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Filamet Stainless steel 17-4

Ref.: 174-TVF-175-500

164.90 €

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Approximate delivery date: Monday 18 November

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The Virtual Foundry is an American company pioneering the development of metal and ceramic filaments for FDM 3D printing after many years of research and development. Their products are aimed at solving and simplifying problems through innovative metallic materials for FDM 3D printers of all types.

Stainless steel 17-4 filament is a filament belonging to the Filamet™ family containing about 85% metal and having a density of 3.0 g/cc.

Image 1. Part printed with 17-4 Filamet stainless steel filament. Source: The Virtual Foundry

17-4 stainless steel is characterised by a very good corrosion resistance and high wear resistance. Due to this and its good mechanical properties, this material is used in the naval sector, the chemical industry, the wood industry, the oil industry or the aerospace industry, among others.

Filamet Stainless Steel 17-4 filament, consisting of 85% stainless steel 17-4 and the rest of PLA, is an extremely easy material to print, as its printing properties are similar to those of PLA, which allows any user of an FDM 3D printer to create parts with this filament.

The special feature of Filamet Stainless Steel 17-4 filament, like the other materials in the Filamet range, is that it allows the user to manufacture completely metallic parts. Once a part has been 3D printed, it is necessary to sinter it, in an open environment or in a vacuum or inert environment, to remove the polymer (PLA). To learn more about the entire printing, sintering and post-processing process, please visit the "Tips for Use" section.

Filamet™ 17-4 achieves similar properties to those possible with DMLS technology but with certain limitations. Due to the need to sinter the parts printed with this filament, where PLA is removed, the parts show porosity, volume loss and non-isotropy. DMLS 3D printers can print completely solid parts (similar to cast iron), with great detail, layer heights of 0.02 mm and without the need for post-processing, the only disadvantage compared to Filamet™ FDM 3D printing being the cost of: material, manufacture and the printers themselves.

Due to its high metal content (85 %), it is necessary to position the filament inlet as close as possible to the extruder and to use FilaWarmer, a heater through which the filament is fed in order to eliminate its curvature so that as little friction as possible is produced in the extruder and HotEnd.

Users who do not have a furnace with the necessary properties to sinter parts printed with Filamet™ 17-4 stainless steel and achieve the final properties of this metal, can contact us and we will assess their viability through our collaborators with the capacity to carry out the post-processing necessary to obtain the desired final result.

General information
Manufacturer	The Virtual Foundry
Material	Metal + binder
Format	500 g
Density	3 g/cm³
Filament diameter	1.75 / 2.85 mm
Filament tolerance	± 0.05 mm
Filament length	(1.75 mm 650 g) ± 69 m / (2.85 mm 650 g) ± 26 m
Amount of filler (volume)	- %
Amount of filler (mass)	85 %

Mechanical properties
Elongation at break	- %
Tensile strength	- MPa
Tensile modulus	- MPa
Flexural strength	- MPa
Flexural modulus	- MPa
Surface hardness	-

Printing properties
Printing temperature	205 - 235 ºC
Print bed temperature	40 - 50 ºC
Recommended printing speed	60 mm/s
Recommended nozzle	Stainless steel
Recommended nozzle diameter	Min. 0.6 mm

Thermal properties
Softening temperature	55 ºC

Sintering properties
Container	Refractory crucible
Refractory powder	Sapphire3D Steel Blend
Maximum temperature	1232 ºC

Specific properties
Radiation protection (without sintering)	-

Other
HS Code	7205.21
Spool diameter (outer)	300 mm
Spool diameter (inner hole)	65 mm
Spool width	55 mm

The high percentage of metal charge contained in this filament makes it more fragile than conventional PLA filament. To avoid breakage during the 3D printing process, it is advisable to use Filawarmer, an accessory that heats the filament before processing to reduce its fragility and increase its malleability.

It is necessary to use a hardened steel nozzle so that the metal particles in the filament, which are abrasive, do not damage the nozzle, and with a diameter of at least 0.6 mm to avoid clogging.

It is recommended to print on a glass base and use an adhesive such as Magigoo. It is not recommended to print directly on PEI bases, as the piece could be welded to the base and the base would be damaged. If you have a PEI base, it is recommended to apply a layer of Blue Tape.

It is recommended to print at low speeds of up to 30 mm/s.

Sintering process

Materials needed:

Metallurgical furnace.
Refractory crucible
Refractory powder
Sintering coal

Step 1: Placement of the part

Fill the crucible with refractory powder leaving 40 mm free on the surface of the crucible.
Immerse the workpiece in the refractory powder making sure to leave a clearance of at least 15 mm between the surface of the workpiece and the walls and top and bottom of the crucible. Do not compact the refractory powder.
Fill the 40 mm free space on the surface of the crucible with sintering charcoal.
Place the crucible in the furnace.

Step 2: Thermal Debind