What colors and finishes are available for this material?
Finishes
Matte: Unpolished for a rough surface and matte finish.
Polished: This part is polished until shiny and smooth.
Note: Results may vary depending on geometry and model detail.
Colors
Bronzed-Silver: A metallic silvery color with a bronze tint.
Bronze: This finish gives the material a brown antique bronze look.
Black: The black finish gives the material a dark gray to black look.
Would you recommend this material for rings?
After printing, the model is sintered in a furnace. Because there is the possibility for unpredictable shrinkage, it can be difficult to achieve accurate ring sizes.
How is this material made?
To build steel models, special 3D printers deposit small drops of glue onto layers of stainless steel powder, one layer at a time, until the print is complete. We carefully remove these models from the printer. After printing, the models are fragile, similar to wet sand. An infusion process replaces the glue with bronze though, creating a full metal product. The model is processed for the desired finished, sealed, and shipped.
Why are there circle marks on my product?
The bronze infiltration process requires the addition of supporting stilts that are broken off and polished away after infusion. Small, round marks may remain afterward, appearing smoother and more polished than the rest of the product.
How much can the surface color vary?
The image below demonstrates the spectrum of color variation that may result for Steel 3D printed products.
* Polished Gold & Nickel Steel discontinued on May 14, 2024.
Can I weld the Steel 420i material?
The answer is yes; Steel 420i material can be welded using the TIG (GTAW) process, with silicon bronze as a filler metal. The use of stainless filler metals is not recommended, as it may result in weld cracking. While counterintuitive, it's essential to note that the printed Steel 420i material is a composite of 60% stainless alloy and 40% bronze.
For material sections of 3mm (1/8") or above, joints should be designed with proper beveled edges to achieve full penetration of the weld. The color matching may not be flawless, the weld zone is expected to exhibit a more bronzy hue compared to the surrounding material. Nevertheless, the welds are exceptionally clean and stronger than the parent metal.
Oxy/Acet (gas torch) welding is not effective. While we do not have hands on experience with the MIG or Stick processes, they may work with silicon bronze filler metals. However, there is a possibility that these methods may not produce satisfactory results, feel free to try it out and let us know the results.
Alternatively, you may want to consider industrial silver soldering methods. Solders with 45% - 56% silver content, specifically cadmium-free ones, work well and can yield excellent results. Using a high-temperature (black) flux is essential. For larger projects, an Oxy/Acet torch equipped with a multi-flame "brazing" torch tip is suitable. Joints must be designed and prepared to be close-fitting (+/- 0.005"), resulting in nearly invisible joins with extremely high strength.
Polished Gold & Nickel Steel finished discontinued as of May 14, 2024.
Following a comprehensive analysis of market trends, customer demand, and operational impact, we have decided to discontinue these finishes. While this change may be inconvenient, we're committed to providing materials that meet the evolving needs of our customers.
Learn more about Steel.