Can Physicists Prove to Engineers That 3D-Printed Metal Parts Are Safe?

There’s no denying that 3D printing is a fast and effective way to build new objects, but most engineers are taking tentative steps to its mass adoption because the results aren’t proven to be truly robust. Now, physicists hope to convince them once and for all. The most common form of 3D printing for real-world engineering applications is selective laser melting. The process sees a fine layer of metallic powder spread over a moveable platform. High-intensity laser or electron beams are then used to selectively melt certain areas of the layer, which rapidly cool and solidify. The...