3D Printing with Light

[lpetrich]

Why This 3D Light Printer Is A HUGE Game Changer - YouTube
[1705.05893] Computed Axial Lithography (CAL): Toward Single Step 3D Printing of Arbitrary Geometries
"Beaming" Objects with Volumetric Lithography
Volumetric additive manufacturing via tomographic reconstruction | Science

It uses a special light-sensitive resin, and it works by aiming light at parts of it to make it congeal. The "game changer" video shows making a small copy of Rodin's famous statue "The Thinker".

This new process is very different from the usual sort of 3D printing in some ways. In particular, it does not work by adding layers. Instead, it does an object all at once. This makes it possible to do things that are very difficult with a layered approach, like embedded objects. That video showed a screwdriver with a 3D-printed handle, complete with the blade rod embedded in it.

The main downside is that it requires some special chemistry to work. Because of that, it will be hard to have the selection of materials that one can have for more typical 3D printing. A variety of materials are now available for 3D printing. Several kinds of plastics and several metals, and even some materials that one may not expect, like ceramic and glass and chocolate.

 

[steve_bank]

Tooth fillings today are an exoxy resin that cures quickly with UV light.

If you are just dealing with plastics it is much easier to machine a part from a solid block. A low cost 3 axis CNC machine just for plastics could be inexpensive. Low cost software exists to take 3D CAD files and create CNC code.

Hobbyists make their own CNC machines from scratch.

 

[Gun Nut]

Tooth fillings today are an exoxy resin that cures quickly with UV light.

If you are just dealing with plastics it is much easier to machine a part from a solid block. A low cost 3 axis CNC machine just for plastics could be inexpensive. Low cost software exists to take 3D CAD files and create CNC code.

Hobbyists make their own CNC machines from scratch.

The difference between what you are talking about and what this article is about has to do with layers. Current (affordable) 3D printing technology uses layers of material to make a solid object. The level of detail that can be fabricated is a function of how thin the layers can be. currently, that is at the "grain of sand" level. Eliminating layers and using light brings us to the "photonic" level of detail. It's a huge leap... think of trying to build a sewing needle out of individual bricks, versus out of individual molecules.

 

[steve_bank]

Tooth fillings today are an exoxy resin that cures quickly with UV light.

If you are just dealing with plastics it is much easier to machine a part from a solid block. A low cost 3 axis CNC machine just for plastics could be inexpensive. Low cost software exists to take 3D CAD files and create CNC code.

Hobbyists make their own CNC machines from scratch.

The difference between what you are talking about and what this article is about has to do with layers. Current (affordable) 3D printing technology uses layers of material to make a solid object. The level of detail that can be fabricated is a function of how thin the layers can be. currently, that is at the "grain of sand" level. Eliminating layers and using light brings us to the "photonic" level of detail. It's a huge leap... think of trying to build a sewing needle out of individual bricks, versus out of individual molecules.

Yes. And I expect 3d printing for something like a gun would need machining.
UV curred materials is old. Industrial materials are durable.