The printer doesn’t print in ink. It prints using hot liquid metal, making it a small aluminum fabrication facility in a box. The idea behind putting the device on the ship is for the Navy to ...

The work being done is all part of the Navy's "Print the Fleet" effort dedicated ... on the bill platform and deposits pieces of that liquid material. As it cools, it solidifies." ...

The United States Navy's USS ... fed into the heated print head. The print head gets to 850 Celsius [1,564 Fahrenheit], which essentially melts the wire, so you get this liquid pool of metal.