The proposed printing tool will support NASA Space Launch System to create gradient metal alloy structures with superior mechanical properties, and to build more efficient space vehicles. In addition to the NASA applications, the proposed 3D printer can also be used in various military and civilian market sectors for quick prototyping and low-volume productions of parts with complex shapes and configurations. The tool is highly flexible, and allows the user to produce polymer, ceramic and metallic parts directly from a digital 3D model file. Consequently, it can significantly reduce the tooling requirements and shorten the turnaround time. The tool can be used by hobbyists, scientists and engineers to quickly fabricate prototypes to validate their designs for a wide variety of applications, spanning from toys, dental products, industrial and aerospace parts (e.g. gears, valves, and blades etc.) to medical phantoms for educational purposes and surgical aids.
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