Speedy 3D Printer Uses Light Projected Into Resin To Create Solid Objects All In One Go, Rather Than In Layers (technologyreview.com) 47
A research team from the University of California, Berkeley, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has created a printer -- nicknamed the "replicator" -- that shines light onto specific spots in a rotating resin that solidifies when exposed to a certain light level. What this does is forms the entire item all in one go, rather that forming items by laying down one layer of material at a time, like most 3D printers. MIT Technology Review reports: "We've carried out a range of prints taking from 30 seconds to a few minutes," says senior author Hayden Taylor. He reckons that printing the same objects in the traditional way could take more than an hour. While the machine competes on speed, it still cannot match the details and size that other printers can achieve. The biggest item it can print right now is just four inches (10 centimeters) in diameter. Other printers can make things measured in meters. The sophistication of the machine lies in the software that creates intricate light patterns to accurate solidify the material.
The printer itself is fairly straightforward. It uses an off-the-shelf video projector plugged into a laptop that projects images of what you want to create, while a motor turns the cylinder of resin. Taylor thinks that because it's so relatively uncomplicated, both commercial and at-home versions of the printer are feasible. "The barrier to creating a very simple version of this tool is not that high," he says.
The printer itself is fairly straightforward. It uses an off-the-shelf video projector plugged into a laptop that projects images of what you want to create, while a motor turns the cylinder of resin. Taylor thinks that because it's so relatively uncomplicated, both commercial and at-home versions of the printer are feasible. "The barrier to creating a very simple version of this tool is not that high," he says.
Re:Fluid motion = (Score:4, Informative)
We used highly viscous (up to ~90,000 cP) or solid (thermally gelled) precursor materials to minimize relative motion between the printed object and the precursor. High-viscosity precursors also limited molecular diffusion-induced blurring.
Re: Fluid motion = (Score:1)
If you rotate the projector around the object (instead of the article's rotating the object) maybe the the quality can be improved?
Sure (Score:2)
If you like transparent stuff.
Top 10 things humans still can't solve! (Score:1)
Hey, let me introduce you to this cool thing we've been using for thousands of years, hundreds of thousand of years.
It's called Paint. [wikipedia.org]
Re: (Score:1)
CAL requires penetration of the curing wavelength through the printing volume, but dye can be added to block other wavelengths and tune component opacity
Re:Sure (Score:4, Interesting)
Many UV-cured resins for 3D-printing are too fragile to be used as-is anyway
This could be useful for prototyping, though, or for creating masters for casting more durable materials.
Re: (Score:2)
I am a researcher who uses stereolithography (SLA) additive manufacturing techniques for producing experimental equipment, and must challenge your statement - these photocurable resins are mostly based on acrylic monomers and produce objects that have a high yield strength - more than enough for a myriad of applications. Of course, it does not equal the strength of most metal alloys, but it is comparable to most plastic materials in everyday use.
Re: (Score:3)
They don't use magic to rotate the cylinder of resin, but a motor. That qualifies as "mechanical part".
Re: (Score:2)
When microcomputers came out in the late 1970's, they were hyped a lot more than 3D printers were in 2009. And look where we are almost five decades later.
For criminey's sake ... ! (Score:2)
The deathless prose quoted in TFS was burped up by one Erin Winick [technologyreview.com], who, believe it or not, bills herself as an Associate Editor for MIT's Technology Review newsletter. This despite her seeming inability to comprehend basic English grammar or unwillingness to proofread the writing that appears over her byline. Or both.
We truly live in an age of wonder - as in "I wonder who hired this illiterate dimwit ... ?
Replicator? (Score:2)
It's not a replicator. It only uses one crappy material, and it can't print me a tea, earl grey, hot. Whoever decided on that name is a schmuck.
Isn't this old? (Score:2)
There is no gun control any more (Score:2)
So, we have a technology that an 3D print most any shape that people can build at home? There goes any plan of controlling the production of weapons. You can call for bans, registrations, confiscations, but they will do no good if people can print any kind of durable item that is smaller than a breadbox.
Maybe, possibly, at some point, these gun grabbers will realize that there can no longer be any effective gun control. At least we can't have it without dumping the rest of the Bill of Rights down the toi
Re: (Score:2)
Eventually assault weapons will be banned in the US, sooner or later, and the US can join Europe and the rest of the world in being a civilized country.
Like I said, we can pass laws that ban them but that will not make them disappear.
Let's assume what you say is true, that the cause of these deaths is the lax gun control laws. How does banning them prevent criminals from fashioning them at home in a time when a 3D printer can create them at home? When they are sold at Staples, Best Buy, or wherever, over the counter and for cash and carry? Cost no more than some people pay for a TV set? And the plans for making weapons are available for download all ov
Re: (Score:2)
It's still layers! (Score:2)
Yes it's all printed "in one go" but it's still printed in layers, just like a movie is a series of still images.
What a bunch of dumbasses.
Not a dupe! (Score:2)
Wow, I thought we were about to talk about the other 3D printer from about a week ago, the one that separates the layers with a different light frequency instead of an oxygen barrier.
I'm impressed with this new one.
Using a resin 3D printer (Score:1)