MIT develops chip-scale 3D printer that can print patterns without mechanical structure

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed the world's first 3D printer design integrated on a single chip. The chip can emit a beam of light into a resin tank and directly generate design patterns.

Foreign media Tom’s Hardware pointed out that this 3D printing device does not contain any mechanical moving parts, but uses a series of nanoscale antennas to guide the beam into the resin tank. Among them, this proof-of-concept device is composed of a single photonic chip. The chip itself is a customized silicon photonic chip designed by the MIT team. The printing process only takes a few seconds and can currently produce simple 2D patterns such as English letters. The team also successfully printed the letters "M-I-T".

Professor Notaros, the senior author of the research paper, pointed out that this system completely redefines what a 3D printer is. It is no longer the big box on the table in the laboratory, but a handheld, easy-to-carry device. What’s exciting is that new applications may emerge in the future that will revolutionize the entire 3D printing industry.

Notaros The research team combines the two major fields of silicon photonics and photochemistry, integrating the results of MIT and external research. They have previously developed a photonic chip that can be placed on a US quarter, and the antenna used this time comes from that research.

+Image source: Paixin.com genuine gallery

+These optical antennas are only +160+nm thick and are manufactured using traditional chip process technology. They precisely control the direction of light by regulating the speed of optical signals input to the antenna array.
+
+In addition, the resin required for this research can quickly harden under specific wavelengths of light. When laser light is emitted from the outside of the chip, it is introduced into a transparent glass sheet filled with resin through the antenna array. The antenna will guide the beam into the resin in a programmable manner, thereby printing a +2D+ design pattern.
+
+According to the team's paper published in the journal "Nature", the next step is to design a new chip that can achieve volume printing. By emitting visible light in the resin tank to "make" a hologram, 3D+ printing can be completed in one go. Notaros+ said: "We are very much looking forward to continuing to move towards this ultimate display goal." (Source: Science and Technology News)

+ Please indicate the source when reprinting! For more LED information, please pay attention to the official website (www.ledinside.cn) or search the WeChat public account (LEDinside).