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3D Printing In Gel Enables Freeform Design and an Undo Function

Posted by Soulskill on from the just-go-down-and-get-a-tub-of-gel-from-walmart dept.

Zothecula writes "The additive layer process of conventional 3D printers means they are usually limited to bottom up fabrication on three axes. Now, the LA-based NSTRMNT team has created a 3D printing process called suspended disposition that gets around gravity by printing objects within a gel. Not only does this allow freeform additive fabrication on six axes, it also enables an 'undo' function."

11 of 33 comments (clear)

  1. resin+gel as support material by gl4ss · · Score: 3, Informative

    you can do support materials with some other techniques as well. easily dissoluable(sp?) support material for fdm style machines would be really useful, that printed well(the materials that print well now tend to need nasty chemicals). I'm not sure why the robot in this case has to be a six axis one, seemingly the technique would be just fine with a 3 axis printer?

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    1. Re:resin+gel as support material by camperdave · · Score: 3, Informative

      They are not extruding layer by layer, but they are moving an injector needle on a path through a block of gel. It allows the injector to follow a 3D path without having to wait for the model to be built up slice by slice.

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    2. Re:resin+gel as support material by johanwanderer · · Score: 2

      This allows you to print "unbalanced" objects, e.g. those that would tip over when you print layer-by-layer.

    3. Re:resin+gel as support material by camperdave · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Well, three to position the extruder within the gel, and three to orient it. The extruder is like a needle, and if you move it sideways, the gel will try to slosh around it to fill in the gap, so you want to be moving the extruder lengthwise as much as possible to minimize the effect.

      However, I'm guessing that the real reason is that they happened to have a 6 axis manipulator lying around and using it would have been cheaper than building a specialized unit.

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      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  2. seems familiar... by Thud457 · · Score: 2

    This goo, is it grey?
    Does it self-recycle?
    Is it vulnerable to cold?

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    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  3. Organs by RichMan · · Score: 4, Interesting

    As one comment on the original article says. This is the way to do organs. The original gel can be agar like or other cellular support matrix then you can print in a circulatory system with external interface then add in the actual organ cells. Let it mature a bit and finish up by washing off the original gel.

    1. Re:Organs by Russ1642 · · Score: 3, Funny

      This method can also make entire clones. And remember, clones are always hot and wear thermal bandages.

  4. like Michaelangelo said, by Black+Parrot · · Score: 2

    If you want to make a great sculpture, all you have to do is find a rock and carve away everything that isn't part of the sculpture.

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    1. Re:like Michaelangelo said, by Culture20 · · Score: 4, Funny

      That doesn't sound like a ninja turtle at all.

  5. Well, the arm is pretty but the results are not. by umafuckit · · Score: 2

    The video of the arm moving is very pretty, but the 3-D printed results not so much: http://www.gizmag.com/suspended-deposition-3d-printing/28508/pictures#4 Very much not ready for prime time.

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  6. Re:Gravity is not the problem by Culture20 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Gravity is not the reason why supports are used in stereolithography type 3d printing, shrinkage is.

    Gravity is sometimes the reason why supports are used in both STL and FDM. Shrinkage is the reason why George repeatedly shouted "I was in the pool!"