Three-Dimensional Printing of Stainless Steel Parts

Stainless steel parts have been manufactured by two different layer by layer additive processes. The first one is a standard three dimensional process, in which metal powders are bound by selective deposition of binder with a printer head. The second one is a novel process, which is based on the selective deposition of a solvent on metal-polymer granule beds. The microstructures of green and sintered parts are characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy, and the mechanical properties evaluated by hardness and tensile tests. Solvent on granule printing allows to reach mechanical properties similar to those of metal injection moulding parts.