It seems backwards, but engineers from Northwestern University have made 3D printing metal easier (and eventually cheaper) by adding extra production steps to the procedure. (Paper available in PDF).
Researchers have developed a new inexpensive method to 3D print metallic objects such as batteries, fuel cells and parts for rockets and airplanes, using rust and metal powders. While current methods ...
“With Rust’s built-in memory safety, developers can eliminate entire classes of bugs and reduce cybersecurity risks, while adhering to ASIL-D functional safety standards,” according to Elektrobit.