Desktop Metal, makers of Studio System — a metal 3D printing system intended for prototyping and low-volume production — has just announced a new stainless-steel material designed for use with the system.

The material, 316L, is an austenitic steel known for corrosion resistance and excellent mechanical properties at extreme temperatures. According to the company, 316L is well-suited for use in demanding industrial environments such as salt water in marine applications, caustic cleaners found in food processing environments and chemicals in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Engineers can use it to print metal parts for applications including engine parts, laboratory equipment, medical devices, chemical and petrochemical processing, kitchen appliances, jewelry, and cryogenic tools and equipment.

Early applications of 316L parts printed with Studio System reported by Desktop Metal include:

• The UHT atomizer manufactured by John Zink Hamworthy Combustion. The device is a fuel oil atomizer for use with an atomizing medium such as steam or air, typically installed in an HXG marine burner used on steam propulsion boilers on liquid natural gas (LNG) tankers. By improving low load burner performance, the device can allow a burner to run on a lower fuel oil throughput; this saves operational costs when the vessel is maneuvering in port. According to a John Zink general manager, the UHT atomizer can only be fabricated using additive manufacturing.
• Customizable ring splints. Ring splints are medical devices used to immobilize or limit the range of motion for injured limbs; because they are typically made of injected-molded plastic using traditional manufacturing methods, they cannot be customized to improve fit and often break after a relatively short lifetime. The 316L version, by contrast, offers increased durability and can be custom-printed on demand.
• Harsh-environment impellers. Impellers are pump components with a complex geometry, designed to move fluid through systems at optimized pressures. 316L-printed impellers are chemically resistant and can operate at extreme temperatures such as those found in cryogenic, salt water and petroleum pumps. They can also be fabricated at significantly lower costs than typical prototypes.

The Studio System materials library currently includes more than 30 materials in development; additional core materials such as tool steels, superalloys and copper are slated to be introduced in 2019.