Heavy Metal–Quickly
“Rapid prototyping” methods of making models of objects from computer files can dramatically cut the time from the drawing board to market. Most such procedures now in use create plastic representations of metal items. But for many manufacturers, that’s not nearly as valuable as being able to rapidly create the piece in metal. Now, researchers at Sandia National Laboratories say they’ve come up with a way to use lasers to fabricate metal parts directly from a computer model, in a matter of hours.
In Sandia’s process, a beam is focused to a small spot on the surface of a metal substrate, forming a molten pool. Metal powder injected into the pool solidifies into a bead that protrudes from the surface. Repeating this many times under computer direction builds up the prototype. Ten companies, including 3M, Eastman Kodak and Lockheed Martin, are supporting Sandia’s effort to the tune of $3 million over two years.
Keep Reading
Most Popular
Geoffrey Hinton tells us why he’s now scared of the tech he helped build
“I have suddenly switched my views on whether these things are going to be more intelligent than us.”
ChatGPT is going to change education, not destroy it
The narrative around cheating students doesn’t tell the whole story. Meet the teachers who think generative AI could actually make learning better.
Meet the people who use Notion to plan their whole lives
The workplace tool’s appeal extends far beyond organizing work projects. Many users find it’s just as useful for managing their free time.
Learning to code isn’t enough
Historically, learn-to-code efforts have provided opportunities for the few, but new efforts are aiming to be inclusive.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.