DMP Factory 500 by 3D Systems Corporation: status and timeline

DMP Factory 500

The DMP Factory 500 is 3D Systems' production-scale direct metal printing system with a 500×500 mm build platform, designed for small-to-medium aerospace, medical, and tooling applications.

DeployStage 4 of 5

Production-deployed system for aerospace and medical part manufacturing with three 500W fiber lasers.

Updated 10 Aug 2026Checked 10 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

No announced next step

DMP Factory 500 introduced2015Complete.
Titanium implant production qualified2018Complete.
USAF contract for advanced metal 3D printing2023Complete.

Most important, last 3 months

3D Systems receives $9 million USAF contract for GEN-II large-format metal 3D printing; total program funding reaches $27.4 million10 Aug 2026

Current obstacles

Material allowables for flight-critical partsRegulators require mechanical testing on fatigue, fracture toughness, and microstructure; collaborating with NIAR and labs.
Consistency across customer sitesEach customer's machine and process conditions vary; maintaining consistent material properties globally requires rigid process control and regular audits.

Physics limits

Build platform size limits part sizeThe 500×500 mm platform restricts part length/width; larger structures require assembly of multiple printed components, adding cost and complexity.
Build speed is slow compared to traditional machiningTypical build rates are 20–50 cm³/h; a 500 cm³ part takes 10–25 hours, plus hours of post-processing (support removal, stress relief, machining).

How it works

3 parts

Fiber laser melting

Three 500W infrared lasers

Three fiber lasers melt metal powder simultaneously, enabling efficient coverage and faster build rates than single-laser systems.

Powder recoating

Soft blade spreads fresh material

After each laser pass, a soft blade draws across a hopper of metal powder, applying a uniform 30–100 μm layer to the build platform.

Thermal control

Chamber atmosphere management

The build chamber maintains an inert argon atmosphere to prevent oxidation, and the platform can be preheated to reduce residual stress and warping.

Spec sheet

Spec	DMP Factory 500
Build platform width	500 mm^R (reported)
Build platform depth	500 mm^R (reported)
Build platform height	500 mm^R (reported)
Fiber laser count	3 × 500W^R (reported)
Laser wavelength	1070 nm (fiber laser)^R (reported)
Layer thickness (typical)	60 μm^R (reported)
Dimensional accuracy	±0.1–0.2% with ±100 μm minimum^R (reported)
Minimum feature size	300 μm^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Peer comparison

Metal 3D printing peers

Spec	DMP Factory 500	Bright Laser Technologies (BLT) BLT-S1500	Farsoon Technologies FS1521M
Build platform width	500 mm^R (reported)	1500 mm^R (reported)	1530 mm^R (reported)
Build platform depth	500 mm^R (reported)	1500 mm^R (reported)	1530 mm^R (reported)
Build platform height	500 mm^R (reported)	1200 mm^R (reported)	1650 mm^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

1 update

Mon 10 Aug

Major: 3D Systems receives $9 million USAF contract for GEN-II large-format metal 3D printing; total program funding reaches $27.4 millionPressFunding

About 3D Systems Corporation

The team behind DMP Factory 500

3D Systems Corporation

DMP direct metal printing, Figure 4, SLA photopolymer

3D Systems is a global leader in additive manufacturing, founded in 1986 by Chuck Hull (inventor of stereolithography). The Rock Hill, South Carolina-based company (NYSE: DDD) serves aerospace, defense, medical, dental, automotive, and jewelry with 3D printers, materials, and software.

Inventor of stereolithography; major supplier of DMP and polymer systems for aerospace and regulated industries.
August 2026: Won $9 million USAF contract for large-format metal printing; total GEN-II program funding is $27.4 million since 2023.
CEO transition announced August 2026; aerospace and defense is now the fastest-growing business segment.

3dsystems.com (opens 3dsystems.com)Company profile →

Founded: 198640 yrs
Headquarters: United States
Status: Public
Listed: DDD (opens google.com)NYSE
Valuation: public
Works in: ManufacturingMetal 3D printing
Coverage: 4 programs · 4 updateslatest 27 Aug 2026checked 10 Oct
Customers: Airbus (opens airbus.com)Lucid Motors (opens lucidmotors.com)U.S. Air Force (opens af.mil)
Partners: Savannah River National Laboratory (opens srnl.doe.gov)NIAR (National Institute for Aviation Research) (opens niar.wichita.edu)
People: Dr. Jeffrey GravesPresident and CEO (announced transition August 2026)Dr. Michael ShepardVice President, Aerospace & Defense

Spec

DMP Factory 500

Build platform width

500 mm^R (reported)

Build platform depth

500 mm^R (reported)

Build platform height

500 mm^R (reported)

Fiber laser count

3 × 500W^R (reported)

Laser wavelength

1070 nm (fiber laser)^R (reported)

Layer thickness (typical)

60 μm^R (reported)

Dimensional accuracy

±0.1–0.2% with ±100 μm minimum^R (reported)

Minimum feature size

300 μm^R (reported)

Spec

DMP Factory 500

Bright Laser Technologies (BLT) BLT-S1500

Farsoon Technologies FS1521M

Build platform width

500 mm^R (reported)

1500 mm^R (reported)

1530 mm^R (reported)

Build platform depth

500 mm^R (reported)

1500 mm^R (reported)

1530 mm^R (reported)

Build platform height

500 mm^R (reported)

1200 mm^R (reported)

1650 mm^R (reported)