Stainless steel is a go-to for many manufacturing applications due to it being corrosion- and temperature-resistant, easy to fabricate, strong, hygienic and aesthetically pleasing. When it comes to additive manufacturing (AM), stainless steel and other metals have been elusive for various reasons. Desktop Metals is changing that with its new 316L stainless steel for use with its Production System platform.
“As innovators in the automotive, medical, consumer products and petrochemical industries continue to embrace the benefits of additive manufacturing, implementing applications made possible with 316L stainless steel, we will begin to see even more widespread adoption of binder jetting technology,” said Jonah Myerberg, cofounder and CTO of Desktop Metal.
The 316L stainless steel was certified by the Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF), which has strict standards and specifications for AM materials. This certification opens the door for various industries—from chemical and petrochemical processing to marine to jewelry and medical—to take AM production to new levels.
“The qualification of 316L stainless steel with leading mechanical properties on the Production System platform is part of our aggressive roadmap to support an array of materials for binder jetting and a testament to the advantages of SPJ technology, which enables mass production throughput without sacrificing part performance and repeatability,” Myerberg said. “With 316L on the Production System P-50, businesses will now be able to leverage additive manufacturing to produce complex, end-use parts suitable for use in harsh environments at volumes and costs competitive with conventional manufacturing.”
Desktop Metal put the 316L, which is a molybdenum-bearing and fully austenitic stainless steel, through extreme testing. Along with meeting MPIF standards for structural powder metallurgy, the beta parts maintain optimal mechanical properties and heat- and corrosion-resistance while lowering costs and production time.
The company sought to test different use cases to ensure that its material met the high demands of its customers. For the automotive industry, gear knobs were printed with the 316L. Because the part is frequently touched, manufacturers need the knobs to be easy to sanitize while also aesthetically pleasing, making stainless steel the optimal choice. Using the Production System, up to 6,700 knobs were printed per week compared to needing up to 14 weeks of lead time for traditional tooling.
Other tested parts have included a rocker arm for saltwater environments. Using 316L helps extend the part’s life thanks to its durable qualities, as well as enables the part to have the ribbing features and cutouts it needs. When it comes to chemical processing plants, a fluid connector printed with 316L enabled it to be made as a single component. That could equal significant savings while still ensuring the part has the resistance and strength needed for a harsh environment.
With these new options, as well as continued research into 3D printing with metals, AM is likely to become a standard part of production.
Interested in other innovations in metal 3D printing? Check out Uniformity 6061 Paves the Way for Sintering Mass-Produced Aluminum Parts and MakerBot Now Supports 3D Printing Metal with BASF Ultrafuse 316L.