What Ti-6Al-4V gives you
Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5) is the workhorse titanium alloy: roughly 40% lighter than steel at a similar strength, with a passive oxide layer that makes it effectively corrosion-proof in body fluid, seawater and most industrial chemicals. SLM produces a fine alpha-beta microstructure that, after stress relief, reaches 900-1,000 MPa tensile strength with 10-14% elongation - comparable to wrought Grade 5.
Two practical caveats. It is abrasive to machine and it conducts heat poorly, so post-machining is slow and priced accordingly. And it is the most expensive powder we run, so titanium parts are quoted on volume, not on weight of finished part.
Titanium at a glance
| Parameter | Capability |
|---|---|
| Density | 4.43 g/cm3 |
| Tensile strength | 900-1,000 MPa after stress relief |
| Elongation | 10-14% |
| Hardness | 33-35 HRC |
| Thermal conductivity | 6.7 W/mK - low, so machining is slow |
| Corrosion | Excellent in seawater, chlorides and body fluid |
| Finishing | Sand blasting, vibration polishing, mirror polish, PVD gold / black / gunmetal |
| Lead time | 7-12 working days |
Where titanium earns its price
- ✓Eyewear frames and temples that must stay light
- ✓Surgical instruments, guides and implant trials
- ✓Aerospace and motorsport brackets
- ✓Wearable jewellery that touches skin all day
- ✓Marine hardware exposed to salt water
- ✓Lattice and porous structures for grips and filters
For decorative parts, 316L costs less and polishes just as well. Choose titanium when weight, biocompatibility or fatigue life decide the design.
Frequently asked questions
Is printed titanium as strong as wrought titanium?
After stress relief, yes for most design purposes: 900-1,000 MPa tensile with 10-14% elongation against roughly 950 MPa and 14% for wrought Grade 5. Fatigue performance is the weaker point - as-built surfaces act as crack starters, so any fatigue-critical part should be machined or polished on the loaded surfaces.
Can titanium be PVD coated?
Yes. Titanium takes a PVD coating well and it is how our eyeglass frames get a gold or gunmetal finish. We polish or blast the surface first, because a PVD layer is thin enough to print through any scratch beneath it.
Why is titanium more expensive than stainless?
Powder cost, machine time and post-processing. Titanium powder is several times the price of 316L, it prints more slowly, and every support has to be cut and dressed by hand because the material work-hardens. Expect roughly 2-2.5x the price of the same part in 316L.
Get your quote within 48 hours
Upload a 3D file (STL, STEP, OBJ, 3MF) or just a photo / drawing. An engineer checks printability, flags anything that will not print, and replies with a clear price breakdown within 48 hours. From one prototype to 1,000+ pieces.
Prefer email? dimension3dHAN@gmail.com