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Stainless Steel 3D Printing Service
High-quality stainless steel 3D printing with fast turnaround, durable materials, and precision for industrial prototypes and custom parts.
Stainless Steel 3D Printing Service
Stainless steel 3D printing combines the versatility of 3D printing technology with the durability, corrosion resistance, and strength of stainless steel to make parts with broad industrial applications.
The process involves using 3D printing techniques like selective laser melting (SLM) or Direct Laser Metal Sintering to sinter the stainless steel layer-by-layer, forming the final part.
RapidDirect’s 3D printing service uses 316L stainless steel, a durable, corrosion-resistant SS alloy. After printing, the final parts have a silver-gray finish.
| Price: | $$$ | Available Aluminum at RapidDirect: | Stainless Steel 316L Silver Grey |
|---|---|
| Lead Time: | < 6 days |
| Wall Thickness: | 0.8 mm |
| Tolerances: | ISO2768-C |
| Max Part Size: | 500 mm x 500 mm x 500 mm |
Stainless Steel 316L Properties
| Tensile Strength, Yield (MPa) | Fatigue Strength (MPa) | Elongation at Break (%) | Hardness (Brinell) | Density (g/cm³) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 240 | 240 | 40-50 | 160 | 7.99 |
Pros and Cons of Stainless Steel 3D Printing
Stainless steel is great for 3D printing but has some drawbacks to consider before use.
Pros
- Creates detailed and precise 3D printed stainless steel parts
- Stainless steel provides robust mechanical properties
- Its biocompatibility makes it a preferred choice for medical applications
- It uses the material necessary to build the part, reducing waste and associated costs.
Cons
- The initial cost of purchasing 3D printing equipment and setting up the necessary infrastructure can be substantial. You can offset the cost by using our stainless steel 3D printing service
- Limited range of available stainless steel alloys for 3D printing
- High cost of stainless steel powders
- It may require post-processing to achieve the desired surface finish and dimensional accuracy.
Applications of 3D Printed Stainless Steel Parts
3D printed stainless steel parts are widely used across various industries, including:
- Medical Devices: Surgical tools, implants, and dental devices
- Aerospace Components: Brackets, housings, and structural parts
- Automotive Industry: Functional prototypes, custom components, and spare parts.
- Industrial Equipment: Gears, valves, and pump components
- Consumer Goods: Jewelry, kitchenware, and decorative items
FAQs
Yes, stainless steel can be 3D printed using additive manufacturing techniques such as Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) and Selective Laser Melting (SLM). These processes involve melting powdered stainless steel using a high-power laser, layer by layer, to create a solid, three-dimensional object. The resulting parts maintain the mechanical properties of stainless steel, such as strength and corrosion resistance, making them suitable for various industrial applications.
Generally, it can take a few hours to a couple of days to print small to medium-sized stainless-steel 3D-printed parts. However, the time required to 3D print stainless steel parts depends on size and complexity, 3D printing technique, and 3D printer specification.
3D Printing Resources
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