If you look at where all the action is in 3D printing right now, you’d mainly be talking about the US. It’s great to see such manufacturing being pushed forward in the West, but that may not be the case for much longer as Japan has taken notice, and is plowing money into catching up.
The Japanese government, 3 major universities and institutes, and 27 Japanese companies including Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Panasonic, are banding together to develop industrial-grade 3D printers that use metal for printing. More specifically, Japan wants to become a leader in 3D printing for industry, which means printing using titanium and other metals so as to produce aerospace and medical-grade components.
The goal is to have a 3D printer prototype capable of producing such high grade parts by 2015. In order to achieve that the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is investing $36.5 million. Each company involved will be asked to pay in $5,000 per year to the scheme. The 3 universities and institutes involved: the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tohoku University and Kinki University, look set to carry out the research and development for the 3D printer as well as the metal powders required for printing high quality parts.
The level of investment doesn’t actually seem that high, but the development of such a printer could be highly lucrative for all involved. Being able to produce very complicated, high-grade metal parts relatively cheaply and quickly could earn Japanese companies contracts with aerospace and medical companies, but also allow them to license the printer tech. Enthusiasts will also be hoping that consumer-grade 3D printers and metal powders will eventually be offered, too.
[Image credit Creative Tools on Flickr]