Ruining two good tools to make one mediocre tool

[cranktown city]

Howdy!
So I've been poking my head around on the internet and have become interested in the prospect of metal 3d printing.

I want to build one of these printers! Now, could try to be legit here and make a metal powder sintering laser machine, but let's be honest, that is waaay beyond me. So what I did is take a welding gun, and stuck it on a 3d printer. What's the worst that can happen?

Enjoy!

[Elizabeth Greene]

I've played with this a very small amount and found that stepper motor drives do not like the RF interference of an open arc at all. It IS doable, but you have to think about shielding much more than you do on a FDM plastic printer.

[marksbug]

probably needs to start backing the heat down as it go's and creates too much heat and bloobs it up. possiably thinner wire&less power.or colder shielding gas... or...

[Elizabeth Greene]

If you could "print" a layer and then surface it on three sides with an end mill that would be very interesting.