Metal FDM Filament

Stainless Steel 316L Filamet™ — 1.75 mm, 0.5 kg

Print real food-grade, marine-grade stainless steel parts on the FDM printer you already own. After kiln firing, your print becomes 80–85% pure 316L stainless — the corrosion-resistant alloy used in medical, marine and food-processing equipment.

80–85% 316L Stainless Marine + Food Grade Corrosion-Resistant Filawarmer Required Prints Like PLA
The Virtual Foundry Stainless Steel 316L Filamet 1.75mm 0.5kg spool

Real 316L stainless steel, printed on a desktop FDM printer

Stainless Steel 316L Filamet™ turns any standard FDM printer into a desktop metal foundry for the most-used corrosion-resistant stainless alloy on the planet. After sintering, finished parts are 80–85% pure 316L — the same alloy used in medical implants, marine fittings, food-processing equipment and pharmaceutical hardware.

316L sinters at higher temperatures than copper or bronze, so this material is best suited to users who already have a FireX-class kiln (1260°C+) and have a couple of metal-FDM cycles under their belt. A Filawarmer is required — steel filament is heavy enough that snap risk at the extruder is significantly higher without inline conditioning.

New to TVF metal FDM? 316L is a step up in difficulty. If this is your first metal print, start with Bronze Filamet™ or Copper Filamet™ — both sinter at lower temperatures and are more forgiving for first-time runs.

How it works — the 4-step process

From spool to solid 316L stainless in four steps. Plan on 1–2 days end to end — mostly unattended kiln time.

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

Fire to ~1250°C in a kiln capable of sintering steels. Mostly unattended ramp, hold and cool-down. Iron particles fuse into solid 316L.

4

Finish

Brush off ballast. Expect ~15–20% linear shrinkage — design for it by scaling up ~120–125% in your slicer. 316L finishes like cast stainless: passivate, polish or brush.

Why 316L stainless

Marine-grade corrosion resistance

316L is the alloy spec’d for saltwater hardware, ocean instrumentation and chemical-process equipment. Highly resistant to chloride pitting.

Food-grade and biocompatible

The same alloy used in commercial kitchens, brewery hardware, surgical implants and pharmaceutical pipework.

Genuine metal output

Finished parts are 80–85% pure 316L stainless — weldable, machinable, magnetically inert (paramagnetic) like cast 316L.

No proprietary hardware

Works on any open-architecture FDM printer with a hardened steel nozzle. No locked-down systems, no vendor lock-in.

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.

Printing tips

  • Filawarmer is essential — not optional — for steel filaments
  • Route filament straight from spool to extruder — no tight bends
  • Direct drive extruders strongly preferred over Bowden for steel
  • Slow first layer significantly — weight makes adhesion critical
  • Scale models up 120–125% to compensate for sinter shrinkage

Common applications

  • Marine hardware, fittings and underwater instrumentation
  • Food-processing and brewing equipment
  • Medical and dental research components
  • Pharmaceutical pipework and chemical handling
  • Aerospace and automotive prototyping
  • One-off and short-run production where corrosion resistance matters

Specifications

Specification Details
Final metal content (post-sinter) 80.0–85.0% 316L stainless steel
Filament density 3.45–3.55 g/cc
Diameter 1.75 mm (±0.05 mm)
Spool weight 0.5 kg
Required nozzle 0.6 mm hardened steel, standard flow
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

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between 316L and 17-4 stainless?

316L is the corrosion-resistant grade — marine, food, medical. 17-4 PH is the precipitation-hardened high-strength grade — aerospace fittings, structural components. Choose 316L for corrosion, 17-4 for strength.

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 6 (~1222°C) are borderline; cone 8 (~1263°C) or higher is preferred.

Is the finished part food-safe?

Sintered 316L is the same alloy as commercial food-grade stainless. However, FDM printing creates surface porosity that can harbour bacteria — for direct food contact, parts should be polished smooth or passivated. Consult food-safety standards for your jurisdiction before commercial use.

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 before it reaches the extruder, dramatically reducing snap risk.

Is sintering safe to do at home?

Sintering reaches ~1250°C. Operate the kiln in a ventilated workshop, garage or outbuilding (never indoors near living spaces), keep flammable items clear and use heat-resistant gloves. Always read the SDS before use and follow the kiln manufacturer’s safety instructions.

What else you’ll need

TVF FireX Sintering Kiln

1260°C max temperature — the right kiln for steel sintering.

Filawarmer

Required for steel filaments. Inline heater that resets spool memory and prevents snaps at the extruder.

Resources & documentation

Printer Compatibility

Trusted Printers List

Check whether your machine is tested before you buy.

Check the trusted printers list →
Sintering Guide

Debinding & Sintering

Steel-specific ramp schedules, hold times and ballast packing techniques.

View the sintering guide →
Safety & Tech Data

SDS & TDS Documents

Safety Data Sheets and Technical Data Sheets for the TVF metal range.

Download SDS & TDS →
Research

Research Papers

Independent and TVF-published research on the mechanical properties of sintered Filamet™ parts.

Browse research →

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

(TVF-FILAMET-SS316L-175)

SKU TVF-FILAMET-SS316L-175
Brand The Virtual Foundry
Shipping Width 0.220m
Shipping Height 0.080m
Shipping Length 0.220m

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