Metal materials · SLM
Metal 3D printing materials: stainless steel, aluminium, titanium and die steel
All of VEYSEN’s metal 3D printing is done by SLM, and six metals are available now. The tables below give build sizes and mechanical properties so you can compare them against what your part needs.
The six metals
Stainless steel
316L
Corrosion resistant and ductile. A general-purpose stainless steel that also suits parts exposed to moisture.
420 × 420 × 450 mm
Stainless steel
17-4PH
Higher strength and hardness, which heat treatment raises further. It suits mechanical parts and fixtures.
420 × 420 × 450 mm
Aluminium alloy
AlSi10Mg
Lightweight and well suited to thin walls and complex shapes, such as housings and brackets.
420 × 420 × 450 mm
Aluminium alloy · anodizing grade
6061
The choice when the part needs anodizing, which is available on request.
420 × 420 × 450 mm
Die steel
18Ni300
Reaches 54–57 HRC after heat treatment. It suits mold cores, mold inserts and tooling parts that need high strength.
250 × 250 × 280 mm
Titanium alloy
Ti6Al4V (TC4)
Strong, light and corrosion resistant. It suits lightweight structural parts.
250 × 250 × 280 mm
Specifications
Build sizes and mechanical properties
Overview
Material
Grade
Technology
Max build size
Stainless steel
316L
SLM
420 × 420 × 450 mm
Stainless steel
17-4PH
SLM
420 × 420 × 450 mm
Aluminium alloy
AlSi10Mg
SLM
420 × 420 × 450 mm
Aluminium alloy (anodizing grade)
6061
SLM
420 × 420 × 450 mm
Die steel
18Ni300
SLM
250 × 250 × 280 mm
Titanium alloy
Ti6Al4V (TC4)
SLM
250 × 250 × 280 mm
As-built properties
Property
316L
17-4PH
18Ni300
Ti6Al4V (TC4)
AlSi10Mg
6061
Density (g/cm³)
7.9
7.9
8.09
4.56
2.7
2.7
Relative density of printed sample
> 99%
> 99%
> 99%
> 99%
≥ 99.3%
≥ 98%
Hardness
13–15 HRC
18–22 HRC
38–42 HRC
380 HV
—
—
Tensile strength Rm
580 MPa
860 MPa
1177 MPa
1000 MPa
420 MPa
290 MPa
Yield strength Rp0.2
490 MPa
700 MPa
980 MPa
950 MPa
240 MPa
250 MPa
Elongation at break
32%
19%
8%
7%
5.5%
14%
Properties after heat treatment
Property
316L
17-4PH
18Ni300
Ti6Al4V (TC4)
AlSi10Mg
6061
Hardness
13–15 HRC
32–42 HRC
54–57 HRC
350 HV
—
—
Tensile strength Rm
670 MPa
1340 MPa
2163 MPa
1000 MPa
330 MPa
—
Yield strength Rp0.2
550 MPa
1210 MPa
1920 MPa
825 MPa
210 MPa
—
Elongation at break
35%
13%
2.5%
14%
11%
—
Heat treatment is optional and depends on the application.
A dash (—) means no value is available.
Values are typical data-sheet values for reference. Actual results depend on part geometry and print settings.
Surface and post-processing
Supports and support marks are removed from every metal part, and some layer lines will still be visible. Heat treatment, CNC finishing of critical surfaces, thread tapping, polishing and sandblasting are available on request, as is anodizing for 6061.
17-4PH stainless steel L-bracket
316L stainless steel impeller ring
18Ni300 square-drive socket cap
316L stainless steel spline taper lock bushing
Not sure which metal to use?
Tell us what the part is for and we’ll help you choose.