A New 3-D Printer Makes Objects from Liquid Using Terminator-Style Technology


Carbon3dPrinter032015-2A company called Carbon3D launched a new type of technology at this week’s TED conference that may revolutionize the world of 3-D printing. Continuous Liquid Interface Production technology, or CLIP, works by actually “growing” objects out of a pool of resin rather than printing them layer by layer (today’s 3-D printers essentially print in 2-D over and over again to create objects). And rather than the slow build that we’re used to, CLIP prints at speeds of 25 to 100 times faster than current 3-D printing technologies.

Carbon3dPrinter032015The process of CLIP technology is truly fascinating, as it really does look a lot like the liquid metal T-1000 from Terminator 2 - cool factor in spades. CLIP uses light and oxygen to “grow” creations out of a pool of UV-sensitive resin in a process that’s similar to the way laser 3-D printers work, but at a much faster pace. Instead of the lasers used in conventional 3-D printers, CLIP uses an ultraviolet projector on the underside of a resin tray to project an image of how each layer should form. The technique balances the interaction of UV light and oxygen to create a “dead Zone” in the resin pool, allowing for photo polymerization. So what does all this fancy technology mean in real-world terms? At a demonstration this week Carbon3D CEO and co-founder Dr. Joseph DeSimone used CLIP technology to produce a geometric ball-shaped creation that would take a regular 3-D printer up to ten hours. The CLIP process churned it out in a little less than seven minutes – leaving a pretty big gap in performance levels between the two. CLIP technology will be able to create hard, tough materials as well as some products on the more rubbery end of the spectrum. The end goal in mind is to actually make a viable difference in the world of manufacturing by developing technology that can produce commercial-quality objects from a wide range of polymer-based materials at speeds faster than anything like it we’ve seen.

Carbon3dPrinter032015-1Recently Dr. DeSimone highlighted the importance of the work Carbon3D is doing, stating that “Current 3D printing technology has failed to deliver on its promise to revolutionize manufacturing. Our CLIP technology offers the game-changing speed, consistent mechanical properties, and choice of materials required for complex commercial parts.” His faith in the product appears to be more than valid, as Carbon3D has raised a total of $40 million to date via two rounds of funding, and intends to put that money towards manufacturing this amazing and futuristic technology.

Topics: Technology News Inventions & Innovations

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