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Last but not least, among the common metals, aluminum is excellently suited for 3D printing
Anyone who thinks of aluminum certainly thinks of numerous areas of application for this light metal. For example, the universally popular aluminum foil. On the other hand, very few of us are likely to think of 3D printing. On the other hand, when you think of metal 3D printing, aluminum usually doesn’t come to mind first. Our idea of rapid prototyping with metal is too heavily influenced by the steel alloys that are available for this purpose. Or even from 3D printing with precious metals. But that doesn’t do the material justice…
Aluminum as a proven 3D printing material for space rockets
Because aluminum is particularly suitable as a 3D printing material for the construction of components that are particularly heat-resistant and at the same time stress-resistant. So will especially in the Aerospace particularly relied on aluminum components from the 3D printer. After all, it is immediately obvious that the components of space rockets are subjected to enormous stresses when they are launched. In particular, the heat released there should be mentioned here.
Selective laser melting (SLM) enables high-quality aluminum prints
The processing of aluminum via 3D printing is usually carried out using selective laser melting (also known as SLM printing), which is the most frequently used rapid prototyping process in metal 3D printing. The metal, which is in the form of a powder (in this case the aluminium), is melted locally using a laser beam. The structures defined in the 3D files are built up piece by piece.
Incidentally, stainless steel is also printed in the same way, in our two variants SS420 and L316.
Difference to Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
Selective laser melting works in almost the same way as selective laser sintering, which is familiar from the processing of PA plastic. The difference, however, is that the material powder is not sintered in the SLM printing process. To protect against oxidation or contamination, Selective Laser Melting is usually found under a protective gas atmosphere of argon or nitrogen.
3D printed components made of aluminum impress with a homogeneous, almost pore-deep surface structure as well as with their great strength, high hardness and, above all, with their very good dynamic load capacity. Thanks to the high levels occurring in the manufacturing process cooling rates Aluminum components from 3D printing production have even better mechanical properties than aluminum components created using the casting process.
3D printing service with aluminum print
More information about 3D printing and further information about our diverse materials can be found on our website: To the materials overview
Would you like to have your 3D aluminum model printed or do you need an aluminum model? With the help of our 3D configurator, you can easily upload your 3D file and configure the order:
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