Feedstock is supplied in filament form — aka wire — and melted to deposit on the work piece in order to build up either welds in the case of the welder, or 3D objects in the case of the printer.

The solid phase alloying process could be used to create custom metal wire alloys for various 3D printing technologies, Li said. For example, wire arc additive manufacturing, or “WAAM,” is ...

While our desktop machines are largely limited to various types of plastic, 3D printing ... powdered metal, a material expensive in its own right, but they can use more common metal wire feedstock ...

PNLL researchers upcycle metal scrap - using 'solid phase alloying' - into high-value alloys for different manufacturing methods.