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I'm a metallurgist.
The 3D stuff is going to have some interesting properties dramatically different from those that we've learned to live with for the last 150 years or so.
For one, the powder feedstock drags lots of exciting things into the mix. One of the benefits, and the downsides, of powders is that they have large surface:volume ratios. Lots of area there for interesting things to happen in your base materials.
We have generations of knowledge of blast furnaces and steel mills. We understand all of the inclusions, the defects and the anisotropy inherent to those processes. AM will be just as far from ideal but likely in many different ways.
As a materials guy it's exciting...
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'78SC, lots of other boring cars...
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