Why 316L Stainless Steel Is One of The Most Widely Used Materials for Metal 3D Printing Applications

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a rapid prototyping technology. Its working principle is mainly based on digital model files, using adhesive materials such as powdered metal or plastic to construct objects through layer by layer printing. Simply put, if an object is sliced into numerous thin layers, 3D printing is the process of printing these layers layer by layer, with the top layer covering the bottom layer and bonding them together until the entire object is printed into shape.

Since its emergence in the mid-1990s, 3D printing technology has been widely applied in various fields, including mold manufacturing, industrial design, jewelry, footwear, architecture, engineering and construction, automotive, aerospace, dental, and medical industries. Not only that, 3D printing has also demonstrated its enormous potential in some special fields, such as the University of California, San Diego, which used 3D printing technology to manufacture spinal cord scaffolds that mimic the structure of the central nervous system, successfully helping experimental rats restore their motor function.

The emergence and development of 3D printing technology have greatly promoted innovation and transformation in the manufacturing industry, bringing infinite possibilities for future production and life.

01 The Development History of 3D Printing

Early Exploration and Patent Birth (1980s)

In the 1980s, 3D printing technology began to enter people's vision. Among them, 1986 was a landmark year when Charles Hull successfully developed stereolithography technology (SLA) and obtained relevant patents. This technology laid the foundation for 3D printing, and as a result, he founded 3D Systems, the world's first company to produce 3D printing equipment. In the same year, he also created the widely used STL file format. In 1987 and 1988, other researchers also developed selective laser sintering (SLS) and fused deposition modeling (FDM) technologies, which provided possibilities for the diverse applications of 3D printing.

Technological Development and Commercial Application (1990s)

In the 1990s, 3D printing technology underwent further development. In 1993, Professor Emanual Sachs of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) invented the Powder Jet Technology (3DP), which uses adhesives to bond metal, ceramic, and other powders into shapes, further expanding the application fields of 3D printing. At the same time, several companies began to launch commercial 3D printing equipment, such as ZCorp, which obtained the exclusive license for 3D printing technology from MIT in 1995 and began developing 3D printers.

Widely applied and innovative breakthroughs (since the 2000s)

In the 21st century, 3D printing technology has been widely applied. In addition to traditional fields such as industrial design, model making, and prototype manufacturing, it has begun to venture into multiple fields such as healthcare, aviation, automotive, and construction. For example, in 2010, the world's first car printed by a 3D printer, the Urbee, was unveiled, demonstrating the potential of 3D printing in the transportation industry. Meanwhile, with the emergence of consumer grade 3D printers, ordinary users can also manufacture the items they want by purchasing 3D printers.

02 The advantages of 3D printing

Customized production: 3D printing technology can manufacture products on demand, making it very suitable for producing customized parts and products. This highly personalized production meets the market's demand for unique products and provides greater creative space for designers and consumers.

Rapid prototyping: Traditional prototyping usually involves complex processes and long waiting times, while 3D printing technology can quickly produce prototypes, greatly shortening the product development cycle. This enables designers and engineers to test and validate product designs earlier, improving product development efficiency.

Complex structural manufacturing: Traditional manufacturing techniques often struggle to produce complex internal structures, while 3D printing technology can easily achieve this. It can manufacture parts with complex internal channels, holes, and shapes, thereby improving product performance and functionality.

Material saving: 3D printing technology uses a layer by layer stacking method to manufacture objects, using only necessary materials to reduce waste. Compared with traditional cutting processing, it saves a lot of raw materials and reduces production costs.

Lightweight design: By optimizing structural design, 3D printing can manufacture lighter and stronger parts and products. This helps to reduce the weight of products and improve energy efficiency, especially in fields such as aerospace and automotive, which is of great significance.

Multi material printing: 3D printing technology can achieve the use of multiple materials in the same object. This ability enables designers to create parts with different performance characteristics, such as hardness, elasticity, conductivity, etc., to meet complex functional requirements.

Environmental Protection and Sustainability: 3D printing technology can reduce waste and energy consumption, helping to lower environmental pollution. In addition, by using renewable materials and recycling waste, it can also promote sustainable development.

03 Metal 3D printing technology

Stainless steel 3D printing, a technology that has emerged in the manufacturing industry in recent years, has brought revolutionary changes to many industries with its unique advantages. Stainless steel, with its high strength, good corrosion resistance, and processability, has always been the darling of the industrial field. Metal 3D printing technology, with its ability to achieve complex structures and high-precision manufacturing, has received widespread attention. When these two are combined, the magical technology of stainless steel 3D printing is born.

Stainless steel 3D printing technology, in simple terms, is the process of printing stainless steel material into the desired three-dimensional entity by stacking it layer by layer. During this process, a computer-controlled high-performance laser beam scans back and forth on the metal powder layer, melting and bonding the powder together. With the continuous accumulation of layers, a complete metal component is ultimately formed.

Why can this technology be widely applied in many industries? Firstly, stainless steel 3D printing can achieve personalized customization. Both complex internal structures and tiny details can be achieved through 3D printing technology. This flexibility has enabled stainless steel 3D printing to play an important role in fields such as aerospace and automotive manufacturing.

The world's first metal 3D printed bridge

3D printed metal furniture

3D printed stainless steel creative faucet

3D printed stainless steel tableware

3D printed metal jewelry

For example:

Aerospace field: The application of 3D printing technology in the aerospace field is also of great significance. Due to its ability to manufacture components with complex internal structures and lightweight characteristics, this technology can be used to manufacture key components for aircraft, rockets, and other aerospace vehicles, improving performance and reducing costs.

In the field of automobile manufacturing, 3D printing technology can be used to manufacture prototype cars, customized parts, and complex internal components. This technology can accelerate the research and development cycle of automotive products, improve production efficiency, and reduce production costs.

In the field of architecture, it can be used to manufacture building models, personalized decorative parts, and some components of building structures. This technology can reduce construction costs, improve construction efficiency, and provide architects and designers with more innovative possibilities.

In the field of consumer electronics: With the increasing demand for personalized products from consumers, the application of 3D printing technology in the field of consumer electronics will gradually expand. Consumers can use 3D printing technology to manufacture personalized phone cases, headphones, speakers, and other products to meet their unique aesthetic and practical needs.

In the field of education, 3D printing technology can also be used to help students better understand spatial structures and object forms. Through 3D printing technology, students can create physical models and deepen their understanding of subjects such as science, engineering, and mathematics.

04 Why is stainless steel the most commonly used material for metal 3D printing applications

The primary factor lies in its suitability for the process. Metal 3D printing technologies, such as direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) and selective laser melting (SLM), have strict requirements for material laser absorption efficiency, forming accuracy, and welding performance. Stainless steel material perfectly meets these process requirements with its efficient laser absorption ability, excellent forming smoothness, and outstanding weldability, ensuring the stability of the printing process and the reliability of the finished product quality.

Secondly, stainless steel has excellent physical properties. Its natural rust prevention, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance, combined with its strength performance higher than many other steels, give stainless steel a competitive advantage in a wide range of industrial applications. Whether it is the manufacturing of high-strength structural components or stable operation in corrosive environments, stainless steel can demonstrate excellent performance.

Stainless steel 316L, as a highly representative austenitic stainless steel, has emerged in the field of 3D printing materials in recent years, attracting widespread attention for its excellent corrosion resistance, high strength, and good biocompatibility.

Stainless steel 316L, also known as UNS S31603 or EN 1.4404, is a stainless steel material containing molybdenum. Its main components include iron, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, and small amounts of manganese, silicon, carbon, and other elements. Its chromium content is about 16% -18%, nickel content is between 10% -14%, and molybdenum content is about 2%. It is precisely due to the presence of molybdenum that 316L stainless steel has excellent resistance to pitting corrosion, crevice corrosion, and chloride ion stress corrosion cracking, while also enhancing its resistance to oxidizing and reducing media at high temperatures.

In 3D printing technology, especially in metal additive manufacturing techniques such as selective laser melting (SLM) and electron beam melting (EBM), stainless steel 316L has become an ideal choice. Due to its excellent formability and mechanical properties, 316L stainless steel can be used to print various complex structural components and is widely used in industries such as aerospace, medical equipment, petrochemicals, and food processing. Especially in the field of biomedicine, 316L is used for printing human implants such as hip joints and dental restorations due to its excellent biocompatibility and corrosion resistance.