A process to fuse metals with plastic parts made in rapid prototyping machines – tested in for Formula 1 race car components – has crossed the pond from the U.K. to the U.S., paving the way for rapid part manufacturing.

National RP Support (www.rpsupport.com; Pella, IA) has licensed the “Metalise it …” method from AT 3D- SQUARED (www.3ddc.eu; Buckinghamshire), in which plastic parts produced through stereolithography, selective laser sintering or fused deposition modeling are dipped in a chemical bath containing dissolved nickel and copper. Positive and negative charges pass through the bath to fuse the metals to the plastic for improved strength, cosmetic finish and resistance to heat and humidity.