Penn State Researchers Achieve Breakthrough in 3D Printing with Multi-Metal Structures

Researchers at Penn State University have achieved a breakthrough in 3D printing by successfully combining two different metals, stainless steel and bronze, into a single complex structure. This was accomplished using a process called multi-material laser powder bed fusion. The team utilized a newly added machine at Penn State's Center for Innovative Materials Processing Through Direct Digital Deposition (CIMP-3D) to print the part. The process involves melting together different metal powders, layer by layer, to form one solid piece. Advanced monitoring tools, including CT scans, are used to ensure the final parts are strong and defect-free. The test piece was printed in a "gyroid" shape, a complex form often used in devices like heat exchangers and medical implants.