New LOW COST 3D Metal Printer on Open Source Innovation

Michigan Technological University Joshua Pearce associate-professor in material science, electrical and mechanical engineering leads a scientists team that have designed and built an open-source 3D metal printer at low-cost intended to sustain small fabrication, as compared to large manufacturers with high performance 3D metal printers.  Pearce and his group innovate by providing the design and software on the web to the manufacturers’ community as an open source available to all for further improvements.

This proposed 3D metal printer aim to bring this easy to build and inexpensive technology to a large market of small shops production, metal replacement parts makers and small scientific tools.  The technology uses a standard metal inert gas welding to fabricate parts and objects with complex geometry.  The open source orientation given to the project may permit to improve the initial concept with regards to print resolution and speed of fabrication by the manufacturers community that are invited to modify and ameliorate the design and plans made available on the web for their use.  In this sense, the design and construction notes are available on Appropedia.org. This is open source sustainable development at its best!

A new 3D metal printer in action in Michigan Technological University. Source [Img2]

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