3D printing with photopolymer in seconds

Source: 3dprintingmedia.network

Researchers from the Swiss University of Lausanne Federal Polytechnic School (EPFL) first tested a new 3D volumetric printing method that enables the production of small soft objects in seconds. The technology of high-precision three-dimensional printing can find application in many important areas, for example, in medicine and bioprinting, allowing you to quickly produce hearing aids, tissue bioengineering objects and much more.

The method of volumetric three-dimensional printing, developed by the University Laboratory of Applied Photoelectronic Devices (LAPD), is partially based on the principles of tomography - diagnostic imaging. The tomograph scans an object to build its three-dimensional model. Based on this technique, the research team created a system in which a liquid material (biogel or liquid plastic) polymerizes under the influence of laser radiation, which hits the object from different angles.

“It's all about radiation,” said Paul Delrot, CTO of Readily3D , a subsidiary of EPFL. “The laser hardens the liquid material during the polymerization process. Depending on what kind of object we intend to create on a 3D printer, we use algorithms to accurately calculate the direction of the laser beams and determine at what angles they will hit the object and at what dose. "


At this stage, the developed technology allows producing structures up to 2 cm in size with an accuracy of 80 micrometers. It is reported that printing an object of this scale takes less than 30 seconds. As researchers continue to improve this technology, they will also create larger 3D printers that can reproduce objects up to 15 cm in size.

EPFL developers have filed an application for a patent for ultra-fast three-dimensional printing technology with photopolymers and have already begun to commercialize their product through the subsidiary Readily3D, which will continue to develop and bring the technology to market.

“Traditional 3D printing technologies, known as additive manufacturing, create objects in layers,” said Damien Loterie, CEO of Readily3D. “The problem is that soft objects made this way quickly become unusable.”


Source: 3dprintingmedia.network

Due to its speed and construction method, the technology of high-speed photopolymer 3D printing allows to overcome these problems. In the field of bioprinting, this technology can be used to produce ultra-thin organic scaffolds for growing human tissues or organs. Already today, researchers are working with a team of surgeons to jointly develop and test arteries printed using high-speed photopolymer 3D printing technology. According to Lottery, the results offer exciting prospects.

Since the technology allows you to work with both liquid polymers and hydrogels, it can also be used to make individual hearing aids and mouth guards.

According to Christophe Moser (Christophe Moser), head of LAPD, the ability of the technology to quickly create silicone and acrylic parts that do not require post-processing, can also be applied in the design and development of interior solutions.

A study detailing the technology of high-speed three-dimensional printing was published in the journal Nature Communications.