A new type of 3D printer developed in Darwin that is faster and cheaper than any existing metal 3D printing technology could revolutionise manufacturing in Australia, the NT Government says.

A $400,000 Government grant has allowed Charles Darwin University to acquire the LightSpEE3D printer where new applications for the technology will be researched.

"So you're talking about a massive change forward now in how you actually manufacture: you can do it very local and very specific and the Territory can lead the way," NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said.

Coinventor of the device, Steven Camilleri from the Spee3d, said the printer which has reduced the cost and increased the speed of production, is the first of its kind in the world.

"We've got a part that we did for an automotive supplier and we were able to bring the 3D print time down from about 100 to 200 hours to about 20 minutes," Mr Camilleri said.

"And we were able to bring the cost down from sort of $US3,000 to $US5,000 to about $US30."

Its use by companies operating in remote areas is just one of the possibilities being explored.

"When you think about remote communities, necessity is the mother of invention," Mr Gunner said.

"We've got a lot of need and you want to be able to do things locally.

"And I think through this practice we will be able to be at the frontier of the change in manufacturing."

The fast, cheap technology means it would now be accessible to new industries and big-scale manufacturing, Mr Camilleri said.

A example of what the 3D printer would look like. ( Supplied )

"We believe we've got a process that suits manufacturing better than some of the existing processes for metal manufacturing," he said.

"It's got to do with convenience so rather than having many, many months and weeks of leave time for parts, we can bring that right down to essentially instantaneous.

"Which means your production is smaller and much more cost effective and you can bring in new innovations into the market because you don't have to worry about tooling costs."

Mr Gunner said the development and purchase of the device heralds a new era in the use of the Territory's resources.

"It helps turn the Territory not just into a place where resources are, but where things are made," Mr Gunner said.

"This creates the ability for us to break through some of those previous barriers, maybe around costs or other things.

"If we can do it cheaply here through things like this creative manufacturing process, the 3D printing process, then suddenly we're having jobs not just around digging it up but turning it into things."

The printer will arrive at Charles Darwin University (CDU) in October where its scientists will collaborate with Spee3d engineers to explore the device's potential.

"We'll be doing work with CDU essentially looking into different applications for the printer," Mr Camilleri said.

"We want to scale various uses for the printer than might exist very quickly, so we need more people around who might be working on what those opportunities are with us."

The engineer also said he hoped the new printer and its base at CDU would be the catalyst to creating a Silicon Valley-type community and industry in Darwin.