Protolabs adds Inconel 718 to its materials offering for metal AM
January 23, 2019
Protolabs has added Inconel 718 to its list of materials for Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LBPF) Additive Manufacturing (Courtesy Protolabs)
Protolabs, headquartered in Maple Plain, Minnesota, USA, has added Inconel 718 to its materials offering for Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) metal Additive Manufacturing. Due to the high strength and corrosion resistant properties of the material, along with its ability to be used at extreme temperatures, Inconel 718 is a proven superalloy in the development of turbojet engines for aircraft, among a variety of other applications.
Daniel Cohn, General Manager of 3D Printing Services at Protolabs, stated, “Other manufacturing methods sacrifice some of the material properties of Inconel, therefore I am delighted that Protolabs is now able to offer this material through 3D printing. Combining the exceptional properties of the material with Protolabs’ expertise in DMLS means we are able to rapidly produce complex geometries for parts which are exposed to the harsh environments typical of the aerospace sector.”
As a nickel-based heat resistant alloy, Inconel 718 can be used at temperatures between -252°C and 704°C. Its high-temperature strength is derived from its ability to create a thick, stable passivating oxide layer at high temperatures, protecting the material from further attack. Inconel also has good tensile, fatigue, creep and rupture strength.
Protolabs’ materials offering now includes:
- Aluminium
- 316 Stainless Steel
- Titanium
- Inconel 718
- Maraging Steel 1.2709
