Australian and Chinese researchers will come together at new sites dedicated to advanced 3D-printing.

RMIT University and the Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences are building 3D metal-printing research and development centres in their respective home cities, but the Chinese experts will begin some projects in Australia.

Their studies will focus on new ways to get 3D-printers to extrude different metals or combinations of materials.

The Melbourne centre will be based at RMIT's Advanced Manufacturing Precinct (AMP).

“3D-printing is a revolutionary manufacturing technology,” Dr Ma Qian, Professor of Design, Multifunctional Structures, at RMIT said.

“RMIT has invested more than $25 million on the establishment of the AMP, and the centre for Additive Manufacturing is the latest innovation to be housed there,” he said.

“Chongqing will establish its own centre in time, but for now its researchers will use RMIT's Centre for Additive Manufacturing as the key research node.”

The centre is expected to attract Higher Degree by Research (HDR) research students as well as Australian and Chinese industry partners.

The University has support from industry-side, with Dien Technology of Chongqing supporting an RMIT-led Australian Research Council Linkage grant for further investigation of the use of titanium in advanced manufacturing.

Additive manufacture is set to replace many previous processes in the art of making things.

Australia has a number of leading-edge facilities, experts and projects helping to bring about the rapid construction methods of the future.