3D Printing With Metal: Engineers Create DIY Welding 3D Printer For Under $1,500

International Business Times ^ | December 2, 2013 | Roxanne Palmer

[mad_as_he$$]

I was waiting for this.

FWIW. MIG welders do NOT heat and extrude wire from the tip.

Journalism is dead.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Is the metal pot-metal or 4150 chrome-moly alloy?

[Still Thinking]

Given that people have already been able to create plastic guns with 3D printers, the advent of metal 3D printers will surely make it easier for people to fabricate guns and knives at home. But is that a good enough reason to stifle the development of metal 3D printing?

Reason to STIFLE it? Sounds more like a reason to urge widespread deployment of the tech so it will be tyrant proof. Don't forget that in most cases and in most states, making your own weapons including firearms is perfectly legal, so why would a new tech that does the same thing be an issue?

[2ndDivisionVet]

Many scientists are sissy Mary poofters.

[Kartographer]

Prepper’s PING!!

A sustainable power source and a couple of these printers could really improve your chances in a SHTF situation especially in a financial collapse by allowing you to make replacement parts.

[GeronL]

bump

[Vendome]

I’m not sure I understand the article.

It implies a MIG welder extrudes wire and melds it together, which is not how they work.

Further, they do not give any indication as to the quality of metal and expected performance.

I guess you just buy it and experiment?

[DaxtonBrown]

“Is the metal pot-metal or 4150 chrome-moly alloy?”

It is whatever your wire feed can do. I’m not sure chrome moly, but many steels, aluminum, stainless

So yes, this could be a game changer.

[9YearLurker]

Does anyone even know the size of a breadbox these days?

[Boogieman]

“Don’t forget that in most cases and in most states, making your own weapons including firearms is perfectly legal, so why would a new tech that does the same thing be an issue?”

Sure, libs are fine with that being legal, as long as you need to set up your own metal shop or machine shop to do it. Just like abortion, they want home firearms production to be “safe, legal, and rare”.

[Hardraade]

Let me have a 3d-printer that can extract PU from air, then print a socket and a plug and a starter. Then assemble them extremely rapidly.

Happy days!

[2ndDivisionVet]

I’m not a welder, so I have no idea. But I’m sure we have plenty of individuals here who would.

[Sawdring]

Call me when they design a 3D priter that can make a medium porterhouse with encrusted blue cheese topping using goat feces, red clay and pond water.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

If the purpose of welding is to join metals together then why would a 3D printer need that? Couldn’t you just print the whole assembly in one piece?

[Pollster1]

FWIW. MIG welders do NOT heat and extrude wire from the tip. Journalism is dead.

At least they didn't say that MIG welders use Russian fighter jet engines to heat up the metal. Journalism isn't quite at a level where you can't imagine them getting worse.

[Red Badger]

RUH-ROH..................

[FreedomPoster]

>>Sounds more like a reason to urge widespread deployment of the tech so it will be tyrant proof.

As I keep pointing out, this represents the practical creation of the Weapon Shops of Isher.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Weapon_Shops_of_Isher

[Kartographer]

The idea is someone else grows the steak for you, which you trade for with your manufacturing ability.

[The Antiyuppie]

I can see how this would work, but it will take a lot of energy, and a GOOD welder that can operate at 100% duty cycle with an externally programmable feed speed. The resulting parts will certainly require post-processing (machining). Still, neat idea.