Rapid Prototyping for Stainless Steel 304
Rapid prototyping in 304 stainless provides production-representative parts for food, medical, and chemical applications where material properties must be validated.
Recommended Machining Parameters
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Achievable Tolerances | ±0.02 mm (prototype standard) |
| Surface Finish | Ra 1.6-3.2 μm |
| Cutting Speed | 50-100 m/min |
| Feed Rate | 0.05-0.10 mm/tooth |
| Tooling Recommendations | Standard carbide with TiAlN coating. |
Expert Machining Tips
1
Allow extra lead time vs aluminum (2-3x longer machining)
2
Specify 304L for welded assemblies
3
Standard tolerances unless critical dimensions identified
Common Parts Made
Food equipment prototypes
Medical device validation
Chemical vessel test parts
Machining Challenges
- Longer lead time than aluminum
- Higher machining cost
- Surface finish may not match production (polished/electropolished)