Michael J. Foycik Jr., Esq.

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I have a very big question, and I hope and believe some of the readers will have the answer. If so, please let me know.

I was surprised a few days ago to watch a 3D printer, which was using metal wire to make a complex solid metal object in real time. The surprise was because I was there to see something else, but this held my interest. The metal object was then cooled, polished, and finished.

Later, I saw a second, identical metal object, or so I thought. I was asked if I could tell which one had just been made, and which was from a large bin of such objects that were purchased from a manufacturer. After a little effort, I couldn't guess, but it leads me to a few questions as follows.

Can the printer make other objects, using other commercially valuable metals? The engineer smiled and made a free-hand sculpture using a light aluminum-like metal. He switched the wire feed to a different color material, somewhat darker, and entered changes to the controller, and made another free-hand sculpture.

I had more questions: how many different kinds of metal can they use? What about stainless steel? Or, high tech alloys? How accurate? The answers would have to wait for another day.

I wonder is there are high-value uses for such a metal printer, perhaps something related to vehicles or flight. Despite my own experiences working with manufacturers and machine shops, I'm not aware of many exotic or high value uses.

And that is the really big question. What will such a 3D metal printer make? Are there truly high value uses? What parts make it work and have patent value? What would be the value of such an invention and its patents? Those are questions with no answers.

I have some general guesses, but nothing specific. For example, the metal being printed could have an interior strengthening structure, such as honeycombed, for a lighter object of nearly the same strength as a solid one. Or, being solid rather than assembled, it cannot shake apart even with a very complex shape or design. Or, it can provide for complex internal fluidic passageways, such as those used in high-end sensors and control devices, which could not possibly be made any other way.

If there is someone reading this, with an actual specific use, it may be possible to make an introduction and even produce a metal part desired by the reader. The engineer informed me that anyone with an interesting use may be invited to participate, and see it being made in person. It is most fascinating to see. Or, perhaps someone is really skilled at metal and metal production, and wishes to help or participate in the testing, that too may merit an introduction.

The author is a patent attorney who helps clients with inventions, startups, and advice on crowdfunding sites, and currently also advises investors and investment companies in patent and trademark related matters including valuation. The author has over 28 years experience in advising companies in patents and trademarks. For further information, please email at ZMIKE.IP@gmail.com.