A speedy 3D printer that uses light projected into resin

technologyreview.com

15 points·longdefeat··6 comments

Stereolithography was the first style of 3D printing I ever heard about, back in the late '80s. I can't tell from this article what it is about the machine they're profiling which is supposed to represent an improvement.

Traditional stereolithography is layer-based like FDM printers. Per the article, this solidifies the whole object all at once. If I understand it correctly, it does this by rotating the resin vat and controlling the UV light to expose the whole object evenly.

I think "into" is the new part as opposed to "onto".

The whole reason this works better in "traditional" SLS printers do it layer by layer is to remove any accuracy issues caused by partially cured resin from existing passes. If you're shooting UV through a bunch of non-homogenous resin, you'll see some really bad warping, distortion.

Err, over an hour for a low resolution, 4” tall print? With what system?

It’s a neat evolution in resin printing, but not quite revolutionary (yet).

an even better improvement would be photonic momentum or molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). a triad of laser beams would be used to levitate and position an aliquot of polymer into position and cured by a 4th beam of sufficient quanta to induce polymerization.

phys.cst.temple.edu/graylab/papers/48_ALL-Laser_MBE_njp_QM_2_10_2017.pdf [PDF]

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