Die Parts Using a Simple, Two-Step Bound Metal Process

Desktop Metal (NYSE: DM) today announced it has qualified D2 tool steel for the Studio System™ 2, an accessible metal 3D printing platform that offers customers the easiest way to print high-performance metal parts in low volumes for pre-production and end-use applications. Desktop Metal is the first company to offer the material in a two-step bound metal additive manufacturing process, allowing customers to leverage a simple, nearly hands-free process to produce parts for high-strength D2 applications such as cold work metal forming tools, dies, punches, and injection molds with conformal cooling channels.

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Aerial cam cutting section tools are a component of stamping dies that make frame components on high-volume vehicle manufacturing lines. D2 tool steel is a key material for this application because of its high hardness and excellent wear resistance, properties critical for stamping applications where the tool is subjected to repeated impact while forming. (Photo: Business Wire)

D2 is a versatile high-carbon, high-chromium air-hardening tool steel characterized by its high hardness and compressive strength after heat treatment. This tool steel offers extremely high wear resistance properties, dimensional stability, and corrosion resistance in the hardened condition, a key benefit for conformal cooling applications. D2 is used for a wide variety of cold work tools that require a combination of wear resistance and moderate toughness, such as coining and sizing tool members, blanking and forming dies, shear cutting tools, gauges, burnishing tools, and other wear parts.

“D2 tool steel has traditionally been a challenging and expensive material to work with,” said Jonah Myerberg, co-founder and CTO of Desktop Metal. “With this material now available on the Studio System 2, we’ve streamlined production of D2 parts to just two simple steps for improved affordability and accessibility. We are excited to be able to offer our customers this new material with higher hardness after heat treatment than all of the other Studio System materials qualified to-date, unlocking new applications that require tooling material grade strength.”

With the Studio System 2, D2 tool steel parts demonstrate excellent mechanical properties on a more accessible platform than legacy powder bed fusion 3D printing alternatives. An example of a key use case includes:

• Stamping Tool - Aerial Cam Cutting Section

Aerial cam cutting section tools are a component of stamping dies that make frame components on high-volume vehicle manufacturing lines. D2 tool steel is a key material for this application because of its high hardness and excellent wear resistance, properties critical for stamping applications where the tool is subjected to repeated impact while forming. Stamping tools like these are produced in low volumes, traditionally using advanced machining techniques and slow feed rates because of the material’s high hardness. With the Studio System 2, businesses can now print these tools in D2 at low volumes cost-effectively while reducing complex machining operations, CNC fixturing setups, and CNC tool wear.

“Egar Tool and Die is a rapidly growing manufacturing company for automotive stamping dies, production stampings and welded assemblies and we have been eagerly awaiting the launch of D2 for our two Studio Systems,” said Colin Kools, Director of Additive Manufacturing at Egar Tool and Die. “The release of this material will serve to push our tooling design to new heights and will give us the critical material properties and hardness needed for our die components.”

The Studio System 2 - Office-Friendly Metal 3D Printing

The Studio System 2 is an office-friendly metal additive manufacturing system that leverages Desktop Metal’s proprietary Bound Metal Deposition™ (BMD) technology to produce parts. The easy, two-step process - allowing parts to be transferred directly from the printer into the furnace - provides a nearly hands-free experience, while eliminating loose powders and dangerous lasers commonly associated with metal 3D printing. Consisting of a printer and furnace, the Studio System 2 simplifies in-house low volume production of a wide range of complex geometries with outstanding surface finish and high-performance mechanical properties.

In addition to D2, the Studio System 2 is compatible with Ti64 and 316L stainless steel, as well as all materials previously supported by the Studio System, including 17-4PH stainless steel, 4140 low-alloy steel, H13 tool steel, and copper. A broad portfolio of additional materials that take advantage of the Studio System 2’s streamlined, two-step process is in active R&D with new releases slated to roll out this year.

To learn more about the Studio System 2 and applications for D2, visit www.desktopmetal.com.

About Desktop Metal

Desktop Metal, Inc., based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is accelerating the transformation of manufacturing with an expansive portfolio of 3D printing solutions, from rapid prototyping to mass production. Founded in 2015 by leaders in advanced manufacturing, metallurgy, and robotics, the company is addressing the unmet challenges of speed, cost, and quality to make additive manufacturing an essential tool for engineers and manufacturers around the world. Desktop Metal was selected as one of the world’s 30 most promising Technology Pioneers by the World Economic Forum, named to MIT Technology Review’s list of 50 Smartest Companies, and the 2021 winner of Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Award in materials and Fast Company’s Next Big Things in Tech Award for sustainability. For more information, visit www.desktopmetal.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks, uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this document, including but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties set forth in Desktop Metal, Inc.'s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Desktop Metal, Inc. assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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