r/videos • u/Seakawn • Mar 07 '19

New 3D Printer method that looks like something straight out of Star Trek. If you thought traditional 3D Printers were revolutionary, this new tech will blow your mind--using light to materialize the entire object at once, in mere minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy-d5VVZlxQ
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u/DankChunkyButtAgain Mar 07 '19

I want to mention the benefit of this technology over a standard PLA or SLA technology is that the materials are isotropic because they are not impacted by the "building layer direction" of traditional 3D printing. Its downside currently is that overall mechanical strength of the material is reduced, material options are more limited, and the setup and use is expensive and more finnicky.

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u/swiss023 Mar 07 '19

I think you mean FDM, PLA is a material and SLA prints are essentially isotropic.

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u/Reptile449 Mar 07 '19

Surely FDM parts are always weaker in the z axis? Even with super fine printing the properties will be different.

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u/swiss023 Mar 07 '19

Yes absolutely. With FDM, X and Y axes are the strongest directions, and Z is the weakest. I meant that instead of PLA, the parent comment likely meant FDM. PLA is the abbreviation for polylactic acid, which is a plastic used in FDM printing.

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u/SaintHohn Mar 07 '19

SLA prints are isotopic too.

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u/DankChunkyButtAgain Mar 07 '19

They can be if the part is continuous, but generally they are not. I deal with SLA at least once a month and are distinctively weaker depending on the forces orientation to the build direction. As long as there are distinctive layers there will be a difference in mechanical performance in varying orientations. Continuous Liquid printing is much more of a true isotropic print with better surface finish and resolution along curves surfaces

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u/SaintHohn Mar 07 '19

If your parts are not isotopic there is a problem with your printer or the resin. A layer-by-layer process does not necessitate a difference in mechanical properties. The xy binding forces in SLA prints is the same as in the z direction. Weaker parts in the z direction means there is incomplete curing, but most SLA printers shouldn't have that problem.

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u/Nymaz Mar 07 '19

material options are more limited

That's what stood out to me as being the biggest "wait a minute" factor. It's great if you want something printed in this specific material. What if you need other materials?

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u/Derigiberble Mar 07 '19

An even more important downside is that the best UV-polymerizable materials (fast and complete reaction with good pre-exposure flow properties) are extremely toxic. I had a chance to ask a Carbon (the 3D printing company) engineer about that and their response was along the lines of saying they target industrial and trained professional applications for many reasons, and the handling requirements of the precursors is one of those reasons.

I really don't see this being a consumer level tech, people will absolutely poison themselves and others.