Andrew Klein¹, Kyle Myers¹; ¹ExOne

As binder jet 3D printing continues to transition from a prototyping process to a production process for metals, cost and material properties become even more critical. By using gas atomized, spherical powders that are typically used in metal injection molding, binder jet 3D printers have been shown to produce parts that exceed MPIF Standard 35. By introducing water atomized powders or using wider powder distributions, the cost of the raw materials can be greatly reduced. Additionally, process setting flexibility can allow for the process speed and surface finish to be optimized for a given part. This paper will present mechanical properties, print time, and surface finish for gas and water atomized 316L powders.