ExOne qualifies 304L stainless steel for metal additive manufacturing

ExOne, a company known for its diverse range of 3D printers, has announced the latest addition to its product offering. As of now, the company is supplying 304L stainless steel as a qualified 3D printing material for its machines. The material, the most prevalent type of stainless steel, will also be offered through its Production Service Center in North Huntingdon, PA, enabling clients to leverage the material’s good durability, corrosion resistance and affordable cost.

With many existing applications across a range of industries, 304L stainless steel is the most commonly used grade of stainless steel, used in kitchen appliances, medical devices, heat exchangers and more. It is no wonder then that it has been a particularly enticing metal for 3D printing companies to adapt for AM technologies.

ExOne is the latest company to introduce its 3D printable 304L stainless steel material, joining the company’s existing portfolio of 316L and 17-4PH qualified single alloy metals, which have been on offer since last year. Other metal materials offered by the company through its Production Service Center include matrix metals 420 stainless steel and bronze, and 316 stainless steel also infiltrated with bronze.

“The qualification of 304L further demonstrates ExOne’s leadership position in 3D printing of metal components for industrial applications,” said Rick Lucas, Chief Technology Officer at ExOne. “304L is another example of our binder jet 3D printers being used to make high density, single alloy components for use in a multitude of industries.

“By using the same metal powders that are used in the metal injection molding industry, we are able to quickly develop materials that meet MPIF (Metal Powder Industries Federation) Standard 35 and cost significantly less than parts produced using other 3D technologies such as powder bed fusion technologies.”

The material, as Lucas mentions, is compatible with ExOne’s binder jetting 3D printing technology, which enables users to 3D print complexly structured parts at a reportedly cheaper cost than many competing metal AM systems.

Visitors to the IMTS conference in Chicago this September (10th through 15th), will get the chance to see parts 3D printed from ExOne’s newly qualified 304L stainless steel material. Interested clients can also consult the company’s Production Service Center to order parts.