‘3D-printed metal molds will accelerate US auto manufacturing’
May 29, 2025 – Engineers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have developed a method to use 3D-printed metal molds to produce faster, cheaper, and more flexible composite components for mass vehicle production.
The research, conducted at ORNL’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF), confirms that large-scale 3D manufacturing is ideal for creating complex metal molds, according to ORNL. It could also accelerate the transition to lightweight composite materials in the auto industry by making the manufacturing process more efficient.
