chanelink logo
CHANELINK
English

Chip guided beam for new portable 3D printers

1134
2024-06-18 15:54:21
See translation

Imagine being able to carry a 3D printer with you and quickly create low-cost objects, such as fastening bicycle wheels or parts needed for critical medical surgeries. Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Texas at Austin have combined silicon photonics and photochemical technology to successfully develop the first chip based 3D printer, taking a crucial step towards realizing the aforementioned ideas. The relevant paper was published in the latest issue of the journal Light: Science&Applications.

Yelena Natalas, senior author of the paper and professor of electrical engineering and computer science at MIT, stated that her team has previously developed an integrated optical phased array system, which uses a series of micro antennas placed on the chip to control the beam of light and move it in a specific direction. The research team aims to explore whether this device can be used to manufacture chip based 3D printers. At the same time, the research team at the University of Texas at Austin demonstrated for the first time a specialized resin that can be rapidly cured using visible light. The two teams hit it off and the first chip based 3D printer emerged.

The 3D printer prototype consists of a single photon chip containing a 160 nanometer thick optical antenna array, and the entire chip can be placed on a coin. The chip can emit reconfigurable beams of light into the synthetic resin trap. When the beam of light shines on it, the synthetic resin trap solidifies into a solid shape and can be fully formed within a few seconds.

The research team points out that this portable 3D printer is expected to be applied in multiple fields. For example, clinical doctors can customize medical equipment for patients, engineers can quickly create prototypes of parts on the job site, and so on.

Source: Science and Technology Daily

Related Recommendations

  • 253 million US dollars! This Canadian medical fiber optic sensor manufacturer will be acquired

    Recently, Haemantics Corporation, which focuses on providing innovative medical solutions with proprietary optical technology, announced that the company has reached a final agreement. According to the agreement, Haemonics will acquire all outstanding shares of Canadian fiber optic sensor manufacturer OpSens for CAD 2.90 per share.This is an all cash transaction with a fully diluted equity value o...

    2023-10-18
    See translation

  • The team has developed a method for integrating an electro-optic modulator device on the end face of a single-mode fiber optic jumper

    Electro optical modulators (EOMs) are the main components in optical communication networks, which can control the amplitude, phase, and polarization of light through external electrical signals.In order to achieve ultra compact and high-performance EOM, most of today's research focuses on on-chip devices that combine semiconductor technology with state-of-the-art tunable materials. However,...

    2023-08-24
    See translation

  • A German research team has developed a new type of perovskite stacked battery

    According to relevant media reports, a research team from the Helmholtz Center in Berlin, Germany, and Humboldt University has jointly developed a new type of perovskite stacked battery. This battery has broken the world record for similar batteries with a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 24.6%. In the solar cell family, in addition to silicon-based solar cells, there are also thin-film so...

    02-08
    See translation

  • Sidel showcases EvoBLOW laser technology at the 2025 Gulf Food Manufacturing Exhibition

    At Gulfood Manufacturing 2025 held in Hall 3 of Dubai World Trade Center, Sidel showcased its EvoBLOW laser PET preform laser heating technology for the first time in the Middle East and Africa region.The system, shown earlier this year at drinktec, replaces traditional halogen ovens with precise laser sources. According to the company, the solution enables the production of lighter bottles while ...

    11-05
    See translation

  • A review of research on residual stresses in carbon steel welding

    Researchers from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa have reported a review of research on residual stresses in carbon steel welding: formation mechanisms, mitigation strategies, and advances in advanced post weld heat treatment technologies. The relevant paper titled "A comprehensive review of residual stresses in carbon steel welding: formation mechanisms, mitigation strategies, and ...

    04-12
    See translation