Why Choose 17-4PH Stainless Steel?
Produce strong, heat-resistant parts with excellent corrosion resistance.
17-4PH stainless steel (also known as 1.4542 or 630 grade) is a precipitation-hardening stainless steel valued for its exceptional strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance. It maintains reliable performance even at elevated temperatures, making it a trusted choice for demanding industries.
This material is ideal for both functional prototypes and production parts that require long-term durability in environments exposed to stress, wear, or chemical exposure.
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Designed for Demanding Environments
17-4PH stainless steel is widely trusted for parts that must deliver superior strength and mechanical performance while resisting corrosion and wear. It is especially valuable in industries where safety, reliability, and precision are critical.
Applications range from aerospace and energy components to medical instruments, petrochemical systems, and industrial tools that operate under high stress or in corrosive environments. With DMLS, complex geometries can be produced without compromising material integrity, enabling design freedom and production efficiency.
Key Benefits
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High Strength – Excellent mechanical properties, even under heavy loads and stress.
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Corrosion Resistant – Withstands mildly corrosive and marine environments.
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Heat Resistant – Maintains strength and stability at elevated temperatures (up to ~310°C).
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High Hardness – Provides superior wear resistance for demanding applications.
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Thermal Stability – Good thermal properties for parts exposed to heat cycling.
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Production-Ready – Suitable for functional prototypes and end-use parts requiring long-term reliability.
Applications
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Aerospace and Energy – Turbine components, housings, and structural parts exposed to high stress.
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Medical Devices – Surgical instruments and tools requiring durability and sterilization compatibility.
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Petrochemical Industry – Pumps, valves, and fittings resistant to corrosion and chemical exposure.
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Industrial Equipment – High-wear tooling, jigs, and fixtures for manufacturing environments.
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Defense and Automotive – Components requiring strength, reliability, and resistance to wear.
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General Engineering – Prototypes and production parts where performance and corrosion resistance are critical.
Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) 3D Printing Process
Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) is a common additive manufacturing technique that is also referred to as Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) or Select Laser Melting (SLM). This process builds metal parts by selectively fusing stainless steel powder in thin layers using a laser. This process is ideal for printing precise, high-resolution parts with complex geometries and a very fine level of detail. Parts that are printed using DMLS are stronger, denser, and can be more precise than casted metal parts.
Best for specialty production, including:
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complex metal parts with intricate details and delicate features
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parts requiring a high level of precision and detail
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parts designed for demanding environments
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functional prototypes and end-use parts
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low- to mid-volume production
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Finishing Options
Bead Blasting
Parts are blasted with fine glass bead to smooth surfaces and give a matte appearance. Recommended for consumer-facing parts.
Standard
All parts are cleaned and ready for use when shipped. There may be layer lines and residual marks from support structures.
Technical Specifications
Mechanical Properties
Properties | Values | Standard |
|---|---|---|
Reduction of area Z [%] | 64 | 3 |
Elongation at break A [%] | 17 | 1 |
Tensile strength Rm [MPa] | 1174 | 8 |
Yield strength Rp0.2 [MPa] | 570 | 13 |
Elongation at Break | 3.9 - 7.9% | ASTM E8M |
Tensile strength, yield | 620 - 700 MPa | ASTM E8M |
Tensile Strain (@ 1.5%) | 950 MPa | |
Tensile Strain (@ 0.9%) | 800 MPa | |
Tensile Strain (@ 0.1%) | 200 MPa | |
Tensile strength, ultimate | 877-947 MPa | ASTM E8M |
Hardness (HRC) | 25.4-27.4 | ASTM E18 |
Property | Result |
|---|---|
As built Ra [μm] | 3 |
As built Rz [μm] | 14 |
Blasted Ra [μm] | 2 |
Blasted Rz [μm] | 8 |
Average Defect | < 0.1 |
Surface Quality
(measured along the z axis)
Title | Specifications |
|---|---|
Build envelope | 150x150x150 mm |
Layer thickness | 20μm |
Build Specifications
Element | Composition |
|---|---|
C | < 0.07 |
Cr | 15 - 17 |
Cu | 3.5 - 5 |
Fe | Balance |
Mn | < 1.0 |
Nb | < (5x%C) - 0.45 |
Ni | 3 - 5 |
Si | < 1.0 |
Composition (wt. %)
Design Guidelines
Minimum wall thickness
0.3 mm
Minimum embossed feature
X/Y W 0.2 mm
H 0.1 mm
Z W 0.2 mm
H 0.1 mm
Minimum hole size
0.5 mm vertical
0.8 mm horizontal
Holes
The use of support structures for horizontal holes can be avoided by changing the circular hole shape to a teardrop shape, which uses a self-supporting angle. This eliminates the need for additional supports.
Minimum clearance
0.5 mm
Minimum pin diameter
0.5 mm
Minimum debossed feature
X/Y W 0.3 mm
H 0.1 mm
Z W 0.3 mm
H 0.2 mm
Minimum unsupported overhang angle
0 - 45°: Supports needed
> 45°: No supports needed
Printed threads
Printing holes and then tapping them is often recommended. The table below serves as a guide:
Thread size Method
< M3 Print holes, cut threads
≥ M3 Print threads, recut threads
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