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Industrial · Zbotic industrial line · 15–20 days

SLM Metal
3D Printing

Fully dense 316L steel and Ti-6Al-4V, in geometry machining cannot reach.

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FIBRE MELT POOL RECOATER WELDED SUPPORTS >99% DENSE LASER-MELTED METAL
Layer thickness
0.02–0.06 mm
Tolerance
±0.3 mm under 100 mm
Max part size
390 × 290 × 390 mm
Lead time
15–20 days
Overview

What SLM Metal is good at

Selective Laser Melting fully melts metal powder with a high-power laser, welding each layer into the last to produce a part over 99% dense — real metal with real metal properties, not a sintered approximation. That means internal cooling channels, topology-optimised structures and thin-walled lattices that no mill or lathe could ever produce. Zbotic industrial 3D printing runs it in 316L stainless steel and Ti-6Al-4V titanium, and the parts can be machined, welded, tapped and heat-treated afterwards like any other metal component.

SLM Metal technical specifications
Layer thickness 0.02–0.06 mm; typically 0.03–0.05 mm
Dimensional tolerance ±0.3 mm on features under 100 mm; ±0.4% above 100 mm
Hole tolerance ±0.5 mm
Minimum wall 1.5 mm on small parts, scaling to about 2.5 mm on large sections
Maximum part size 390 × 290 × 390 mm (minimum 5 × 5 × 5 mm)
Minimum feature Holes from 1.5 mm; embossed or engraved detail 1.0 mm wide, 1.0 mm deep
Density Over 99% of wrought density
Surface finish Ra 3.2–12 µm as built, sanded as standard; machine or polish for sealing and bearing faces
Threads Tapped threads from M6 upwards
Materials

Materials you can order

Every grade below is quotable today. If you are not sure which one fits, put your file through the quote page and ask us — we would rather help you pick than have a part come back.

316L stainless steel — excellent corrosion resistance, weldable and machinable. As-printed tensile strength typically 530–650 MPa, yield 370–550 MPa, elongation around 20–40%.
Ti-6Al-4V (grade 5 / TC4) titanium — very high strength-to-weight, density ~4.43 g/cm³, outstanding corrosion resistance and biocompatibility
Applications

What people print with SLM Metal

A cross-section of the work that lands in this lane.

Aerospace and motorsport brackets where every gram counts
Conformal cooling inserts for injection moulds
Heat exchangers and manifolds with internal flow channels
Surgical and medical instrument bodies in titanium
High-temperature jigs and fixtures that plastic cannot survive
Topology-optimised and lattice structures for lightweighting
Obsolete or discontinued metal components with no supply chain left
The honest view

Where it wins, and where it does not

Every process trades something away. Read the right-hand column before you commit a design — it is the part most services leave out.

Advantages

Why this lane gets picked

  • Fully dense, load-bearing metal — not a sintered or filled substitute
  • Internal channels, undercuts and lattices that are impossible to machine
  • Parts can be machined, welded, tapped, polished and heat-treated after printing
  • Threads from M6 up can be tapped directly into printed bosses
  • 316L delivers real corrosion resistance; Ti-6Al-4V delivers exceptional strength-to-weight
  • Fine 0.03–0.05 mm layers give crisp features on complex metal geometry

Limitations to design around

Told straight, before you order

  • This is by far our most expensive lane. Price climbs steeply with volume and with part height, because build time is dominated by the number of layers. Hollowing and lightweighting your model genuinely lowers the price.
  • SLM needs support structures, and they are welded on. Down-facing surfaces come out rougher, and support removal leaves witness marks that only machining or polishing will erase.
  • The melt-and-cool cycle builds residual stress. Tall thin walls and large flat plates can distort, and heavily stressed geometry may need design changes to build successfully.
  • As-built roughness of Ra 3.2–12 µm is too coarse for sealing faces, bearing surfaces or precision fits — budget for post-machining on those features.
  • Minimum wall is 1.5 mm and up, which is thicker than the plastic lanes. Very fine metal detail is not achievable here.
  • Only two alloys are available. Aluminium, tool steels and superalloys are not in the range.
  • Metal parts are heavy, so shipping cost is a real line item on larger geometries.
  • Mechanical properties vary with build orientation and are not supplied with material certification — do not treat printed values as certified for safety-critical use.

Lead time & how to order

15–20 days, produced on Zbotic's industrial line and delivered pan-India.

Upload your model on the quote page, choose SLM Metal and your material, and the price comes back on screen. Delivered pan-India.

FAQ

SLM Metal questions, answered

Is this real metal, or a sintered substitute?
Real metal. Selective Laser Melting fully melts the powder, welding each layer into the last to produce a part over 99% dense. The result can be machined, welded, tapped, polished and heat-treated afterwards like any other metal component.
Which alloys can I order?
Two: 316L stainless steel (as-printed tensile strength typically 530–650 MPa, yield 370–550 MPa, elongation around 20–40%) and Ti-6Al-4V grade 5 titanium (density ~4.43 g/cm³, outstanding strength-to-weight, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility). Aluminium, tool steels and superalloys are not in the range.
Why is SLM so expensive, and how do I bring the price down?
It is by far our most expensive lane. Price climbs steeply with volume and with part height, because build time is dominated by the number of layers. Hollowing the model and lightweighting it genuinely lowers the price — and lattices and internal voids are free geometry here in a way they never are with machining.
What surface finish should I expect?
Ra 3.2–12 µm as built, sanded as standard. That is too coarse for sealing faces, bearing surfaces or precision fits, so budget for post-machining on those specific features. Supports are welded on, so down-facing surfaces come out rougher and carry witness marks until machined or polished.
Can I get threads in a printed metal part?
Yes — tapped threads from M6 upwards, cut directly into printed bosses.
Can I use SLM parts for safety-critical work?
Not on the basis of these numbers. Mechanical properties vary with build orientation and no material certification is supplied, so printed values should not be treated as certified for safety-critical use.
How long does an SLM order take?
15–20 days, produced on Zbotic's industrial line and delivered pan-India.
Compare

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Not sure this is the right lane? Every one of these quotes from the same upload.

In-house

Multicolor FDM

In-house Bambu FDM, up to 8 colours per print. 0.08-0.20 mm layers, 250x210x250 mm max. Instant quote, dispatched in days.

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FDM

In-house FDM in PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU and PLA-CF. 0.08-0.20 mm layers, 250x210x250 mm max, +/-0.3 mm typical. Dispatched in days.

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SLA Resin

Finest detail and smoothest finish. +/-0.2 mm under 100 mm, walls from 0.5 mm. Most resins soften above ~60 C. 15-20 days.

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MJF Nylon

Support-free PA12/PA11 nylon for end-use parts. +/-0.3 mm under 100 mm, 370x276x360 mm max, grey or dyed black. 15-20 days.

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SLS Nylon

Tough sintered nylon, no supports, glass-filled option. +/-0.3 mm under 100 mm, 350x350x400 mm max, grainy matte. 15-20 days.

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Binder Jetting

Economical 316L steel, no supports, 100 mm cube max. Sinter shrinkage gives +/-0.4% under 50 mm, +/-1.3% above. 15-20 days.

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