It seems like there are still a lot of challenges from the physics of printing liquid aluminum. To me this seems like it overcomplicated the task because they chose to print the aluminum, rather than just printing a form that can hold molten aluminum as a traditional casting might. Maybe that is already done though, this is academic work after all and not necessarily done to seek optimal solutions but to scope out future challenges.
There are useful shapes you cannot form through casting or subtractive manufacturing, such as shapes with complex cooling channels inside them or weight reducing voids.
Comments
It seems like there are still a lot of challenges from the physics of printing liquid aluminum. To me this seems like it overcomplicated the task because they chose to print the aluminum, rather than just printing a form that can hold molten aluminum as a traditional casting might. Maybe that is already done though, this is academic work after all and not necessarily done to seek optimal solutions but to scope out future challenges.
There are useful shapes you cannot form through casting or subtractive manufacturing, such as shapes with complex cooling channels inside them or weight reducing voids.
Digital sand casting is a thing yes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ClnmiggRPU
Printing a sand mold and cores is quite a bit slower than this new MIT project through, so the OP may have a useful niche.