Metal for 3D printing plays a key role in part quality, performance, and application success. This article explores which metals are best suited for powder bed fusion, their properties, available variants, and the industries they are commonly used in.
All metals presented are fully compatible with the 2Create and 2Create Plus metal 3D printers.
Key Points in Brief:
- High-quality Metal for 3D Printing: Metal Ensures strong, precise, and reliable parts.
- Powder Bed Fusion (SLM & EBM): The most widely used method for metal additive manufacturing.
- Common Metals: Stainless steel, tool steel, titanium, cobalt-chrome, nickel superalloys, and aluminium.
- 2Create & 2Create Plus: Support all major metal powders for industrial and medical applications.
3D printed modding gas nozzle (Stainless Steel) for 2Create
Metal for 3D Printing
Metal for 3D printing is available in various forms, including powder, wire, liquid, and filament, depending on the application and additive manufacturing process.
The most common method in method in metal 3D printing is powder bed fusion (SLM and EBM), where metal powdersare selectively melted and fused layer by layer.
Metals for 3D Printing – Materials
Metals such as stainless steel, tool steel, titanium, cobalt-chrome, nickel-based superalloys (e.g. Inconel), aluminium, and copper alloys are among the most widely used metals for 3D printing.
They are applied in various industries, including aerospace, automotive engineering, tool and machine construction, and medical technology. (SLM).
Stainless Steel 3D Printing
Stainless steel is a metallic material with exceptional corrosion resistance, high strength, as well as excellent temperature resistance, durability, and conductivity.
3D printed objects made of stainless steel can have the same or even higher strength compared to traditional manufacturing methods. The hardness, strength, and other properties of 3D printed stainless steel are largely determined by the choice of 3D printing process and the material used.
Commonly used stainless steel alloys are 316L and 17-4 PH. 316L is characterized by its high corrosion resistance, while 17-4 PH allows for exceptional precipitation hardening (Precipitation Hardening technology).
Stainless Steel 3D Printing Applications
3D printed objects made of stainless steel are used in a wide range of industries, including medical and dental technology, aerospace, the automotive industry, and assistive technology.
Stainless Steel 3D Printing Powder
Stainless steel used for stainless steel 3D printing is available in various alloys with different properties, such as 316L, 304L, 630, 410, 420, 254, 17-4 PH, 15-5 PH, PH1, and GP1. Among these, 316L is the most commonly used in metal 3D printing, as it offers high corrosion resistance and good ductility.
Validated materials for the 2onelab printing systems: forAM 316L VG, MetcoAdd™ 17-4PH
3D printed component (Stainless steel; 17-4PH) by 2onelab
Tool Steel 3D Printing
Tool steels are characterized by their high wear resistance and hardness, are particularly temperature-resistant, durable, and have good ductility. They belong to the group of iron alloys with a carbon content of less than 2%, as well as low levels of phosphorus and sulfur. In 3D printing, both alloyed and unalloyed tool steels are used, which differ in their properties.
Tool Steel 3D Printing Applications
3D printed geometries made of tool steel are used in the industry for the production of tools, tool components, and in mold making (Additive Tooling or Rapid Tooling). These molds are subsequently used in other manufacturing processes, such as extrusion, casting, injection molding, or stamping.
Tool Steel 3D Printing Powder
The following tool steel powders are used for tool steel 3D printing: D2, M2, H13, H11, MS1, and 1.2709.
Validated materials for the 2onelab printing systems: Stainless Steel Super Duplex, metal-ceramic cermet composite powder
Metal 3D printed forms (Titanium) by 2onelab
Titanium 3D Printing
Titanium and titanium alloys are characterized by exceptionally high corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, an excellent strength-to-weight ratio, and low thermal expansion. Due to these properties, titanium is the most commonly used metal in additive manufacturing.
Titanium 3D Printing Applications
Due to its biocompatibility, titanium is widely used in medical and dental technology, including for the precise manufacturing of prostheses and implants. Additionally, titanium 3D printing is also used in the aerospace, automotive, and electronics industries.
Titanium 3D Printing Powder
The following titanium powders are available for titanium 3D printing: Ti-6Al-4V, Beta 21S, Cp-Ti (pure titanium), and TA15.
Validated materials for the 2onelab printing systems: STARBOND TI5 POWDER 45 (Ti-6Al-4V)
3D printed titanium joint ball by 2onelab
Cobalt Chrome 3D Printing
Cobalt-chrome alloys are characterized by their exceptionally high hardness as well as excellent wear, heat, and corrosion resistance, with their corrosion resistance surpassing that of stainless steel. Additionally, they are biocompatible, making them ideal for medical applications.
Cobalt Chrome 3D Printing Applications
The properties of cobalt-chrome enable a wide range of applications, spanning from the aerospace and automotive industries to dentistry and medical technology.
Cobalt Chrome 3D Printing Powder
Examples of cobalt-chrome powders suitable for cobalt-chrome 3D printing: CoCr, CoCrW, CoCr F75, and CoCr28Mo6
Validated materials for the 2onelab printing systems: Mediloy® S-Co, Mediloy® RPD, Kera®S-Powder, remanium star powder, Starbond Easy Powder 30
3D printed dental models (CoCr) by 2onelab
Nickel-Based Superalloys 3D Printing
Nickel-based superalloys, such as Inconel, are high-performance alloys characterized by excellent mechanical properties and exceptional resistance to corrosion and high temperatures. These properties make them ideal for the use in extreme environments, such as those found in turbines or rockets.
Applications in 3D Printing
Nickel-based alloys are used in demanding industrial applications in aerospace, marine, as well as energy and automotive industries. They ensure high resistance to mechanical stresses and extreme environmental conditions.
Nickel-Based Superalloys 3D Printing Powder
For metal 3D printing of nickel-based superalloys in powder form, the following are suitable: Inconel 625, Inconel 718, Hastelloy X, and Haynes 282
Aluminium 3D Printing
Aluminum alloys are characterized by good thermal and electrical conductivity, have excellent corrosion resistance, and combine low density with significant strength, depending on the alloy.
Aluminium 3D Printing Applications
Aluminum alloys are particularly suitable for lightweight constructions with high strength, making them ideal for use in aerospace, automotive, medical technology, and machinery and plant construction.
Aluminium 3D Printing Powder
Typical aluminum alloys for aluminum 3D printing are AlSi10Mg, AlSi12, and Al6061
Validated materials for the 2onelab printing systems: forAM® AlSi10Mg 20-63 GA
3D printed aluminium nozzle by 2onelab
How to Choose the Best Metal for 3D Printing
Consider the following steps to select the optimal metals for 3D printing:
1. Define the performance requirements for the object to be manufactured in advance. These requirements may include external influences the final product will be exposed to, as well as expected mechanical stresses during use.
2. Compare the performance requirements with the properties of the respective metal. Ensure that the selected material meets both the application requirements and operating conditions. For example, do you need a metal with high mechanical strength or excellent corrosion resistance?
3. Finally, select the material that best meets the defined performance and object requirements. This will ensure reliable functionality and a long lifespan of the manufactured product.
Conclusion – Metal for 3D Printing
Choosing the right metal for 3D printing depends on the manufacturing process and the intended application.
Powder bed fusion (SLM and EBM) is the most widely used process, enabling the production of high-performance parts from metals such as stainless steel, tool steel, titanium, nickel-based superalloys, cobalt-chrome, and aluminium.
Discover the Full Potential of Metal 3D Printing with 2onelab
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FAQ: Metal for 3D Printing
Do 3D Printers Print Metal?
The production of objects from metal using additive manufacturing processes is possible. Methods like Selective Laser Melting (SLM) use specialized 3D printers to build metals layer by layer into an object.
Which Metals Are Used for 3D Printing?
For metal 3D printing, the following metals have proven effective: steel (stainless steel, tool steels), titanium, cobalt-chrome, nickel-based superalloys, aluminum, and copper.
Application areas range from aerospace to automotive engineering, medical and dental technology, and the electronics industry.
Which Metals Are Not Suitable for 3D Printing?
Generally, any metal can be used for 3D printing, as long as it is available in an appropriate powder form and can be melted and fused at high temperatures without burning. Metal extrusion through a nozzle is usually possible when the aforementioned material requirements are not met.
How Stable Is 3D Printed Metal?
With 3D printing of metal, objects can be printed that are highly stable and exhibit mechanical properties comparable to or even surpassing those of traditional manufacturing. Influencing factors include the choice of metal material, the additive manufacturing process, printing parameters, and post-processing.
Can You 3D Print Titanium?
Objects can be made from the metallic material titanium or in the form of titanium alloys in 3D printing. This includes either pure titanium, such as Cp-Ti, or specific alloys that meet certain requirements due to their special properties. Examples include Ti-6Al-4V, Beta 21S, and TA15.
Titanium is known for its excellent biocompatibility and is primarily used in medical and dental technology for the production of precision implants and prosthetics.
Can You 3D Print Aluminium?
3D printing of aluminum metal is particularly suitable for the aerospace sector due to its low weight combined with high strength. After all, these industries are characterized by lightweight construction, making weight a critical factor.
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Author: Markus Wolf
Passionate about 3D printing, while being
CTO and Co-Founder of 2onelab.
