Researchers Weidong Huang and Lin Xin from China’s Northwestern Polytechnical University describe their progress with 3D-printed metallic parts, using laser solid forming (LSF) technology, in an open-access (until Nov. 9) review article in 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

The authors review research advances toward the goal of developing LSF — an additive manufacturing technique that uses laser cladding with synchronously feeding metal powders to create fully dense metal parts with mechanical properties similar to those produced by casting or forging.

“Additive manufacturing technologies have a global reach that is impacting the manufacturing landscape worldwide, and it is critical that both technology developers and users across the planet keep abreast of each other’s progress,” says Editor-in-Chief Hod Lipson, PhD, Professor at Cornell University’s Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering..

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51323008), The National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (No. 2013AA031103), Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (No. 20116102110016), National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2011CB610402), and the Programme of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities, China.