Laser hologram can create 3D printed objects in seconds

How to create complex 3D printed objects in seconds instead of hours or days? A group of scientists and engineers led by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) researchers have developed a process that uses a hologram laser to create a complete object within a liquid resin can within seconds. This process is called stereoscopic 3D printing and this process overcomes many of the limitations of traditional additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing, also known as "3D printing," is expected to revolutionize prototype manufacturing and manufacturing, but there are still limitations. Traditional 3D printing works by layering print objects. This process allows the prototype to be produced faster than machining, and it can create very complex shapes in one unit instead of several simpler units. However, such a process still takes several hours or even several days to complete, and when an object is printed, it may require a temporary structure or the like to support it until it is completed. This latest technology was developed by LLNL and researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, Rochester and MIT. Stereoscopic printing replaces layering and creates the entire object. This is achieved by using three beams of overlapping laser illumination in a plastic resin-filled hologram-style transparent water tank. A short beam of single beam irradiation is not enough to cure the resin in a short time, but combining the three lasers can cause curing in about ten seconds. After the object is formed, excess resin is discharged to show the entire unit. LLNL researcher Maxim Shusteff said: “In fact, you can complete 3D parts in one step, which really can overcome an important issue in additive manufacturing. We are trying to print a 3D shape at the same time. The real purpose of this paper is to ask, 'We Is it possible to complete arbitrary 3D shapes at once instead of layering them together layer by layer? 'Facts have proved that we can.' Stereo printing is not only faster and more flexible, it does not require temporary support structures, and even provides more geometric flexibility. So far it has been used to create squares, beams, planes, pillars at any angle, lattices and complex curved objects. However, the research team points out that there are currently limits to the complexity of the shape, as continuous irradiation will cause partial curing of the unwanted liquid resin. Chris Spadaccini, an LLNL engineer, said: “This is a possible demonstration of the next generation of additive manufacturing. Most 3D printing and additive manufacturing technologies consist of one-dimensional or two-dimensional unit operations. This technology makes the manufacturing process a complete 3D Operation, which has not been completed before, if the potential impact on production volume can be significant." The research results were published in the journal Science Progress.