The metamaterial printed with the new system consists of a complex three-dimensional lattice structure on the micrometer scale. (Photo: Vincent Hahn, KIT)
KIT Scientists Develop New 3D System to Print Structures of Submicrometer Accuracy at Record Speed
3D printers working in the millimeter range and larger are increasingly used in industrial production processes. Many applications, however, require precise printing on the micrometer scale at a far higher speed. Researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have now developed a system to print highly precise, centimeter-sized objects with submicrometer details at a so far unmatched speed. This system is presented in a special issue of Advanced Functional Materials (DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201907795).
To demonstrate not only the speed, but also the reliability of their setup, the researchers have printed a lattice structure of 60 cubic millimeters in size with details down to the micrometer scale. It contains more than 300 billion voxels (a voxel is the 3D counterpart of a pixel or 2D picture element). “We have by far outperformed the record reached by 3D-printed aircraft wings. This is a new world record,” says Professor Martin Wegener, Spokesperson of the Cluster of Excellence “3D Matter Made to Order” (3DMM2O), within which the system was developed.
For this type of 3D printing, the beam of a laser passes a liquid photoresist in a computer-controlled manner. The material located in the focus of the laser only is exposed and hardened. “The focal points correspond to the nozzles of an inkjet printer, the only difference being that they work three-dimensionally,” Vincent Hahn, first author of the publication, says. In this way, highly precise filigree structures can be produced for various applications, such as optics and photonics, material sciences, bioengineering, or safety engineering.
Typically, several hundred thousands of voxels per second have been produced with a single laser light spot so far. This means that it was nearly a hundred times slower than graphical inkjet printers, which impeded many applications so far. Scientists of KIT and Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane/Australia have now developed a new system within the 3DMM2O Cluster of Excellence. Using special optics, the laser beam is divided into nine partial beams that focus on a focal point each. All nine partial beams can be used in parallel and, thanks to improved electronic control, they can be moved precisely much more rapidly than ever.
This and some other technical improvements made the researchers reach 3D printing speeds of about 10 million voxels per second, which corresponds to the speed reached by graphical 2D inkjet printers. KIT will continue research and development work in this area. “After all, 3D printers will be used to print not just one page, but thick volumes,” Hahn says. This will also require progress in chemistry. For example, more sensitive photoresists are needed to generate more focal points at the same laser output.
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
3D printer
- How to 3D Print a Building
And without further ado … After a buzzy launch a few decades ago, 3D printers seemed to lose their appeal. Printing trinkets in your house just never took off as more than a novelty. But what if ...
- A 3D Printer Isn’t Cool. You Know What’s Cool? A 3D-Printing Factory
A startup founded by SpaceX veterans aims to realize the potential of a technology whose big promises have never quite come through.
- Global 3D Printer Filaments Market [2023-2028] | Industry Booms Worldwide, Gain Valuable Insights with Our Statistical Report
Global 3D Printer Filaments Market Status and Prospect | New Report [2023-2028] of 118Pages | Industry report provides ...
- Your next house could be 3D-printed by a giant robot
A handful of builders across Texas, large and small, are using giant automated machines to “print” homes, layer by layer, within weeks if not days.
- 3D Printing Plastics and Photopolymers Market for the Period 2023 to 2029 : Development, Growth and Key Factors
D Printing Plastics and Photopolymers Market Size is projected to Reach Multimillion USD by 2029, In comparison to ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
3D printer
[google_news title=”” keyword=”3D printer” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
High-speed 3D printer
- Your next house could be built by a giant robot
The “3D printers” control nozzles spouting concrete mix based on programmed coordinates, similar to a desktop 3D printer but at a much larger scale.
- Your next house could be 3D-printed by a giant robot
A handful of builders across Texas, large and small, are using giant automated machines to “print” homes, layer by layer, within weeks if not days.
- Snapmaker J1 3D Printer Review: Double the Print Heads, Double the Fun
D printers, vinyl cutters, paper printers, and laser cutters -- he also loves to play board games and tabletop RPGs. Expertise 3D printers, maker tools such as Cricut style vinyl cutters and laser ...
- 3D Concrete Printing Market Valuation to Reach USD 978.5 Million by 2030, at 55.60% CAGR - Report by Market Research Future (MRFR)
D Concrete Printing Market Insights and Industry Analysis by Concrete Type (Ready Mix Concrete, Precast Concrete, Shotcrete and High Density Concrete), by Application (Residential, Industrial, ...
- More Than Prototypes: A Look at the 3D Printing Industry
Additionally, the current price and speed of 3D printing can pose an issue for supply ... and its $4,080 price tag is quite high. If you need to print large objects but can’t afford Ultimaker ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
High-speed 3D printer
[google_news title=”” keyword=”high-speed 3D printer” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]