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National Lab Working To Mix Metals and Polymers For 3D Printing

Posted by Soulskill on from the can-we-print-a-terminator-yet dept.

Lucas123 writes "Scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Lab are trying to expand 3D printing to include mixed materials at the same time, such as polymers and metals. With those advances, a company could build, for example, body armor for soldiers that are stronger and lighter. If their work pans out, they'll create materials that have properties that simply don't exist today."

2 of 65 comments (clear)

  1. Weapons, armor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Why does every discussion of 3D printing seem to devolve into how it could make better weapons or armor? How about using metal and plastic to make elaborate layered circuit boards we can drop inexpensive chips into and make even cooler stuff? And I don't mean detonators.

  2. Re:No by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    3D Printing doesn't scale.

    Neither does knitting or sewing. Too bad garments which are anything but blankets will always be priced out of reach.

    It will never be a viable manufacturing technology.

    Right, just like knitting or sewing.