Si vous utilisez l'impression 3D pour des pièces en alliage d'aluminium, que ce soit pour des composants aérospatiaux, luminaires industriels, ou des accessoires personnalisés : comprendre le coût par gramme est essentiel pour la budgétisation. Contrairement à l’impression 3D en résine ou PLA, 3Les alliages d'aluminium imprimés D équilibrent la résistance et les propriétés de légèreté, mais entraînent des coûts plus élevés, allant de 70 RMB/gram for mass-produced parts à 450 RMB/gramme pour les petits lots, composants de haute précision. This guide breaks down core cost drivers, provides practical price references, shares cost-saving tips, and answers common questions to help you make informed decisions.
1. 4 Core Factors That Impact the Cost of 3D Printed Aluminum Alloys Per Gram
The cost per gram of 3D printed aluminum alloys is shaped by tangible factors—from the printing technology used to post-processing complexity. Below is a detailed breakdown with real numbers to illustrate their impact:
(1) 3D Printing Technology Type
Technology is the primary cost driver, as different methods vary in precision, vitesse, and equipment investment. The three most common technologies for aluminum alloy 3D printing are:
| Type de technologie | Cost Per Gram (RMB/gramme) | Key Characteristics | Applications typiques |
| Fusion laser sélective (GDT) | 150 ~ 450 | Ultra-haute précision (tolérance ±0,02 mm), ideal for complex, small-batch parts; high equipment and material costs | Composants aérospatiaux (par ex., supports de moteur), implants médicaux |
| Electron Beam Fusion (EBM) | 80 ~ 250 | Suitable for large-scale industrial parts; lower cost than SLM but slightly reduced precision (tolérance ±0,05 mm) | Industrial fixtures (par ex., drone mounts), pièces de structure automobile |
| Binding Jetting | 70 ~ 230 | Lowest unit cost for mass production; requires post-processing (debinding, sintering) but efficient for bulk orders | Mass-produced small parts (par ex., custom fasteners, decorative accessories) |
Exemple: A 30g aluminum alloy part printed via SLM costs 4,500 ~ 13,500 RMB. The same part printed via Binding Jetting costs 2,100 ~ 6,900 RMB—50% cheaper—though it needs additional post-processing steps.
(2) Aluminum Alloy Grade
The grade of aluminum alloy directly affects material costs, as specialized grades (par ex., aerospace-grade, haute résistance) require refined raw materials and production processes:
| Aluminum Alloy Grade | Cost Per Gram (Material Only, RMB/gramme) | Propriétés clés | Applications typiques |
| Al6061 (Industrial Grade) | 20 ~ 80 | Bonne usinabilité, force modérée; rentable | Supports industriels, non-critical structural parts |
| AlSi10Mg (Aerospace Grade) | 50 ~ 150 | Rapport résistance/poids élevé, résistant à la chaleur; meets aerospace standards | Aircraft components, high-performance drone parts |
Key Note: Imported aluminum alloy powders (par ex., from EOS, Adaro) coût 2 ~ 3x more than domestic powders (par ex., from Chinese suppliers). Par exemple, imported AlSi10Mg powder costs 100 ~ 150 RMB/gramme, while domestic AlSi10Mg powder costs 50 ~ 80 RMB/gramme.
(3) Post-Processing Requirements
Nearly all 3D printed aluminum alloy parts need post-processing to meet strength, précision, and appearance standards. Each step adds significantly to the total cost per gram:
| Post-Processing Step | Cost Per Gram (RMB/gramme) | But |
| Basic Polishing/Sanding | 10 ~ 50 | Remove surface roughness (Ra from 3.2μm to 1.6μm); éliminer les lignes de calque |
| High-Precision CNC Trimming | 50 ~ 200 | Obtenez des tolérances serrées (±0,01mm); refine critical features (par ex., trous filetés, mating surfaces) |
| Electroplating/Coating | 30 ~ 150 | Enhance corrosion resistance (par ex., anodisation) or add aesthetic finish (par ex., matte silver) |
| Traitement thermique | 20 ~ 80 | Improve strength (par ex., T6 heat treatment for Al6061); reduce internal stress |
Exemple: A 50g part needing basic sanding costs 500 ~ 2,500 RMB in post-processing. The same part needing CNC trimming + anodizing costs 4,000 ~ 11,500 RMB—8x more.
(4) Order Volume
Order volume drastically impacts cost, as fixed costs (equipment setup, programmation) are spread across more parts. Small batches are far more expensive than large-scale production:
| Order Volume | Cost Per Gram (Total, RMB/gramme) | Discount vs. Single Piece | Exemple: 50g AlSi10Mg Part (SLM Technology) |
| Single Piece/Small Batch (<10 pièces) | 250 ~ 450 | 0% (No Discount) | 50g × 350 RMB/gram = 17,500 RMB |
| Medium Batch (10 ~ 100 pièces) | 150 ~ 250 | 20 ~ 40% | 50g × 200 RMB/gram = 10,000 RMB |
| Large Batch (>100 pièces) | 70 ~ 150 | 40 ~ 70% | 50g × 100 RMB/gram = 5,000 RMB |
Exemple: A single 50g aerospace bracket (GDT, AlSi10Mg) frais 17,500 RMB. Ordering 100 of the same brackets drops the cost to 5,000 RMB each—71% cheaper.
2. Typical Cost Per Gram: Scenario-Based Breakdown
To see how all these factors align, below are three common scenarios for 3D printed aluminum alloy parts:
| Scenario | Technologie | Aluminum Alloy Grade | Post-traitement | Cost Per Gram (RMB/gramme) | Exemple (10g Part Total Cost) |
| Small-Batch High-Precision Part | GDT | AlSi10Mg | CNC Trimming + Traitement thermique | 250 ~ 450 | 2,500 ~ 4,500 RMB |
| Medium-Batch Industrial Part | EBM | Al6061 | Basic Polishing + Anodisation | 100 ~ 200 | 1,000 ~ 2,000 RMB |
| Large-Batch Mass-Produced Part | Binding Jetting | Al6061 | Ponçage + Ébavurage | 70 ~ 150 | 700 ~ 1,500 RMB |
3. Practical Cost Reference for Common 3D Printed Aluminum Alloy Parts
To quickly gauge reasonable prices, below is a table of common part types and their typical costs:
| Part Type | Size/Weight | Technologie | Cost Per Gram (RMB/gramme) | Total Part Cost (RMB) |
| Custom Decorative Keychain | 2cm / 10g | Binding Jetting | 70 ~ 120 | 700 ~ 1,200 |
| Industrial Drone Mount | 10cm / 50g | EBM | 100 ~ 180 | 5,000 ~ 9,000 |
| Aerospace Engine Bracket | 8cm / 40g | GDT | 250 ~ 400 | 10,000 ~ 16,000 |
| Mass-Produced Fasteners | 1cm / 5g | Binding Jetting | 70 ~ 100 | 350 ~ 500 |
4. 4 Practical Tips to Reduce the Cost of 3D Printed Aluminum Alloys Per Gram
While 3D printed aluminum alloys are more costly than basic plastics, these strategies can lower expenses without sacrificing quality:
(1) Optimize Part Design to Cut Material Use
- Simplify geometry: Remove redundant features (par ex., unnecessary curves, oversize walls) to reduce part weight by 15 ~ 30%. Par exemple, a 50g bracket optimized to 35g saves 15g of material—cutting costs by 30%.
- Use hollow structures: For non-load-bearing parts (par ex., decorative keychains), design thin-walled (≥1mm) hollow interiors to reduce material consumption by 20 ~ 40%.
(2) Choose Domestic Aluminum Alloy Powders
Domestic powders (par ex., from Chinese manufacturers) sont 50 ~ 60% cheaper than imported alternatives and meet most industrial standards. Par exemple, using domestic AlSi10Mg powder (50 ~ 80 RMB/gramme) instead of imported (100 ~ 150 RMB/gramme) cuts material costs by half.
(3) Batch Orders to Unlock Discounts
Even small increases in order volume yield significant savings. If you need 50 parts over 6 mois, order all 50 at once instead of 10 per month—this unlocks a 20 ~ 40% discount, reducing the cost per gram by 20 ~ 30%.
(4) Simplify Post-Processing When Possible
- Skip unnecessary steps: For non-precision parts (par ex., decorative keychains), avoid CNC trimming and use basic sanding instead—saving 50 ~ 200 RMB/gramme.
- Combine post-processing: Handle heat treatment and anodizing at the same facility to avoid shipping costs, reducing overall fees by 10 ~ 15%.
Yigu Technology’s Perspective on 3D Printed Aluminum Alloy Costs
Chez Yigu Technologie, we believe matching technology and alloy grade to project needs is key to cost-effective 3D printed aluminum alloys. Many clients overspend by using SLM for mass-produced parts or imported powders for non-critical components—for example, using SLM (300 RMB/gramme) for a simple bracket that works with Binding Jetting (100 RMB/gramme). Our team recommends SLM with domestic AlSi10Mg for small-batch aerospace parts and Binding Jetting with Al6061 for mass-produced industrial components. We also optimize designs to reduce material use by 15 ~ 30% and negotiate bulk powder discounts. Our goal is to deliver high-quality 3D printed aluminum alloy parts at the lowest possible cost per gram.
FAQ
- Why is 3D printed aluminum alloy more expensive than 3D printed plastic?
3D printed aluminum alloy requires high-cost equipment (SLM/EBM machines cost 1 ~ 10 million RMB vs. 10 ~ 30,000 RMB for resin printers) and specialized metal powders (20 ~ 150 RMB/gram vs. 0.02 ~ 0.2 RMB/gram for resin). Post-traitement (par ex., CNC trimming, traitement thermique) is also more complex and costly for metal parts.
- Can I use 3D printed aluminum alloy for small decorative parts (par ex., porte-clés) without overspending?
Yes—use Binding Jetting with Al6061 powder and basic sanding (no electroplating). A 10g keychain made this way costs 700 ~ 1,200 RMB, affordable for small-batch custom orders. Avoid SLM or high-grade AlSi10Mg for decorative parts, as they double or triple costs.
- How much does post-processing add to the total cost per gram of 3D printed aluminum alloy?
Post-processing typically adds 10 ~ 350 RMB/gramme, depending on steps. Basic sanding adds 10 ~ 50 RMB/gramme, while CNC trimming + anodizing adds 80 ~ 350 RMB/gramme. For most industrial parts, post-processing accounts for 20 ~ 50% of total cost per gram.