Metal FDM Filament

Stainless Steel 17-4 PH Filamet™ — 1.75 mm, 0.5 kg

Print real high-strength precipitation-hardened stainless steel parts on the FDM printer you already own. After kiln firing, your print becomes 80–85% pure 17-4 PH — the alloy used in aerospace fittings, structural fasteners and high-load mechanical components.

80–85% 17-4 PH Stainless Aerospace + Structural Grade High Tensile Strength Filawarmer Required Prints Like PLA
The Virtual Foundry Stainless Steel 17-4 PH Filamet 1.75mm 0.5kg spool

Real 17-4 PH stainless, printed on a desktop FDM printer

Stainless Steel 17-4 PH Filamet™ turns any standard FDM printer into a desktop foundry for the most-used high-strength stainless alloy. After sintering, finished parts are 80–85% pure 17-4 PH — the alloy used in aerospace fittings, valve components, structural fasteners and high-load mechanical hardware.

17-4 sinters at higher temperatures than copper or bronze and benefits from a precipitation-hardening heat treatment after sintering for maximum tensile strength. A Filawarmer is required — steel filament density makes inline conditioning essential.

316L vs 17-4 — which one? Choose 316L for corrosion resistance (marine, food, medical). Choose 17-4 PH for tensile strength (aerospace, structural, high-load mechanical). Both have the same printing requirements.

How it works — the 4-step process

1

Print

Print on any FDM printer with a hardened steel nozzle and a Filawarmer in line. Slow speeds (~30 mm/s) give the strongest green parts.

2

Pack

Nest the green part in refractory ballast inside an alumina crucible. Steel sintering benefits from extra ballast around the part.

3

Sinter + age-harden

Sinter at ~1250°C, then optionally age-harden at ~480°C for ~1 hour to develop full tensile strength — the “PH” (precipitation hardening) step.

4

Finish

Brush off ballast, machine, polish or passivate. Expect ~15–20% linear shrinkage — design for it by scaling up ~120–125% in your slicer.

Why 17-4 PH stainless

High tensile strength

After heat treatment, 17-4 PH reaches some of the highest tensile strengths available in stainless steel — aerospace and high-load applications.

Aerospace pedigree

17-4 is qualified for aerospace structural and engine components, valve bodies and high-cycle fatigue parts.

Good corrosion resistance

Better than carbon steel; less than 316L, but adequate for most non-marine industrial environments.

Heat-treatable

Precipitation hardening lets you tune mechanical properties post-sinter to suit your application.

Prints like PLA

Familiar print profile, low extruder temperatures, minimal warping. The complexity is in sintering, not printing.

USA-made, fully supported

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

Specifications

Specification Details
Final metal content (post-sinter) 80.0–85.0% 17-4 PH stainless steel
Filament density 3.25–4.15 g/cc
Diameter 1.75 mm (±0.05 mm)
Spool weight 0.5 kg
Required nozzle 0.6 mm hardened steel
Filawarmer Required (not optional)
Sintering temperature ~1250°C (steel-rated kiln required)
Linear shrinkage (post-sinter) ~15–20% in all dimensions
Hygroscopicity Less hygroscopic than PLA — do NOT dry
Origin Made in South Central Wisconsin, USA

Common applications

  • Aerospace structural fittings and brackets
  • High-load valve components and bodies
  • Structural fasteners and connectors
  • Wear-resistant mechanical hardware
  • Functional prototypes for high-strength applications

Printing tips

  • Filawarmer is essential — not optional — for steel filaments
  • Direct drive extruders strongly preferred over Bowden
  • Slow first layer; weight makes adhesion critical
  • Plan an age-harden cycle if you need maximum tensile strength
  • Scale models up 120–125% to compensate for sinter shrinkage

Frequently asked questions

What does “PH” mean in 17-4 PH?

Precipitation Hardening — a heat-treatment process that develops very high tensile strength by precipitating fine particles inside the alloy structure. After sintering, you can age-harden 17-4 PH at ~480°C for ~1 hour to reach maximum strength.

Should I choose 17-4 or 316L?

17-4 PH for strength — aerospace, structural, mechanical. 316L for corrosion — marine, food, medical. Both have the same printing requirements (Filawarmer required, ~1250°C sintering).

What kiln do I need for steel sintering?

A kiln capable of ~1250°C sustained. The TVF FireX reaches 1260°C. Pottery kilns rated to cone 8 (~1263°C) or higher are also suitable.

Why is a Filawarmer required for this material?

Steel-loaded filament is roughly 3× the density of PLA. The extra weight makes spool curl significantly more brittle and snap-prone at the extruder. The Filawarmer heats the filament to 60°C inline, dramatically reducing snap risk.

What else you’ll need

TVF FireX Sintering Kiln

1260°C max temperature — the right kiln for 17-4 sintering and PH heat treatment.

Filawarmer

Required for steel filaments. Inline heater that prevents snap risk at the extruder.

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

(TVF-FILAMET-SS174-175)

SKU TVF-FILAMET-SS174-175
Brand The Virtual Foundry
Shipping Width 0.220m
Shipping Height 0.080m
Shipping Length 0.220m

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