AddUp expands portfolio with 17-4 PH stainless steel alloy
April 18, 2024
AddUp Inc, headquartered in Cébazat, France, has announced that 17-4 PH alloy can now be used with its FormUp 350 Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) Additive Manufacturing machine. 17-4 PH can be certified to ISO 7153/1 (ASTM F899), which makes it suitable for a wide range of medical applications, such as surgical instruments, medical screwdrivers, and dental burs.
Swathi Vunnam, AddUp’s Materials Engineering Manager, explained, “17-4 PH stainless steel exhibits full martensitic properties when processed conventionally. However, when additively manufactured layer-by-layer, it presents microstructural anisotropy, which can be homogenised through standard heat treatments. This unique characteristic allows for precise engineering of the microstructure, resulting in an optimal balance of strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance.”
Equipped with a large build volume for enhanced productivity, roller recoating technology ensuring superior surface finish, and a fully automated, closed-loop Autonomous Powder Module (APM) power handling system, AddUp’s FormUp 350 is well suited to leveraging the capabilities of 17-4 PH stainless steel.
AddUp also offers comprehensive support from application discovery to development, qualification, and full industrial-scale production. Its technical team collaborates closely with customers to tailor materials to specific application requirements, while in-house material testing capabilities aim to expedite the development process.
