Aluminum 6061 Filamet™

Create real aluminum parts using any open-architecture FFF/FDM 3D printer—achieving lightweighting and complex geometries previously requiring expensive CNC machining or casting.

Available Formats:
Spools: 1.75mm and 2.85mm diameters in 0.25kg and 0.5kg weights
Pellets: 1kg jars

Filament Density:
1.20g/cc – 1.50g/cc

Metal Content:
70.0% ± 0.6 6061 aluminum

High Compatibility:
Works with virtually any open-architecture 3D printer—no proprietary hardware or specialized equipment required. Also compatible with 3D printing pens.

👉 Our list of Trusted 3D Printers – Click Here

Is Aluminum 6061 Right for Your Project?

Aluminum 6061 is a specialized material designed for lightweight aerospace and automotive prototyping. Due to its high reactivity, it requires an Expert-Level sintering environment (typically a vacuum furnace or high-purity inert gas).

If you are looking for a "Plug-and-Play" metal printing experience using a standard kiln, we recommend our High-Success Materials:

Easy Printing Experience:

• Print with a 0.6mm hardened steel, standard flow nozzle

• Prints similar to PLA

• Minimal to no warping

• Ensure the filament feeds straight into the extruder

• Less hygroscopic than PLA

  • Do not dry this filament—drying will degrade the binder

👉 More information on printing – Click Here

Fully Sinterable:
After printing, your part can be fired in a furnace to become 100% metal.

👉 Sintering development is being conducted by one of our users. Current information and updates can be found here, as well as in our Discord server here.

👉 We are unable to offer any debinding and sintering support for this filament.

Applications:

• Aerospace component prototyping and lightweighting

• Drone frames, brackets, and structural parts

• Automotive lightweight components

• Functional metal parts requiring low density

• University and R&D research programs

• One-off and short-run manufacturing

• Reducing or eliminating tooling and machining costs

Additional Links:

👉 SDS and TDS – Click Here
👉 Research Papers – Click Here

Explore More Metal Filaments:

• High Carbon Iron Filamet™

• 316L Stainless Steel Filamet™

• Bronze Filamet™

All print just like PLA on most open-architecture 3D printers.

Recycle empty spools with the spool buy-back program – Click Here

Working on an aerospace, automotive, or research program?
We supply universities, R&D labs, drone manufacturers, and aerospace primes with aluminum filament for lightweighting research. Email info@thevirtualfoundry.com for volume pricing and program inquiries. We respond within 1 business day.

Large orders may be subject to longer lead times. Contact us for more accurate lead times.

FAQ:

❓ Can I print this on my printer?
✅ Filamet™ is compatible with nearly all FFF/FDM based 3D printers on the market. Switch out the nozzle for a 0.6mm hardened steel nozzle and get printing! The list of printers that have been used and the ones that are not compatible can be found here: https://thevirtualfoundry.com/trusted-printers/

❓ Why is sintering rated "Expert" for Aluminum?
✅ Aluminum has high reactivity and a low melting point relative to its sintering temperature, requiring a very controlled atmosphere (vacuum or high-purity inert gas) to prevent oxidation. Standard air-atmosphere kilns will not work. Community sintering research is ongoing — see the YouTube channel and Discord links above for the latest findings.

❓ How strong are parts right off the printer?
✅ They are quite a bit stronger than you may expect. You can throw them around a little and handle them just fine. Generally, they will not handle load nearly as well as the base PLA would on its own.

❓ How can I make my part shiny straight off the build plate?
✅ If you are looking to polish up a part without going through debinding and sintering, you can sand the part with progressively finer sand paper from 120 to 3000 grit. Then polish with a polishing cloth. For a mirror shine, use a cotton buffing wheel and some Zam polishing compound. More instructions here: https://thevirtualfoundry.com/finishing/