
Aluminium
Aluminum is sintered in the Direct Laser Metal Sintering (DMLS) process or melted in the Selective Laser Melting (SLM) process. Small details down to 25 microns and thicknesses as small as 50 microns are possible when using aluminum. Parts that typically have a textured, matte surface that distinguishes them from traditional machined aluminum parts. Due to its low weight, 3D printed aluminum is used for automotive and racing components.
Aluminum Alloys
Light aluminum alloys for additive manufacturing are traditionally used in many industrial, aerospace and automotive applications. They possess high strength-to-weight ratios, and also demonstrate good resistance to metal fatigue and corrosion. A key advantage of aluminum alloy powders is that they typically offer better build speeds than other metal powders used in PDF processes.
Due to the geometrically complex structures possible with additive manufacturing, additional weight reduction is often possible with little or no compromise in strength and overall performance. Aluminum alloys that possess detailed microstructures with roughly equal grain sizes are typically as strong as their forged counterparts. The excellent melting characteristics make aluminum alloys particularly suitable for use in 3D printing.



