Michigan Opens Industrial 3D Printing to Small Businesses Without Membership Fees

Breaking Down Barriers to Advanced Manufacturing

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Michigan and beyond now have access to industrial-grade additive manufacturing without the burden of expensive equipment purchases or membership fees. Automation Alley Project DIAMOnD has opened its Digital Transformation Center (DTC) to businesses outside its membership network, marking a significant step toward democratizing advanced manufacturing capabilities.

What is Available

The Auburn Hills, Michigan facility offers access to advanced polymer and metal additive manufacturing processes:

• Polymer powder-bed fusion (SAF) for production-grade plastic parts
• High-performance thermoplastic FFF/MEX printing including large-format capabilities
• Directed energy deposition (DED) metal printing for industrial metal components

Beyond printing, the center provides post-processing, inspection, and validation tools, along with technical support from experienced staff.

From Experimentation to Production

The Digital Transformation Center was built to help companies move from experimentation with additive manufacturing to real production. By opening the DTC to businesses beyond the membership network, Project DIAMOnD is removing another barrier to adoption of this powerful technology and giving more companies a low-risk path to validate products, scale production and compete using additive manufacturing.

The DTC was originally created to support grant recipients who needed capabilities beyond their in-house desktop 3D printers. It has since evolved into a professional, fee-for-service manufacturing resource that serves use cases including:

• Functional prototyping
• Tooling production
• Short-run and bridge manufacturing

Protecting Intellectual Property

Companies can submit designs through a secure digital portal, receive quotes, and work with experts to select appropriate materials, processes, and workflows. The digital workflows are designed to protect intellectual property while supporting repeatable production for future orders.

Why This Matters

This expansion is significant for several reasons:

Lower Barrier to Entry: SMEs can now validate additive manufacturing for their applications without six-figure equipment investments.

Production-Ready Capabilities: The equipment available is not desktop-grade. These are industrial systems capable of end-use part production.

Technical Support: Companies do not just get machine access. They get expert guidance on material selection, process optimization, and design for additive manufacturing.

The Bigger Picture

Project DIAMOnD (Distributed, Independent, Agile Manufacturing on Demand) represents a broader trend in American manufacturing: creating shared infrastructure that allows smaller companies to compete with larger manufacturers who can afford in-house AM capabilities.

For Michigan specifically, this initiative strengthens the state position as a manufacturing innovation hub while helping local businesses modernize their production capabilities without taking on excessive risk.

How to Access

Businesses interested in using the DTC can submit print orders through Project DIAMOnD digital portal. The fee-for-service model means companies pay only for what they need, without ongoing membership commitments or equipment maintenance responsibilities.