Metal 3D Printing Service

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Certifications

ISO 9001:2015 | AS9100D | ITAR Registered

Direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) is an industrial metal 3D printing process that builds fully functional metal prototypes and production parts in 7 days or less. A range of metals produce final parts that can be used for end-use applications.

Metal 3D printing technology is commonly used for:

  • Prototyping in production-grade materials
  • Complex geometries
  • Functional, end-use parts
  • Reducing metal components in an assembly
metal 3d printed part with internal channels

We hope you find this guide helpful. If the file did not download, you can find it here.

Metal 3D Printing Guide

Jump start your metal 3D printing with this guide that covers material selection, design, post-processing, and quality inspections. 

Metal 3D Printing Capabilities

Our basic guidelines for metal 3D printing include important design considerations to help improve part manufacturability, enhance cosmetic appearance, and reduce overall production time.

Compare Material Properties

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Materials Resolution Condition Ultimate Tensile Strength
(ksi)		 Yield Stress
(ksi)		 Elongation 
(%)		 Hardness
Stainless Steel
(17-4 PH)		 20 μm Solution & Aged (H900) 199 178 10 42 HRC
30 μm Solution & Aged (H900) 198 179 13 42 HRC
Stainless Steel
(316L)		 20 μm Stress Relieved 82 56 78 90 HRB
30 μm Stress Relieved 85 55 75 88 HRB
Aluminum
(AlSi10Mg) 		 20 μm Stress Relieved 39 26 15 42 HRB
30 μm Stress Relieved 50 33 8 59 HRB
40 μm Stress Relieved 43 27 10 50 HRB
Cobalt Chrome
(Co28Cr6Mo)		 20 μm As Built 182 112 17 39 HRC
30 μm As Built 176 119 14 38 HRC
Inconel 718 20 μm Stress Relieved 143 98 36 33 HRC
30 μm Stress Relieved 144 91 39 30 HRC
30 μm Solution & Aged per AMS 5663 208 175 18 46 HRC
60 μm Stress Relieved 139 83 40 27 HRC
60 μm Solution & Aged per AMS 5663 201 174 19 45 HRC
Titanium
(Ti6Al4V)		 20 μm Stress Relieved 153 138 15 35 HRC
30 μm Stress Relieved 144 124 18 33 HRC

20 μm = high resolution (HR)

30, 40, and 60 μm = normal resolution (NR)

Materials Resolution Condition Ultimate Tensile Strength
(MPa)		 Yield Stress
(MPa)		 Elongation
(%)		 Hardness
Stainless Steel
(17-4 PH)		 20 μm Solution & Aged (H900) 1,372 1,227 10 42 HRC
30 μm Solution & Aged (H900) 1,365 1,234 13 42 HRC
Stainless Steel
(316L)		 20 μm Stress Relieved 565 386 78 90 HRB
30 μm Stress Relieved 586 379 75 88 HRB
Aluminum
(AlSi10Mg) 		 20 μm Stress Relieved 268 180 15 46 HRB
30 μm Stress Relieved 345 228 8 59 HRB
40 μm Stress Relieved 296 186 10 50 HRB
Cobalt Chrome
(Co28Cr6Mo)		 20 μm As Built 1255 772 17 39 HRC
30 μm As Built 1213 820 14 38 HRC
Copper
(CuNi2SiCr)		 20 μm Precipitation Hardened 496 434 23 87 HRB
Inconel 718 20 μm Stress Relieved 986 676 36 33 HRC
30 μm Stress Relieved 993 627 39 30 HRC
30 μm Solution & Aged per AMS 5663 1434 1207 18 46 HRC
60 μm Stress Relieved 958 572 40 27 HRC
60 μm Solution & Aged per AMS 5663 1386 1200 19 45 HRC
Titanium
(Ti6Al4V)		 20 μm Stress Relieved 1055 951 15 35 HRC
30 μm Stress Relieved 993 855 18 33 HRC

20 μm = high resolution (HR)

30, 40, and 60 μm = normal resolution (NR)

These figures are approximate and dependent on a number of factors, including but not limited to, machine and process parameters. The information provided is therefore not binding and not deemed to be certified. When performance is critical, also consider independent lab testing of additive materials or final parts.


Metal 3D Printing Material Options

Below is our available metal alloys for 3D printing. Various heat treatments are available depending on material.

Stainless Steel (17-4 PH)

Stainless Steel 17-4 PH is a precipitation hardened stainless steel that is known for its hardness and corrosion resistance. If needing a stainless steel option, select 17-4 PH for its significantly higher tensile strength and yield strength, but recognize that it has far less elongation at break than 316L. Final parts built 17-4 PH receive vacuum solution heat treatment as well as H900 aging.

Primary Benefits
  • Heat treated for full hardness and strength
  • Corrosion resistance

Learn More

Finishing Options

 

Standard
Brushed 150
Brushed 220
Brushed 400
Satin
Polished

Stainless Steel (316L)

Choose 316L when stainless steel flexibility is needed; 316L is a more malleable material compared to 17-4 PH. Final parts built in 316L receive stress relief application. 

Primary Benefits
  • Heat treated for full hardness and strength
  • Corrosion resistance

Learn More

Finishing Options

 

Standard
Brushed 150
Brushed 220
Brushed 400
Satin
Polished

Aluminum (AlSi10Mg)

Aluminum (AlSi10Mg) is comparable to a 3000 series alloy that is used in casting and die casting processes. It has good strength -to-weight ratio, high temperature and corrosion resistance, and good fatigue, creep and rupture strength. AlSi10Mg also exhibits thermal and electrical conductivity properties. Final parts built in AlSi10Mg receive stress relief application.

Primary Benefits
  • High stiffness and strength relative to weight
  • Thermal and electrical conductivity

Learn More

Custom Finishing Options

 

Standard
Brushed 150
Brushed 220
Brushed 400
Satin
Polished

Inconel 718

Inconel is a high strength, corrosion resistant nickel chromium superalloy ideal for parts that will experience extreme temperatures and mechanical loading. Final parts built in Inconel 718 receive stress relief application. Solution and aging per AMS 5663 is also available to increase tensile strength and hardness.

Primary Benefits
  • Oxidation and corrosion resistance
  • High performance tensile, fatigue, creep, and rupture strength

Learn More

Custom Finishing Options

 

Standard
Brushed 150
Brushed 220
Satin

Cobalt Chrome (Co28Cr6Mo)

Cobalt Chrome (Co28Cr6Mo) is a superalloy comprised primarily of cobalt and chromium. It's high tensile strength and resistance to creep and corrosion makes it a good material choice for aerospace components and medical instrumentation.

Primary Benefits​
  • High performance tensile and creep
  • Corrosion resistance

Learn More

Custom Finishing Options

 

Standard
Brushed 150
Brushed 220
Brushed 400
Satin
Polished

Titanium (Ti6Al4V)

Titanium (Ti6Al4V) is a workhorse alloy. When measured against Ti grade 23 annealed, the mechanical properties of Ti6Al4V are comparable to wrought titanium for tensile strength, elongation, and hardness. 

Primary Benefits​
  • High stiffness and strength relative to weight
  • High temperature and corrosion resistance

Learn More

Custom Finishing Options

 

Standard
Brushed 150
Brushed 220
Brushed 400
Satin
Polished

Post-Processing Capabilities for Metal 3D-Printed Parts

Improve strength, dimensional accuracy, and cosmetic appearance of final metal components with DMLS for production.

Surface Finishing

  • 3- and 5-axis milling
  • Turning
  • Custom Finishing
    • Brushed (150, 220, 400)
    • Satin
    • Polished
  • Passivation
  • Wire EDM
  • Tapping and reaming

Heat Treatments

  • Stress relief
  • NADCAP heat treatment
  • Hot isostatic pressing (HIP)
  • Solution annealing
  • Aging

Mechanical Testing

  • Tensile
  • Rockwell Hardness

Powder Analysis & Material

  • Traceability
  • Chemistry
  • Particle size and distribution analysis
 

Why Use Metal 3D Printing?

See how metal additive manufacturing technology can be used to reduce components within an assembly, fabricate complex geometries, and ultimately save you time and costs. 

direct metal laser sintering process illustration

Click to enlarge

How Does Metal 3D Printing Work?

The DMLS machine begins sintering each layer—first the support structures to the base plate, then the part itself—with a laser aimed onto a bed of metallic powder. After a cross-section layer of powder is micro-welded, the build platform shifts down and a recoater blade moves across the platform to deposit the next layer of powder into an inert build chamber. The process is repeated layer by layer until the build is complete.

When the build finishes, an initial brushing is manually administered to parts to remove a majority of loose powder, followed by the appropriate heat-treat cycle while still fixtured in the support systems to relieve any stresses. Parts are removed from the platform and support structures are removed from the parts, then finished with any needed bead blasting and deburring. Final DMLS parts are near 100 percent dense.

X line Metal 3D Printer

Large Format Metal 3D Printing

Our large format 3D printers can build metal parts as large as 31.5 in. x 15.7 in. x 19.7 in. in Aluminum and Inconel. Large, 3D-printed parts are often used in industrial settings, aerospace applications, automotive, and energy. 

Learn More

Additional Resources

Direct Metal Laser Sintering prototype part printed with 3D printing

What is 3D Printing?

Gain an understanding of additive manufacturing and how it can be leveraged to improve product development through rapid prototyping and production.
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3d printing dmls post processing process

Post-Processing for Metal 3D Printing

Improve dimensional accuracy, surface roughness, and mechanical properties on critical metal parts,
Read Design Tip arrow_right_alt
Metal 3D-printed part

Combining Part Assemblies with Additive Manufacturing to Reduce Cost and Increase Performance

How to find the right opportunities to consolidate multi-part assemblies into single components with industrial 3D printing
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Inconel 718

Inconel 718: A Workhorse Material for Additive Manufacturing

Inconel 718 is a go-to material for additive manufacturing of metal parts.
Read Blog arrow_right_alt
Inconel and Aluminum: Two Production Metals for Additive Manufacturing

Large Format 3D Printing for Aluminum and Inconel Parts

When you’re printing really large parts in metal, it’s great to have a choice of materials. Aluminum and Inconel 718 both make a lot of sense, but which one is the best for your application?
Read Blog arrow_right_alt
a metal 3D printing technician removes support structures from a DMLS part

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