Shapeways does have the ability to direct print some metals (no interim lost wax casting required) for the higher melting temp metals, such as steel and stainless steel but for the lower melting temp metals, such as brass, they will use the lost wax method. In some higher temp metals they need to use another metal as a binder, such as bronze. 316LSS, however, does not require a binder alloy. Below is a video of a someone who was making a custom micro sensitive drilling attachment for a lathe tailstock and had the handle printed in 420 steel, which included a bronze matrix, printed by Shapeways from a solid 3D model. At the time this video was posted, (back in 2019), I think he said it cost him around $80 to get this custom handle printed by Shapeways. Also, the technology allows you to print an object with a different metal inside that you could not do with conventional casting methods like a titanium sphere with a stainless steel core.
https://youtu.be/bVxOmh5cj_w (Discussion on the metal printed part starts at the 2:04 mark.)
Here is a list of Shapeways supported material guide (most metals are on the second page):
https://static1.sw-cdn.net/fil...lsGuide-2020-All.pdf
Scott
