3D Printing with Metal Materials

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Technology will continue to evolve and provide designers a valuable resource.

3D printing of parts using plastics and other non-metallic materials has been available for over 30 years, and the variety of materials and processes continues to grow. In comparison, 3D printing of parts made from metal is relatively new. As a result, the cost of producing these types of parts is noticeably higher than their non-metallic counterparts. As you would expect, higher costs of the printing machines, and the base materials are the two biggest drivers. However, as producing parts in this manner grows in popularity because of the benefits they can provide, costs will eventually come down to the point that they can be cost effective with some traditional manufacturing methods. An article published in Design and Motion discusses how GE Aviation and NASA are spearheading the development of these processes, and the reasons why designers should be embracing this technology. To read this article, click this link: DMLS: 3 Reasons Why You Should Jump in Now