17-4 PH Stainless Steel (DM Production System)

DESKTOP METAL®
17-4 PH Stainless Steel
Acid & Corrosion Resistant Steel Alloy
for Industrial Applications
17-4 PH Stainless Steel is a martensitic precipitation-hardened steel. Thanks to the Single Pass Jetting™ technology of the Production Systems, this steel is used in various industrial applications including those with mildly corrosive environments and high-strength requirements.
Speed. Quality. Cost-per-Part.
Better than traditional manufacturing.
The 17-4 PH Stainless Steel alloy for 3D printing on the Production Systems™ allows companies to quickly and efficiently produce custom parts that cannot be made through conventional manufacturing. Many applications that suppose mildly corrosive environments and high-strength can take advantage of this alloy’s mechanical properties.
Applications

BMW Water Wheel
Manufacturing - Automotive 17-4 PH
The waterwheel is an integral part of BMW’s engine cooling system — see full description.
Full Description
This integral part of BMW*‘s engine cooling system was originally made of several plastic parts, so BMW redesigned it for printing on a laser-based system. However, the process was too slow and expensive for mass production.
The Production System ensures higher throughput, allowing the part to be manufactured at a competitive price.
*Part developed by German Touring Car Masters (DTM)
Specs
- Size (mm): 63 x 63 x 34
- Cost per part ($): 9.74
- Parts per build: 170
- Annual throughput: 63,230
Technology/Process
Single Pass Jetting™

Surgical Tool Nozzle
Healthcare 17-4 PH
Nozzle used during surgery; customized for each patient.
Full Description
To produce this surgical nozzle in the traditional way, complex machining operations with multiple fixturing setups would be needed. With Production System™, all those steps can be eliminated which means diminishing costs.
This nozzle is specifically designed for each patient with a customized internal channel. With no tooling, the ProductionSystem allowed for this part to be mass customized and manufactured.
Specs
Size (mm): 27 x 47 x 21
Cost per part ($): 1.91
Parts per build: 860
Annual throughput: 400,140
Technology/Process
Single Pass Jetting™

Automotive Fixture
Manufacturing - Automotive 17-4 PH
This custom manufacturing fixture was created for use on an automotive industry production line.
Full Description
Because of complex internal conformal cooling channels that span the base and the wall, this fixture would normally be manufactured in multiple pieces and welded together. Scaling up if the production volume increases would be too expensive and time-consuming.
Using the Production System, this fixture was printed as a single part with cooling channels intact, thus reducing part cost, lead time, and manufacturing complexity.
Specs
- Size (mm): 127 x 51 x 38
- Cost per part ($): 19.18
- Parts per build: 110
- Annual throughput: 41,500
Technology/Process
Single Pass Jetting™

Parking Shift Bracket
17-4 PH Stainless Steel
This bracket is used in the parking brake assembly of a continuously variable transmission.
Full Description
With traditional powder metallurgy techniques, this part would need a complex die and multiple operations to be produced. The Production System™ enables the redesign of this part to consolidate an assembly into a single part with no tooling, and reduced lead times and costs.
Specs
- Size (mm): 93 x 44 x 12
- Cost per part: $2.84
- Parts per build: 680
- Annual throughput: 248,980
Technology/Process
- Binder Jetting Technology™

Ntopology Gear
Engineering Design 17-4 PH
The nTopology gear features a complex internal lattice structure only achievable via 3D printing.
Full Description
This part features a complex lattice structure used to lightweight the part while still providing strength.
With Production System™ you can manufacture complex geometries that cannot be produced any other way.
Specs
- Size (mm): 63 x 63 x 12.5
- Cost per part ($): 6.09
- Parts per build: 460
- Annual throughput: 165,980
Technology/Process
Single Pass Jetting™

Power Steering Joint
Manufacturing - Automotive 17-4 PH
This part is designed to power transfer in an electric power steering system.
Full Description
This joint is used for power transfer between an electric power steering motor and the steering shaft in an automobile. The Production System made it possible for this part to be produced with no tooling, allowing for accelerated lead time and flexible design.
Specs
- Size (mm): 36 x 36 x 22
- Cost per part ($): 1.89
- Parts per build: 1,140
- Annual throughput: 470,424
Technology/Process
Single Pass Jetting™
Material Properties
ULTIMATE TENSILE STRENGTH
(as-sintered)
900±20 MPa
YIELD STRENGTH
(as-sintered)
655±26 MPa
ELONGATION AT BREAK
(as-sintered)
10.9±0.9%
HARDNESS – HRC
(as-sintered)
29.5±1.5
Performance Scale
Strength | |
Corrosion Resistance | |
Acid Resistance |
Technical Specifications
Production System™
|
ASTM B883/MPIF 35 min
|
Production System™
|
ASTM B883 / MPIF 35
|
||
Ultimate Tensile Strength |
900 ± 20 MPa | 790-900 MPa | 1,315 ± 45 MPa | 1,070 - 1,190 MPa | |
Yield Strength |
655 ± 26 MPa | 650-730 MPa | 1,130 ± 42 MPa | 970 - 1,090 MPa | |
Elongation at Break |
10.9 ± 0.9% | 4-6% | 8.4± 2.4% | 6% | |
Young's Modulus1 |
N/A | 180 - 190 GPa | N/A | N/A | 1Modulus available upon request |
Hardness (HRC), ASTM E18 |
29.5 ± 1.5 | 27 | 42.5 ± 0.4 | 35 | |
Density (g/cm3) |
7.7 | 7.5 | 7.7 | 7.5 | |
Surface Roughness2 (µm Ra) |
3 - 8 | N/A | 3 - 8 | N/A | 2Surface roughness measured in Z direction after sintering & sand blasting. |