Metal 3D printing lab

Southern University’s metal additive manufacturing lab builds solid metal parts from metal powder and metal wire, using lasers and other heat sources. It is being set up now, mainly for graduate research.

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At a glance

Powder, wire and a laser. A metal part, layer by layer.

Behind this page: lab video of researchers at the Aconity3D metal printer.

More information

What it does

Real metal parts, from a digital file.

This lab works with metal powder and metal wire. A laser or other heat source melts the metal, and the machine builds the part one layer at a time.

Replacement parts

Make a part that is hard to buy, if it is designed, tested and approved for its use.

Prototypes

Make a working metal version of a design before full production.

Special tools

Build custom tooling for a plant or shop.

Small batches

Make a few parts without a full production line.

New material mixes

Research parts that combine more than one metal.

The part starts as a 3D model in the printer software.

The machines

Five machines: shape the metal, then test it.

The lab videos show five machines by name: four that shape metal and one that tests it. Scroll each one below to see it come apart and learn its main parts.

The EDMMax 434W at work in the lab.

Machine 01

Powder-fed laser printer

InssTek MX-Lab

Metal powder is blown into a laser beam at the print head. The melted metal builds the part one layer at a time.

Background: the full InssTek MX-Lab film, start to finish.

The InssTek MX-Lab opened up to show its main parts (AI-generated animation)

Machine 01 · Powder-fed laser printer

Open the InssTek MX-Lab.

AI-generated animation. Scroll to take it apart.

InssTek MX-Lab · main parts

Powder feeder

Holds the metal powder and sends it to the head.

Deposition head

Where powder meets the laser and becomes metal.

Optics module

Shapes and aims the laser.

Build module

The platform the part grows on.

Chiller

Keeps the laser and machine cool.

Machine 02

Laser powder bed printer

Aconity3D

A thin layer of metal powder is spread across a bed. A laser melts the shape of the part into it, then the next layer is spread on top.

Background: the full Aconity3D film, start to finish.

The Aconity3D opened up to show its main parts (AI-generated animation)

Machine 02 · Laser powder bed printer

Open the Aconity3D.

AI-generated animation. Scroll to take it apart.

Aconity3D · main parts

Scan head

Moves the laser beam fast and precisely.

Powder bed

The tray of powder the part is built in.

Recoater blade

Spreads each fresh layer of powder.

Laser fiber cables

Carry the laser light to the scan head.

Linear drive system

Moves parts of the machine smoothly.

Control console

Where the operator sets up and runs the job.

Machine 03

Wire EDM machine

EDMMax 434W

A thin moving wire cuts through metal with electric sparks, while coolant washes the cut. It cuts very precise shapes, even in hard metal.

Background: the full EDMMax 434W film, start to finish.

The EDMMax 434W opened up to show its main parts (AI-generated animation)

Machine 03 · Wire EDM machine

Open the EDMMax 434W.

AI-generated animation. Scroll to take it apart.

EDMMax 434W · main parts

Wire

A thin moving wire that does the cutting.

Z-axis head

Holds and guides the wire.

Workpiece

The metal block being cut.

CNC control

The screen and buttons that run the cut.

Coolant

Cools the cut and carries away tiny bits of metal.

Machine 04

CNC turning center (lathe)

Mazak Quick Turn 20 (QT-20)

The metal spins in a chuck while a cutting tool shapes it. The Mazatrol control lets the operator set up the cut on screen, step by step.

Background: the full Mazak Quick Turn 20 (QT-20) film, start to finish.

The Mazak Quick Turn 20 (QT-20) opened up to show its main parts (AI-generated animation)

Machine 04 · CNC turning center (lathe)

Open the Mazak Quick Turn 20 (QT-20).

AI-generated animation. Scroll to take it apart.

Mazak Quick Turn 20 (QT-20) · main parts

Hydraulic chuck

Grips the metal and spins it.

Turret

Holds the cutting tools and swaps them in.

Spindle motor

Turns the chuck.

Servo drives

Move the tools precisely.

Control panel

The Mazatrol screen, keypad and hand wheel that run the job.

Cooling fan and coolant

Keep the machine and the cut cool.

Safety door

Closes the cutting area while it runs.

Item	Detail
Maker	Yamazaki Mazak Corporation
Type	2-axis CNC turning center (slant-bed lathe)

The Mazak QT-20, opened up to show its main parts (AI-generated animation).

Machine 05

Nanomechanical tester (nanoindenter)

Hysitron TriboIndenter (TI 900 series)

A tiny, precise tip presses into or scratches a material and measures how it responds. It tells researchers how hard and stiff thin films, coatings and small features are.

Background: the full Hysitron TriboIndenter (TI 900 series) film, start to finish.

The Hysitron TriboIndenter (TI 900 series) opened up to show its main parts (AI-generated animation)

Machine 05 · Nanomechanical tester (nanoindenter)

Open the Hysitron TriboIndenter (TI 900 series).

AI-generated animation. Scroll to take it apart.

Hysitron TriboIndenter (TI 900 series) · main parts

Nanoindentation

Press a tiny tip into the surface and measure the depth.

Nanoscratch

Drag the tip across to test how well a coating holds.

Nanowear

Repeat passes to see how a surface wears.

Hardness and modulus

Work out how hard and how stiff the material is.

Part	What it does
Acoustic and environmental hood	The white curved enclosure with a hinged front door. It blocks heat changes, sound and vibration during tests.
Granite base and isolation platform	Inside the stand. Keeps floor movement from shaking the test.
Controller rack (bottom shelf)	Control electronics, transducer amplifiers and motor drives.
Electronics cart (left)	Stage controllers, transducer conditioning units and power supplies.
Heating and cooling stage controller	Bottom unit on the cart, for testing at different temperatures.

Made by Hysitron, now part of Bruker.

The TriboIndenter, opened up to show its main parts (AI-generated animation).

Materials

Metals the lab works with.

Metal	Common use
Aluminum	Light parts and prototypes
Inconel 625	Heat- and rust-resistant parts
Inconel 718	Aerospace and high-performance parts

Wire on a spool in the EDMMax 434W (lab video).

Metal vs polymer

How metal printing differs from plastic printing.

	Metal printing	Polymer printing
Material	Metal powder or wire	Plastic filament, resin or powder
Heat source	Laser, electron beam or electric arc	Heated nozzle, laser or light
What it makes	Metal parts	Plastic models, prototypes and parts
Industries	Aerospace, manufacturing, tooling, repair	Product design, prototyping, education
How hard to run	Needs special safety controls and finishing	Easier for beginners
Use at the university now	Mostly graduate research	Teaching already happens

See the polymer lab

Plastic printing: a heated nozzle lays down plastic, layer by layer (AI-generated animation).

Five steps

Step 1
Metal powder or wire goes to the print head.
Step 2
A laser or other heat source makes a small pool of melted metal.
Step 3
The metal hardens on the build plate or the layer below.
Step 4
The machine adds layer after layer until the part is done.
Step 5
The part may be machined, heat-treated, inspected or polished, depending on the machine and the metal.