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Scientists Modify A 3D Printer To Print All-Liquid Structures (lbl.gov)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the water-water-everywhere dept.

Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab have successfully printed three-dimensional structures composed entirely of liquids. A special nanoparticle-derived coating can lock water in place for several months in a solution of silicone oil. omaha393 writes: Using a modified 3D printer, the team demonstrated they can reliably print liquid tubes sheathed in surfactants with precision that allows spiral and branching shapes with diameters ranging from micrometers to millimetres. The technique offers a means to finely control small scale synthetic reactions but the team suggest it could lead to wearable, stretchable electronics. A brief video showing the technology is available and the full paper is available at Advanced Materials.

15 comments

  1. "all-liquid" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So, not all liquid then.

  2. The only thing stretching.. by Jfetjunky · · Score: 1

    Is their attempt to make it sound buzzworthy by throwing in "wearable electronics".

    In reality all it shows is their gaping lack of knowledge in just how complex cutting edge electronics are.

    "Can we do a parasitic extraction to validate the layout?" "Well, no, because the devices are constantly moving everywhere!"

  3. I can't wait to print a T1000 by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    I can't wait to print a T1000

    1. Re: I can't wait to print a T1000 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You might want to get to work on the programming. That's going take longer than building the thing.

    2. Re:I can't wait to print a T1000 by antdude · · Score: 1

      Not a T-X? She's much more attractive with a female human body. ;)

      --
      Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
    3. Re: I can't wait to print a T1000 by RecycledElectrons · · Score: 1

      All they had to do to save humanity from liquid terminators was not 3D print liquids. Then they 3D printed liquids.

  4. Useful for mixed drinks? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sign me up.

  5. Tide Pod challenge v. 2.0 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Steps it up a level.

  6. So... liquid filles structures? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What the layman calls pipes. 3d-printed pipes with liquid in them. Somehow it does not sound as cool.

  7. Cocktail maker? by ClarkMills · · Score: 1

    Goldfish in a glass?
    Nemo?
    Bloody Mary? (Horror imagery here)

  8. But how does it taste? by gurps_npc · · Score: 1

    So let's say we print a triple spiral of orange juice, peach schnapps, and cranberry juice, inside a vodka base.

    What will it taste like?

    If you make the juice look like a couple having sex on the beach will it taste better?

    Or simply make the drink name finally make sense?

    --
    excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
  9. liquid-in-liquid by DrYak · · Score: 1

    except that, unlike your garden variety lead/copper/plastic pipe, here the pipes themselves are made of liquid(ish) walls: TFS mentions silicon oil.

    depending on how this technology evolves, it might have very interesting ramifications for organs 3rd printing (eg.: would work for gel-in-water matrix structures).

    --
    "Sufficiently advanced satire is indistinguishable from reality." - [Tips: 1DrYakQDKCQ6y52z6QbnkxHXAocMZJE61o ]
  10. More importantly... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The most important thing we can do with this technology is develop better, more flexible bullet-proof armor. Putting oobleck in microtubes and weaving them into multi-layer vests where the semi-solid doesn't settle to the bottom seems like a really good idea for reactive armor. Or even just a cushion behind ballistic plates.

  11. Finally! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    At last we know how that weird water tube thingy in The Abyss was created!