WEBINAR: Metal Additive Manufacturing for Research: Exploring ValCUN’s Molten Metal Deposition Technology

Metal additive manufacturing is advancing fast, but for researchers, the most important questions are still open. How do printing parameters influence microstructure and final mechanical performance? What does process control actually look like in a metal extrusion system? And how do you find a metal AM platform that is compact, accessible and open enough to support genuine experimental work rather than lock researchers into a fixed workflow?

These are the questions at the center of 3Dnatives’ upcoming webinar with ValCUN, Johns Hopkins University and Politecnico di Milano. Register now for “Metal Additive Manufacturing for Research: Exploring ValCUN’s Molten Metal Deposition Technology,” taking place on April 9, 2026, at 3:00 PM CEST / 9:00 AM EDT.

The session will explore the current landscape of metal extrusion-based additive manufacturing, the key technical challenges researchers face today, and how ValCUN’s powder- and laser-free Molten Metal Deposition technology, built around open materials, open parameters and a compact footprint, is enabling new collaborative research at the university level. Attendees will also hear directly from Politecnico di Milano about its ongoing research project with ValCUN, including the methodology, findings and future directions.

Molten Metal Deposition works by feeding metal wire into a heated chamber, where it is melted and extruded through a nozzle. The liquid metal bonds to the previous layer or substrate, building the part layer by layer, which can then be easily removed once printing is complete.

Why Attend?

In this webinar, attendees will hear three expert perspectives on metal additive manufacturing research from Manuel Delgado of ValCUN, Jochen Mueller of Johns Hopkins University and Riccardo Casati of Politecnico di Milano, representing industry, engineering research and materials science, as they discuss both the current state of the field and what is being done to push it forward.

Topics will include:

• The MMD technology: how ValCUN’s powder- and laser-free system works and how it differs from traditional metal AM processes
• The research landscape: an overview of metal extrusion AM, including key challenges related to feedstock behavior, print fidelity and dimensional accuracy
• Process control: how printing parameters influence microstructure, distortion and final mechanical performance
• Collaborative research in practice: insights from the ongoing research project between Politecnico di Milano and ValCUN
• Open research: how ValCUN’s approach to open materials, parameters and hardware supports academic partnerships

The session will conclude with a live Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to put their questions directly to the speakers.

Meet Our Speakers

Manuel Delgado, Business Director, ValCUN

With 10 years of experience in additive manufacturing spanning both polymer and metal technologies, Manuel Delgado currently serves as Business Director at ValCUN. Throughout his career he has held leading roles in sales, commercial strategy and business development, helping organizations expand operations, forge strategic partnerships and drive sustainable revenue growth across regions.

Jochen Mueller, Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins University

Jochen Mueller is an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University in the Department of Civil and Systems Engineering, with secondary appointments in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering. His research combines extrusion-based additive manufacturing for polymers, ceramics and metals with functional materials and computational design, developing architected, multifunctional structures and fabrication methods that go beyond the limits of conventional manufacturing.

Riccardo Casati, Full Professor, Politecnico di Milano

Riccardo Casati is Full Professor at Politecnico di Milano in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. His research focuses on the design and processing of structural and functional metallic alloys and composites through both conventional and advanced manufacturing methods, including powder metallurgy and additive manufacturing. His work integrates alloy design, microstructural control and thermodynamic modeling to develop materials and heat treatments capable of performing under extreme service conditions.

Interested in learning more? Register now for free HERE and join 3Dnatives on April 9, 2026, to discover how ValCUN’s Molten Metal Deposition technology is expanding the possibilities of metal additive manufacturing research. Will you be attending?  Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn or Facebook pages! Plus, don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter to get the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox. You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.