Materials / Compare
FDM HIPS vs. Steel AISI 4340
Compare FDM HIPS vs. Steel AISI 4340 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
| Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser | Open in LessCAD | Open in LessCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | not given (tensile used) | 1,035MPasourcetypical, transverse |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 18.4MPasourcetypical | 1,140MPasourcetypical, transverse |
| Flexural strength | 31.8MPasourcetypical | not sourced |
| Elongation at break | 1.4%sourcetypical | 18%sourcetypical, transverse |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 1.59GPasourcetypical | 200GPasourceMIL-HDBK-5J design value (AISI 4340, quenched and tempered) |
| Density | 1,023kg/m³sourcetypical7.66x lighter | 7,840kg/m³sourcetypical |
| Strength to weight | 18kN·m/kg | 132kN·m/kg7.34x higher |
| Stiffness to weight | 1.55MN·m/kg | 25.5MN·m/kg16.4x higher |
| Poisson's ratio | not sourced | 0.32sourceMIL-HDBK-5J design value (AISI 4340, quenched and tempered) |
| Shear modulus | not sourced | 75.7GPa |
| Bulk modulus | not sourced | 185GPa |
| Speed of sound | 1,246m/s | 5,049m/s |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 0.17W/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | 37.5W/m·Ksourcetypical |
| Thermal expansion | 80µm/m·Ksourcebase material: INEOS Styrolution PS 486N injection-molding HIPS, typical | 11.3µm/m·Ksourcemean, -18 to 93 °C |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 400µm growth | 56.5µm growth7.08x less |
| Specific heat | not sourced | 448J/kg·Ksourcetypical |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | not sourced | 10.7mm²/s |
| Thermal shock resistance | not sourced | 11,678W/m |
| Glass transition | 99°Csourcetypical | not sourced |
| Max service temperature | 86°CsourceHDT 1.8 MPa | not sourced |
| Values for | BASF Forward AM (BASF 3D Printing Solutions) Ultrafuse HiPS, TDS v2.2 (13.11.2019), printed specimens, XY 'Flat'. Specimen print settings are not stated; recommended processing on the sheet: nozzle 240-260 °C, bed 100-120 °C, 40-80 mm/s. Product is discontinued (Forward AM product page) but the TDS is still served by Forward AM. | Carpenter (Latrobe) Lescalloy 4340 VAC-ARC datasheet; mechanical row for 1100 °F temper; physical properties grade-level |
Every value links to the document that states it. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
FDM HIPS is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Is FDM HIPS stronger than Steel AISI 4340?
Steel AISI 4340 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,035 MPa against tensile strength 18.4 MPa for FDM HIPS (56.3x).
Which is lighter, FDM HIPS or Steel AISI 4340?
FDM HIPS is lighter: 1,023 kg/m³ against 7,840 kg/m³ for Steel AISI 4340.
Which is stiffer, FDM HIPS or Steel AISI 4340?
Steel AISI 4340 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 1.59 GPa for FDM HIPS, so the same part in Steel AISI 4340 deflects less under the same load.
Which is lighter for the same job, FDM HIPS or Steel AISI 4340?
For the same stiffness or strength: FDM HIPS is lighter for a stiff panel or plate, strong panel or plate; Steel AISI 4340 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), strong rod or tie, strong beam.
| Part that must be | FDM HIPS | Steel AISI 4340 |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff rod or tie (tension) | 16.4x heavier | lighter |
| Stiff beam (bending) | 46% heavier | lighter |
| Stiff panel or plate | lighter | 1.53x heavier |
| Strong rod or tie | 7.34x heavier | lighter |
| Strong beam | 1.92x heavier | lighter |
| Strong panel or plate | lighter | 2% heavier |
For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).
Which conducts heat better, FDM HIPS or Steel AISI 4340?
Steel AISI 4340 conducts heat better: 37.5 W/m·K against 0.17 W/m·K for FDM HIPS.
Which expands less with temperature?
Steel AISI 4340 expands less: 11.3 µm/m·K against 80 µm/m·K for FDM HIPS.