Desktop Metal Metal Additive Manufacturing

Desktop Metal Production System P-50

$500,000 – $1,000,000 Updated 2026-03-17

Key Specifications

build volume

490 x 380 x 260 mm (19.3 x 15 x 10.2 in)

print technology

Single Pass Jetting (SPJ) binder jetting

layer thickness

50 - 200 um (application dependent)

build rate

Up to 12,000 cc/hr (rated), equivalent to ~100x faster than LPBF

supported materials

17-4PH SS, 316L SS, H13 tool steel, 4140 steel, copper, and expanding library

part density

~99% theoretical density after sintering

Overview

The Desktop Metal Production System P-50 is a high-throughput binder jetting platform designed to compete with powder bed fusion and conventional manufacturing at production volumes. Unlike laser-based metal AM systems, the P-50 uses Desktop Metal's patented Single Pass Jetting (SPJ) technology — a print head that spans the full width of the build box and jets binder in a single sweep across each layer. The result is build speeds Desktop Metal rates at up to 100 times faster than laser powder bed fusion, enabling annual production volumes measured in millions of parts rather than thousands.

The P-50 builds parts in a 490 x 380 x 260 mm build volume using metal powders held together with a proprietary binder. After printing, the green part is debinded and sintered in a furnace — the sintering step densifies the part to approximately 99% theoretical density. Desktop Metal's Live Sinter simulation software predicts and compensates for sintering distortion, allowing parts to be scaled and adjusted before printing so that the final sintered geometry matches the design intent without iterative trial and error.

The P-50 targets production manufacturing applications where part counts and cost-per-part economics matter more than build-speed-per-laser metrics. It is competitive in automotive, consumer electronics, and industrial hardware where stainless steel, tool steel, copper, and other sinterable alloys are used at scale. Desktop Metal has qualified 17-4PH stainless steel, 316L, H13 tool steel, 4140 low-alloy steel, copper, and several other materials on the platform, with an expanding material library driven by partnerships with major powder producers.

The P-50 is designed for factory integration — it operates in a climate-controlled environment, integrates with automated powder handling, and feeds into Desktop Metal's debinder and sintering furnace systems. Total cost of ownership calculations for the P-50 emphasize cost-per-part at volume rather than machine price alone. For production runs where binder jetting economics apply, Desktop Metal positions the P-50 as a direct competitor to metal injection molding (MIM) and high-volume die casting with faster tooling lead times and greater geometric freedom.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Build Volume	490 x 380 x 260 mm (19.3 x 15 x 10.2 in)
Print Technology	Single Pass Jetting (SPJ) binder jetting
Layer Thickness	50 - 200 um (application dependent)
Build Rate	Up to 12,000 cc/hr (rated), equivalent to ~100x faster than LPBF
Supported Materials	17-4PH SS, 316L SS, H13 tool steel, 4140 steel, copper, and expanding library
Part Density	~99% theoretical density after sintering
Sintering Software	Live Sinter (distortion prediction and pre-compensation)
Post Processing	Requires debinding (Separant) + sintering furnace (separate equipment)
Machine Weight	Approx. 2,200 kg (4,850 lb) — printer only, excludes post-processing
Power Requirements	3-phase, 208-240V, 60A

Specifications sourced from desktopmetal.com — verified 2026-03-28

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Single Pass Jetting delivers build rates up to 100x faster than LPBF, enabling production volumes that are simply not feasible with laser-based systems
Cost-per-part economics at volume rival metal injection molding and die casting without hard tooling or long tooling lead times
490 x 380 mm build box is larger than most production LPBF systems, allowing more parts per build or larger individual parts
Live Sinter simulation software eliminates most iterative trials for sintering distortion, accelerating process development
Broad and expanding material library includes tool steels and copper not available on many LPBF platforms
Binder jetting produces no residual stress in green parts, reducing post-process distortion compared to laser melting

Limitations

Requires separate debinder and sintering furnace — total system investment and facility footprint are significantly larger than printer alone
Sintering shrinkage (~15-20%) requires precise pre-compensation and furnace process control; dimensional tolerances are not as tight as machined parts
Not suitable for reactive materials like titanium — binder jetting is optimized for steels, tool steels, and copper
Long sintering cycles (hours to days per furnace load) add process time even if printing is fast
Desktop Metal's financial history and corporate turbulence introduces supply chain and support risk for a capital-intensive platform

Best For

Automotive and consumer electronics manufacturers producing high volumes of small steel components where MIM economics apply but tooling lead times are prohibitive Industrial hardware producers running stainless steel, 316L, and 17-4PH parts in production quantities of thousands to millions per year Tool and die shops producing H13 conformal-cooled inserts and other tool steel components at production scale Contract manufacturers building out additive manufacturing capacity to compete directly with MIM and high-pressure die casting Manufacturers evaluating additive as a bridge or replacement for hard tooling in medium-to-high volume production

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What does a Desktop Metal Production System P-50 cost?

The P-50 printer is typically priced between $500,000 and $1,000,000. However, total system cost — including the Separant debinder and sintering furnace — can reach $1.5 million or more. Desktop Metal also offers subscription and financing models. Full ROI analysis requires comparing cost-per-part at target volumes against MIM or machining alternatives.

02 How does binder jetting compare to laser powder bed fusion?

Binder jetting prints by depositing binder into a powder bed without melting — the part is initially a fragile 'green' body that requires furnace sintering to achieve full density. This makes it dramatically faster than laser-based melting but introduces a sintering step and higher dimensional tolerances. LPBF produces ready-to-use parts directly from the printer with tighter tolerances and reactive material compatibility. Binder jetting wins on throughput and cost-per-part at volume; LPBF wins on precision, material range, and single-piece production.

03 What materials are qualified for the P-50?

Currently qualified materials include 17-4PH stainless steel, 316L stainless steel, H13 tool steel, 4140 low-alloy steel, and copper. Desktop Metal continues to qualify additional alloys through partnerships with powder producers. Titanium and reactive materials are not suitable for binder jetting due to sintering atmosphere requirements.

04 What is Live Sinter software?

Live Sinter is Desktop Metal's simulation software that predicts the shrinkage and distortion a binder-jetted part will undergo during sintering. It automatically generates a pre-distorted version of the CAD geometry that, after sintering, produces the intended final shape. This eliminates most iterative print-sinter-measure cycles during process development.

05 How does the P-50 fit into a factory workflow?

The P-50 prints green parts continuously at high speed. Those parts are then moved to the Separant debinder (which removes binder through a solvent process), then to a sintering furnace where they achieve full density over a multi-hour cycle. Multiple parallel sintering furnaces are typically used to keep pace with the printer's output. The full workflow is designed for factory integration with automated powder handling and conveyor systems.