Metal (LPBF)

Stainless steel 3D printing

The stainless steels 316L and 17-4 PH are 3D printed by powder-bed fusion (LPBF) into dense metal parts. We offer stainless steel 3D printing, quoted job by job.

2 variantsData checked on 13 November 2026

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What it is for

Printed stainless steel is used for parts that have to resist corrosion, wear and loads: pump and valve components, fittings and manifolds with internal channels, nozzles, tools and gripping fixtures, parts for chemical plants, spare parts no longer in production. Powder-bed printing gives dense parts, with geometries that milling cannot reach.

It does not pay for simple parts that can be made from bar or sheet, nor when weight is a constraint: there, choose aluminum or titanium. For high temperatures Inconel is the better fit.

Variants compared

Stainless steel: properties of the variants from the makers' data sheets, one column per variant
Property	316L (1.4404)Quote	17-4 PH (1.4542)Quote
Mechanical
Tensile strength	645 MPastandard not stated on the sheet, XY, as built, 20 µm layers560 MPa Z	886 MPastandard not stated on the sheet, XY, as built, 40 µm layers924.2 MPa Z
Yield strength (Rp0.2)	540 MPastandard not stated on the sheet, XY, as built, 20 µm layers480 MPa Z	860.6 MPastandard not stated on the sheet, XY, as built, 40 µm layers861.3 MPa Z
Elongation at break	38%standard not stated on the sheet, XY, as built, 20 µm layers49% Z	19.9%standard not stated on the sheet, XY, as built, 40 µm layers20.1% Z
Hardness	90 HRBstandard not stated on the sheet, as built, 20 µm layers	23.9 HRCstandard not stated on the sheet, as built, 40 µm layers
Physical
Density	7.97 g/cm³standard not stated on the sheet	7.79 g/cm³standard not stated on the sheet
Source	Supplier's data sheetread on 13 November 2026	Supplier's data sheetread on 13 November 2026

Typical values from the makers' data sheets, measured on specimens under the conditions stated. They are not guaranteed design values: for a critical application ask us for a test on your part.

Design limits

Build volume: 400 × 400 × 400 mm
Minimum feature: 0.75 mm
Dimensional tolerance: ±0.2% (minimum ±0.1–0.2 mm)

These are the limits of the process, the same for every variant unless stated. For critical dimensions, talk to us before printing.

Which variant to choose

316L (1.4404): austenitic, the more corrosion-resistant and the more ductile. As built, 20 µm layers: tensile strength 645 MPa in XY and 560 MPa in Z, elongation at break 38% and 49%, hardness 90 HRB. For parts in contact with fluids, in marine or chemical environments.
17-4 PH (1.4542): martensitic, precipitation-hardening, stronger and harder. As built, 40 µm layers: tensile strength 886 MPa in XY and 924.2 MPa in Z, elongation at break 19.9% and 20.1%, hardness 23.9 HRC. For loaded mechanical parts, tools and fixtures.

Data sheets

Supplier's data sheetread on 13 November 2026
Columns: 316L (1.4404), 17-4 PH (1.4542)

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Choose 316L when corrosion resistance matters: fluids, marine environments, frequent washing. Choose 17-4 PH when strength and hardness matter: as built, the data sheet reports 886 MPa of tensile strength in XY against 645 MPa for 316L. 17-4 PH is magnetic and can be hardened by heat treatment; 316L cannot.

Powder-bed fusion gives parts that are almost fully dense: the data sheet reports a density of 7.97 g/cm³ for 316L and 7.79 g/cm³ for 17-4 PH. The as-built surface is rough: seats, seals and threads are usually finished by machining.

We issue no declaration of suitability for food contact or for medical use on printed parts. 316L is an alloy used in those fields, but suitability also depends on surface finish and process. If your part has that requirement, write to us before asking for a quote.

Do you have a part to print in Stainless steel?

Upload the CAD file: we reply within 1 working day with a quote and a recommended material.

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