The World's First Chip-Based 3D Printer Revolutionizing the Future

TapTechNews on June 10th. For a long time, 3D printing has been favored for reducing manufacturing costs, especially for small-batch production. However, traditional 3D printers are often large and heavy, and need to be placed on a stable platform to work properly.

On June 6th, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced that its researchers, in collaboration with a team from the University of Texas at Austin, have successfully developed the world's first prototype of a chip-based 3D printer, which is even smaller than a coin.

TapTechNews noticed that this printer uses a photonic chip that can focus a light beam into a resin tank. When the light of a specific wavelength is irradiated on the resin, the resin solidifies rapidly into a shape. Different from the bulky design of traditional reliance on robotic arms and motors to change the focus of the light beam, this chip-based printer cleverly uses a micro-optical antenna to manipulate the light beam to achieve the required shape, effectively saves space and completely eliminates moving parts.

If this project can be successfully commercialized, the face of the manufacturing industry will change completely. This pocket-sized printer, due to its portable and efficient characteristics, will enable professionals such as engineers, doctors, and even emergency responders to print the required items anytime and anywhere without having to use bulky large equipment.

For example, orthopedic surgeons can bring a 3D scanner into the operating room and scan the patient's fracture site. Then, biomedical engineers can use this scanned data to design custom bone implants, and then print them using this portable 3D printer and biomedical resin.

Similarly, due to the light and small advantage of this printer, it is very suitable for space exploration projects such as the Artemis moon landing program to carry. Astronauts can print the required tools at any time according to actual needs in space.

These are just some of the exciting possibilities brought about by this chip-based 3D printer. Professor Jelena Notaros of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said, 'This technology has completely overturned people's traditional impression of 3D printers. It is no longer a huge machine on the laboratory bench, but a handheld and portable device. Imagine the new application fields that will arise and the huge changes that the 3D printing industry is about to undergo, it is really extremely exciting.'

I believe that in the near future, as this chip-based 3D printer technology matures, everyone will be able to have a 'printing factory' in their pocket.