Protolabs, a specialist in custom prototypes and low-volume production parts, has reportedly added Inconel 718 to its list of direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) materials.
The material has high strength and corrosion resistance and can be used at extreme temperatures between -252°C and 704°C. It can 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 says. It can be used in the development of turbojet engines for aircraft, among a variety of other applications.
‘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,’ said Daniel Cohn, GM of 3D printing services at Protolabs.
This story uses material from Protolabs, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
