Researchers led by Dr. Diran Apelian, mechanical engineering professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and director of its Metal Processing Institute, are looking into alternative metal products for use in 3D printing. Traditional metal powders present problems in 3D printed products, including oxidation, rusting, and weak structural problems like holes in Swiss cheese. Dr. Apelian -- working with researchers from Viridis3D and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory -- is developing a "semi-solid metal" for use in 3D printing. Using a broader variety of superalloys, this "metal goo" might add structural integrity to finished products ultimately developed for the medical, aerospace, and automotive industries, among others. Read more in the full article: http://3dprint.com/21518/semi-solid-metal-3d-printing/


Below is a photo of Dr. Apelian: