MIT Develops Inkjet-Style 3D Printer That Uses 10 Different Materials At Once

Lucas123 writes: Researchers at MIT have been able to build a printer with uses 10 different photosensitive polymers to create a myriad of objects, and they were able to build it using off-the-shelf commodity parts for around $7,000. The MultiFab 3D printer works by mixing together microscopic droplets of photopolymers that are then extruded through inkjet printheads similar to those in office printers. A UV light then hardens the polymers layer by layer. Perhaps even more remarkable than the list of materials it can use is the MultiFab 3D printer's ability to self-calibrate and self-correct during a print job (PDF). The printer has an integrated machine vision system that automatically readjusts the printer head if errors occur, rectifying the build before a problem ruins the object; that means print jobs that run into errors don't need to be cancelled and materials wasted. The researchers said they can foresee an array of applications for the MultiFab 3D in consumer electronics, microsensing, medical imaging and telecommunications, among other things.

You kids get off my lawn

[frovingslosh]

Did you summon a grumpy old man? Here I am. Of course I've really impressed by this, the printer can print in 10 different materials, .... just as long as all of them are photosensitive polymers. What a crock! Looks like there is still more room for improvement.

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[Woeful Countenance]

"... 10 different photosensitive polymers ...." I would call those ten variants of one material. If it could print, say, aluminum, glass, and plastic, that would be three materials. I'm sure it's very nice, though.

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[thinkwaitfast]

Old grumpy men don't mock the progress of technology, they mock the over hyping of a technology that has been around for 40 year. We are still developing manufacturing technology on all fronts, yet only see 3d printing stories. Why do non grumpy young men hate on manufacturing technology that isn't 3d printing?

$7,000

[fustakrakich]

What 'commodities' were they using? Gold and platinum, with a dash of uranium?

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[LifesABeach]

A 3D Printer cannot replicate itself? Then, well, maybe MIT; could show some effort.

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[K. S. Kyosuke]

Or, discounted HP ink.

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[Applehu Akbar]

"What 'commodities' were they using? Gold and platinum, with a dash of uranium?"

No, they used an HP cartridge.

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[Adriax]

Don't forget region locking. Because materials behave completely differently when you cross country borders.

How is this different than Objet

[AndyKron]

How is this different than Objet, which has been recently assimilated by the Borg Ship Stratos? Remember: Resistance is futile! Just ask Makerbot.

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[AndyKron]

Stratasys. Why can't I edit comments?

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[trout007]

One print head doesn't cost $2k?

Inkjet Printheads

[EXrider]

Ink Jet printer technology is one of the few things I can think of that have actually gotten slightly less reliable than it used to be, not that it used to be that reliable either, good luck.

Some day, my Prints will come!

[Impy the Impiuos Imp]

> self-correct

This will become much more interesting with full 3D printers that can self-replicate. How many copies down the road until enough errors crop up that it stops working "good enough" and starts printing out Bitch Printies.

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[thinkwaitfast]

Not a 3d printer, but do you think an atlas robot could be considered self replicating if it were able to assemble itself, or even better operate the machines to process the raw materials to make the components?

The Inkjet printhead...

[gigne]

The Inkjet printhead is one of the more interesting parts of this machine. Digging through the layers of websites and papers reveals the printhead is an Epson Workforce 30.
The bulk of that work was done by Joyce Kwan, Paper here: Design of Electronics for a High-resolution, Multi- Material, and Modular 3D Printer [mit.edu]
This is a great paper and amazing work on hacking up an Epson printhead and I hope they progress this further

Good Job Joyce Kwan

[LifesABeach]

So, what's step 2?

Only ten materials, but what if I need twenty?

[Daniel Matthews]

To get the full range of results you would need two sets of materials, a hard and a soft set. Each set would need Black, White, Clear, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Red Green and Blue. That is a total of eighteen, then add conductor and semiconductor for a total of twenty materials.

I'm still waiting for this headline

[Zaatxe]

Elon Musk 3D-prints solar cells and supercapacitors!