3D Printing In Gel Enables Freeform Design and an Undo Function

Zothecula writes "The additive layer process of conventional 3D printers means they are usually limited to bottom up fabrication on three axes. Now, the LA-based NSTRMNT team has created a 3D printing process called suspended disposition that gets around gravity by printing objects within a gel. Not only does this allow freeform additive fabrication on six axes, it also enables an 'undo' function."

Re:resin+gel as support material

[camperdave]

Well, three to position the extruder within the gel, and three to orient it. The extruder is like a needle, and if you move it sideways, the gel will try to slosh around it to fill in the gap, so you want to be moving the extruder lengthwise as much as possible to minimize the effect.

However, I'm guessing that the real reason is that they happened to have a 6 axis manipulator lying around and using it would have been cheaper than building a specialized unit.