100x faster, 10x cheaper: 3D metal printing is about to go mainstream

100x faster, 10x cheaper: 3D metal printing is about to go mainstream

7 years ago
ian $OZYwQZgRBK

http://newatlas.com/desktop-metal-3d-printing/50654/

Desktop Metal – remember the name. This Massachussetts company is preparing to turn manufacturing on its head, with a 3D metal printing system that's so much faster, safer and cheaper than existing systems that it's going to compete with traditional mass manufacturing processes.

We've been hearing for years now about 3D printing and how it's going to revolutionize manufacturing. As yet, though, it's still on the periphery.

Plenty of design studios and even home users run desktop printers, but the only affordable printing materials are cheap ABS plastics. And at the other end of the market, while organizations like NASA and Boeing are getting valuable use out of laser-melted metal printing, it's a very slow and expensive process that doesn't seem to scale well.