Helium is an absolutely inert and very light gas. Its chemical and physical characteristics make it ideal for both PBF and DED 3D printing processes, but it is very rare and expensive, so it is mainly used in EBM processes given the low gas consumption that this process has. In DED processes it is often used mixed with other gases.

Under normal conditions nitrogen is an inert gas but which at high temperatures can react with some materials also used in 3D printing. The use of nitrogen in this process is indicated for austenitic steel powders.