Aerospace Superalloy Filament

Inconel 718 Filamet™ — 1.75 mm, 0.5 kg

Print real Inconel 718 superalloy parts on the FDM printer you already own. After kiln firing, your print becomes 82–85% pure Inconel 718 — the nickel-chromium alloy used in jet engine turbine blades, rocket components and cryogenic vessels.

82–85% Inconel 718 Aerospace Superalloy High-Temperature Strength Cryogenic Capable Corrosion Resistant
The Virtual Foundry Inconel 718 Filamet 1.75mm 0.5kg spool

Real Inconel 718, printed on a desktop FDM printer

Inconel 718 Filamet™ gives you genuine aerospace superalloy from a desktop FDM printer. After sintering, finished parts are 82–85% pure Inconel 718 — the nickel-chromium-iron alloy that retains its strength at temperatures where ordinary steel softens or fails. It is the same alloy specified for jet-engine turbine blades, gas-turbine combustors and rocket-engine hardware.

Inconel 718 is also exceptional at cryogenic temperatures, in oxidising environments and against chloride-induced stress corrosion. That combination — high temperature, low temperature and corrosive environments — makes it the default choice for downhole oil & gas tooling, chemical reactor hardware and cryogenic propellant fittings. The TVF print-then-sinter route puts that alloy in reach of any workshop with a desktop printer and a high-temperature kiln.

Why Inconel 718 matters. Conventional manufacturing of Inconel parts is notoriously slow and expensive — the alloy work-hardens aggressively under any cutting tool. FDM-then-sinter sidesteps machining entirely, letting you produce complex superalloy geometries that would be uneconomical to make any other way.

How it works — the 4-step process

1

Print

Print on any FDM printer with a 0.6 mm hardened steel nozzle. A Filawarmer is required — Inconel-loaded filament is dense.

2

Pack

Nest the green part in refractory ballast inside an alumina crucible. Inconel needs full ballast support during binder burnout.

3

Sinter

Fire to ~1280°C in the FireX kiln. Inconel sinters at the very top of the FireX range — this is the most demanding firing in the TVF lineup.

4

Finish

Brush off ballast, age-harden if required, and finish to spec. Expect ~17–22% linear shrinkage — design accordingly.

Why Inconel 718

Strength at temperature

Inconel 718 holds tensile strength up to ~700°C — well past where carbon and tool steels lose load-bearing capacity.

Cryogenic capability

Toughness is retained down to liquid-hydrogen temperatures — making it a standard for cryogenic propellant systems.

Oxidation resistance

Chromium content forms a tenacious oxide layer that resists scaling in hot exhaust streams and combustion environments.

Corrosion + chloride resistance

Excellent in chloride-bearing environments — making it a fixture of marine, downhole and chemical-reactor hardware.

Bypasses machining headaches

Inconel 718 is famously hard to machine — print-then-sinter sidesteps the cutting-tool problem entirely.

USA-made, fully supported

Manufactured in South Central Wisconsin by The Virtual Foundry. Direct technical support from the team that makes the material.

Printing tips

  • Direct drive extruder strongly preferred over Bowden
  • Filawarmer is required for Inconel-loaded filament
  • Sinter only in a kiln rated to 1280°C+ (TVF FireX)
  • Scale models up 120–125% to compensate for sinter shrinkage

Common applications

  • Jet engine vanes, brackets and small turbine hardware
  • Rocket engine injectors and combustor components
  • Gas turbine combustor liners and shrouds
  • Cryogenic propellant fittings and vessels
  • Oil & gas downhole tooling and well-head hardware
  • Chemical reactor internals and corrosive-environment hardware

Specifications

Specification Details
Final metal content (post-sinter) 82.0–85.0% Inconel 718
Filament density 3.50–4.30 g/cc
Diameter 1.75 mm (±0.05 mm)
Spool weight 0.5 kg
Sintering temperature ~1280°C (top of FireX range)
Required nozzle 0.6 mm hardened steel
Linear shrinkage (post-sinter) ~17–22% in all dimensions
Hygroscopicity Less hygroscopic than PLA — do NOT dry
Origin Made in South Central Wisconsin, USA

Inside the spool

Full Inconel 718 Filamet 1.75mm spool
Inconel 718 Filamet™ spool
Inconel 718 pellets
Inconel-loaded pellets — the raw material

Frequently asked questions

What kiln do I need for Inconel sintering?

Inconel 718 sinters at ~1280°C — the top of the TVF FireX kiln’s working range. This is the most demanding firing in the TVF range; pottery kilns will not reach the required temperature.

How does this compare to printing 17-4 PH stainless?

17-4 covers most general high-strength stainless work. Choose Inconel 718 specifically when the part will see sustained high temperatures (above ~500°C), cryogenic temperatures, or aggressive corrosive environments where stainless steel would fail.

Can I age-harden the sintered part?

Yes — Inconel 718 is a precipitation-hardenable alloy. Standard solution-treat-and-age cycles increase strength substantially. Test on a coupon first as your sintered density will affect the final hardness reached.

Why pick FDM over DMLS for Inconel?

DMLS Inconel parts are excellent but the equipment costs hundreds of thousands of dollars. TVF Filamet™ lets you produce small Inconel parts on hardware you already own — ideal for prototypes, low-volume production and R&D where DMLS is uneconomical.

Does sintering need an inert atmosphere?

Inconel 718’s chromium content forms a protective oxide layer that survives air-firing in the FireX kiln using the standard refractory ballast pack. For maximum surface quality, an argon or vacuum atmosphere can be used — but it is not strictly required.

What else you’ll need

TVF FireX Sintering Kiln

Required for Inconel sintering. The FireX is rated to ~1280°C — the top of its range and the only practical option for this alloy at desktop scale.

Filawarmer

Required for Inconel 718 Filamet™. Reduces snap risk and keeps dense superalloy filament feeding cleanly.

Made in South Central Wisconsin, USA. World-class technical support provided for all TVF products.

(TVF-FILAMET-IN718-175)

SKU TVF-FILAMET-IN718-175
Brand The Virtual Foundry
Shipping Width 0.220m
Shipping Height 0.080m
Shipping Length 0.220m

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