Michigan Tech scientists build a $1,500 DIY metal 3D printer

The team’s lead said he expects the open-source invention to kickstart the creation of more metal printers. While he’s worried about the implications of printing metal, he believes it will do more good than harm.

More and more, it’s clear that 3D printers aren’t just for printing plastic. A team at Michigan Technological University announced Monday that it has created a personal (albeit slightly dangerous) metal 3D printer. The design will be released for free to all as an open-source project and can be built from parts costing less than $1,500.