Heavy Metal Meets High Tides With 3D Printer - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica highlights a significant advancement in marine energy research enabled by a new laser-powered metal 3D printer at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) Flatirons Campus. Marine energy devices, which harness power from ocean waves, currents, and tides, require metal components capable of withstanding extreme forces—up to five to ten times greater than plastics. However, the development of these devices has been hindered by the high costs and long timelines associated with designing, building, and testing full-scale metal prototypes. The new large-scale 3D metal printer addresses these challenges by rapidly producing a variety of metal components and near-full-scale structures (up to 1 meter long), allowing researchers to quickly iterate designs, reduce waste, and accelerate testing. This advanced 3D printer, customized by One-Off Robotics and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, features eight axes—far surpassing the three-axis capability of conventional printers—enabling the creation of complex and