(June 10, 2015) A
team of researchers from the University
of Twente has found a way to 3D print structures of copper and gold, by
stacking microscopically small metal droplets. These droplets are made by
melting a thin metal film using a pulsed laser. Their work is published on
Advanced Materials.
3D printing is a rapidly advancing field, that is sometimes
referred to as the 'new cornerstone of the manufacturing industry'. However, at
present, 3D printing is mostly limited to plastics. If metals could be used for
3D printing as well, this would open a wide new range of possibilities. Metals
conduct electricity and heat very well, and they're very robust. Therefore, 3D
printing in metals would allow manufacturing of entirely new devices and
components, such as small cooling elements or connections between stacked chips
in smartphones.