316L Stainless Steel (L-PBF, stress relieved 650 °C)

316L stainless steel made by laser powder bed fusion and stress relieved at 650 °C is a low-carbon, molybdenum-bearing austenitic steel in a lightly heat-treated state. As printed it has a fine cellular solidification structure, columnar grains across layers, build-direction anisotropy and high residual stress from rapid cooling. The 650 °C treatment relieves much of that stress while largely keeping the printed structure, and is usually done before parts are cut from the build plate. Supports, machining of critical surfaces and surface finishing are still normally needed. Parts include corrosion-resistant housings, fluid-handling components, manifolds and heat exchangers.