DM3D Technology

DM3D Technology is an Auburn Hills, Michigan-based metal additive manufacturing company specializing in Directed Energy Deposition (DED) — a process distinct from laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) in which a focused energy source (laser or electron beam) melts metal feedstock (powder or wire) as it is deposited onto a substrate or partially-built component, building up material in a pattern controlled by a 5-or-6-axis robotic arm.

DED's key advantage for aerospace and space applications is scale: while LPBF machines are limited to build envelopes typically under 400mm × 400mm × 400mm, DED systems can fabricate parts several meters in dimension — enabling the production of rocket engine nozzles, turbine disk preforms, pressure vessel sections, and structural frames that would otherwise require forging, casting, and extensive machining from raw billet.

DM3D's most significant space program contribution is its role in NASA's RAMPT (Refractory Advanced Manufacturing for Propulsion Technology) program, which aims to demonstrate additive manufacturing of rocket engine components from refractory metals and alloys — materials like Inconel 625/718, copper alloys for regenerative cooling channels, and refractory high-entropy alloys that resist the extreme temperatures (2,000-3,000°C) inside rocket combustion chambers.

DM3D is printing a 10-foot (3+ meter) scale rocket nozzle as a RAMPT demonstrator — a component that would take 3-6 months to manufacture conventionally through forging procurement, machining, and welding, achieved in weeks via DED with a 2-10× schedule reduction and dramatically less material waste (DED near-net-shape vs subtractive machining of large billet).

DED also enables repair and life extension: existing rocket nozzle extensions with erosion or cracking can be restored by depositing new material in-situ rather than scrapping the entire component — a significant advantage for high-value reusable hardware. DM3D's Michigan location bridges automotive and aerospace manufacturing communities, with expertise in large-format DED applicable to both industries. Competitors in large-format DED include Sciaky (electron beam wire DED for titanium aerospace structures), MX3D, and Norsk Titanium (wire-arc DED for aircraft structural titanium).