For notification when this page is updated, sign up for a free Appropedia account, enable email, and "Watch" this page. Technical progress in the open-source self replicating rapid prototyper (RepRap) community has enabled a distributed form of additive manufacturing to expand rapidly using polymer-based materials. However, the lack of an open-source metal alternative and the high capital costs an
![Open-source metal 3-D printer](https://cdn-ak-scissors.b.st-hatena.com/image/square/aab4e70c1765e0711b388495276dcc87178d9f02/height=288;version=1;width=512/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.appropedia.org%2Fw%2Fimages%2Fthumb%2F3%2F37%2FSparks1.jpg%2F1200px-Sparks1.jpg)