date-created: '2013-11-22'
date-updated: '2025-11-28'
manifest-author:
    name: Appropedia
    email: admin@appropedia.org
title: 'Open-source metal 3-D printer'
description: 'Technical progress in the open-source self replicating rapid prototyper (RepRap) community has enabled a distributed form of additive manufacturing to expand rapidly using polymer-based materials. However, the lack of an open-source metal alternative and the high capital costs and slow throughput of proprietary commercialized metal 3-D printers has severely restricted their deployment. The applications of commercialized metal 3-D printers are limited to only rapid prototyping and expensive finished products. This severely restricts the access of the technology for small and medium enterprises, the developing world and for use in laboratories. This paper reports on the development of a <$2000 open-source metal 3-D printer.'
keywords:
    - osat
    - 'open source optics'
    - '3d printing'
    - 'open source hardware'
    - 'metal 3d printer'
    - '3d printer'
    - 'Metal 3D printing'
project-link: 'https://www.appropedia.org/Open-source_metal_3-D_printer'
contact:
    name: 'User:J.M.Pearce'
    social:
        platform: Appropedia
        user-handle: 'User:J.M.Pearce'
version: 217
development-stage: Designed
made: false
image: 'https://www.appropedia.org/w/images/thumb/3/37/Sparks1.jpg/1280px-Sparks1.jpg'
license:
    documentation: CC-BY-SA-3.0
licensor:
    name: 'User:J.M.Pearce'
    affliation: 'Category:MOST'
    contact: 'https://www.appropedia.org/User:J.M.Pearce'
documentation-home: 'https://www.appropedia.org/Open-source_metal_3-D_printer'
documentation-language: en