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Metal manufacturing has been used by humans over the millennia. Some objects have even been traced as far back as thousands of years BC, depending on the metal.

Metals are generally hard, opaque, and shiny materials that exhibit good electrical and thermal conductivity. Although approximately 91 of the 118 elements of the periodic table are metals, they can be either elements, compounds, or alloys. They are generally malleable so that they can be shaped by hammering or pressing without breaking or cracking. Metals are also fusible, meaning they can be fused or melted and exhibit a ductility that makes it possible to stretch them out into a thin wire. Consequently, metals are an important part of our lives and can be found at every facet where they are used in high-rise buildings, bridge construction, automobiles, home appliances, jewelry, tools, pipes, railways, and many other places.

Metal manufacturing is the driving force for the technical advancement of metalworking. It aims to apply the science behind the metal to the most appropriate application, for instance, in consumer and manufactured products, transportation, railway, aeronautics, marine, and many other fields. As 3D Printing technology has advanced, so have the choices of applicable metals. Many different processes are used to shape metal including, casting, forging, rolling, laser cladding, extrusion, sintering, machining, fabrication, and 3D printing. Metals for standard manufacturing processes.

3D printing, sometimes referred to as 'additive manufacturing', covers a number of different processes and techniques. All involve a material, usually plastic or metal, being deposited in several thin layers to create a shape.

Plastic 3D printing dates back to the 1980s. Metal 3D printing emerged in the 1990s, after the invention of laser fusion and sintering (heating without fusion) techniques.

As the technology evolved, so did the choice of metal material:

• Aluminium - Ultra-fine grains of aluminium powder are laser sintered to produce end-use metal parts that are just as good as their machined counterparts. This technique is commonly used to produce fully functional parts, replacement parts and jewellery. The two main 3D printing techniques for aluminium are direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) and selective laser melting (SLM).
• Brass - typically used to produce detailed miniatures, sculptures, jewellery or pre-print tests (to shape before producing with gold or silver).
• Bronze - an affordable and strong material for metal printing, commonly used for the same applications as brass.  
• Copper - used in printing to produce small decorative designs such as coins, medals, connectors and statutes. 
• Gold - is mainly used for printing 14K or 18K solid gold jewellery mixed with an alloy for durability.
• Stainless steel - offers a high level of detail and strength, making it suitable for items such as miniature figures, jewellery, key rings and bolts.
• Sterling Silver - 3D printed silver models are made up of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of another metal, usually copper. Its most common use in 3D printing is in jewellery.
• Steel - the most affordable form of metal 3D printing; steel powder is infused with bronze to form a material capable of making very strong and large objects.
• Titanium - 3D printed objects made from titanium are very strong, accurate and just as good as their machined counterparts. This material shares the same properties and applications as aluminium.