THE printer is the size of a bedroom and dispenses metal instead of ink. Researchers at Swinburne University believe this 3D printing machine could help to save Australia's manufacturing industry.

It prints metal objects in layers based on computer-designed plans. It can produce complex metal shapes in steel, chromium or cobalt that can be used in engineering materials.

Professor Syed Masood in the Direct Metal Deposition machine at Swinburne University. Credit:Wayne Taylor

In the latest breakthrough Professor Syed Masood has developed a technique to dramatically speed up the process for manufacturing metal parts.

Professor Masood has experimented with the composition of metal tools that manufacturers use to produce objects such as car components.