Nickel Chess Piece

This chess piece started life as a digital model on a computer and was made physical using, what was in 2007, state-of-the-art metal printing techniques. A thin layer of nickel powder was first deposited before a laser was fired into the powder, fusing the particles together in a desired area. A further layer of powder was then applied and once more the laser passed over and fired at specific areas, sintering the metal. This process was repeated until a fully three-dimensional metal form was produced. This process of making, where an object is built up in layers, enables internal structures to be produced. If you look closely at this nickel chess piece you will notice a staircase running up through the middle. The specific manufacturing process described enabled this degree of intricacy in the final form.