Why can't we have FDM printers print in Metal Filament?

[Feign]

A novel idea that I have considered is suspending metal particles in a fluid, flowing the fluid through a nozzle with an electrical charge at the tip that would cause the metal to be attracted to the work. Of course you would constantly recycle the working fluid.

Sort of like a directed electroplating process, but with a flowing fluid rather than a suspension? There would be very little way to control where the metal plates at the fluid runoff from the point of intended deposition... Actually, I seem to remember a kind of vapor deposition additive manufacturing that blasts a charged work surface with charged metal particles. I thought it had lots of potential, but never saw a followup of it since the initial report.

Of course, just using an automated MIG welder setup like 3D Karma mentioned.

[LambdaFF]

Sort of like a directed electroplating process, but with a flowing fluid rather than a suspension? There would be very little way to control where the metal plates at the fluid runoff from the point of intended deposition... Actually, I seem to remember a kind of vapor deposition additive manufacturing that blasts a charged work surface with charged metal particles. I thought it had lots of potential, but never saw a followup of it since the initial report.

Of course, just using an automated MIG welder setup like 3D Karma mentioned.

I think it has been developped to repair helicopter magnesium gear boxes in australia.