A breakthrough in the field of additive production has been achieved by a group of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Texas University in Austin (UT Austin). They have successfully developed the world’s first full-fledged 3D printer, smaller than a coin, operating on a microchip.
This tiny hybrid chip printer is capable of performing quick 3D printing and prototyping directly on-site. The revolutionary aspect of this development lies in its unprecedented miniaturization, with the device measuring only 6.5 x 6.5 x 6 millimeters, allowing it to fit in the palm of your hand.
Despite its compact size, this innovative 3D printer includes all the main functions of desktop 3D printers such as positioning systems, material deposition, and process monitoring, but it utilizes a compact optical system instead of bulky mechanical parts.
At the core of the device is a photon chip comprising numerous microscopic antennas, each with a thickness of 160 nanometers. These antennas emit programmable light rays into a reservoir filled with a special photopolymer resin. When the light interacts with the resin, it quickly solidifies, forming the desired shape.
MIT professor Elena Notarov, the lead researcher, stated that this system completely transforms the conventional concept of a 3D printer, shifting from a bulky apparatus to a portable device.
The development of this compact chip printer was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the two scientific groups. MIT experts in Silicon photonics had previously created integrated phased antenna arrays capable of light manipulation, while UT Austin scientists presented adapt resins suitable for 3D printing with visible light.
The effective modulation of visible light, requiring alterations in amplitude and phase, was a key challenge that was addressed by incorporating compact liquid crystal modulators into the photon chip.
Currently, the team has developed a prototype capable of rapidly printing any two-dimensional shape within seconds through light exposure. The next phase of the project involves creating a system for holographic 3D printing of volumetric objects in a single pass.
These portable micro-printers have a wide range of potential applications, from personalized product creation to on-the-spot engineering prototyping. The researchers believe that this breakthrough will usher in a new era of accessible personalized 3D printing directly in the field. The study details can be found published in the journal Nature Light Science and Applications.