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DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Steel AISI 1045

Compare DMLS 316L Stainless Steel vs. Steel AISI 1045 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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DMLS 316L Stainless Steel3D printed metal (DMLS)
Steel AISI 1045Wrought
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Mechanical
Yield strength530MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal531MPasourceproducer-stated, cold drawn
Ultimate tensile strength640MPasourcetypical, as manufactured, horizontal627MPasourceproducer-stated, cold drawn
Elongation at break40%sourcetypical at break, as manufactured, horizontal12%sourcein 2 in (50.8 mm)
Young's modulus (stiffness)185GPasourcetypical, as built, horizontal (XY); EOSINT M280-400W / M290-400W, 316L_Surface 1.0, 20 µm (2014 sheet)210GPasourcetypical
Density7,900kg/m³sourcepart density (ISO 3369, not labelled min or typical), EOS M 290, 40 µm FlexLine7,800kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight67.1kN·m/kg68.1kN·m/kg1% higher
Stiffness to weight23.4MN·m/kg26.9MN·m/kg15% higher
Poisson's ratio0.3sourcebase material: austenitic stainless steels incl. 1.4404 (316L), design value0.3sourcetypical
Shear modulus71.2GPa80.8GPa14% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus154GPa175GPa
Speed of sound4,839m/s5,189m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity16.2W/m·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), at 100 °C40–45W/m·Ksourcetypical range, ambient
Thermal expansion15.7µm/m·Ksourcemean 25-100 °C, ASTM E22812µm/m·Ksourcetypical, mean 20-300 °C
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing78.6µm growth60µm growth31% less
Specific heat500J/kg·Ksourcebase material: wrought 316/316L (Cleveland-Cliffs), 0-100 °C460–480J/kg·Ksourcetypical range, 50/100 °C
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)4.1mm²/s11.6mm²/s2.83x faster
Thermal shock resistance2,067W/m6,269W/m3.03x more resistant
Values forEOS StainlessSteel 316L (powder 9011-0032), EOS M 290, ParameterSet 316L 20µm Surface M290/400W, as manufactured, horizontal; ISO 6892-1AISI 1045 cold drawn bar (Niagara LaSalle) for mechanical; Ovako C45 (lists 'SAE 1045' as a similar designation) for physical constants

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.

DMLS 316L Stainless Steel is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Is DMLS 316L Stainless Steel stronger than Steel AISI 1045?

Steel AISI 1045 is stronger: its yield strength is 531 MPa against 530 MPa for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel (0%).

Which is lighter, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Steel AISI 1045?

Steel AISI 1045 is lighter: 7,800 kg/m³ against 7,900 kg/m³ for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Which is stiffer, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Steel AISI 1045?

Steel AISI 1045 is stiffer: Young's modulus 210 GPa against 185 GPa for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel, so the same part in Steel AISI 1045 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Steel AISI 1045?

For the same stiffness or strength: Steel AISI 1045 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beDMLS 316L Stainless SteelSteel AISI 1045
Stiff rod or tie (tension)15% heavierlighter
Stiff beam (bending)8% heavierlighter
Stiff panel or plate6% heavierlighter
Strong rod or tie1% heavierlighter
Strong beam1% heavierlighter
Strong panel or plate1% heavierlighter

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, DMLS 316L Stainless Steel or Steel AISI 1045?

Steel AISI 1045 conducts heat better: 42.5 W/m·K against 16.2 W/m·K for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Which expands less with temperature?

Steel AISI 1045 expands less: 12 µm/m·K against 15.7 µm/m·K for DMLS 316L Stainless Steel.

Among 59 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelDMLS 316L Stainless SteelSteel AISI 1045
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless 304Stainless 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110GlassSteel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless 303Stainless 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickDMLS 316L Stainless SteelSteel AISI 1045
Strength against density

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