Revolutionary Resin: Advancing 3D Printing through Addition and Subtraction

Additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, typically follows a one-way process. However, researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have introduced a new resin that allows for reversible 3D printing. This innovative resin enhances traditional 3D printing by enabling corrective manufacturing, improved print resolution, and the ability to recycle parts.

New Resin Revolutionizing 3D Printing

In a recent study published in Advanced Materials Technologies, the team at LLNL developed a hybrid additive and subtractive manufacturing system using a unique resin that exhibits dual-wavelength behavior. This resin can cure and harden under blue light, and degrade back into a liquid under ultraviolet light. This breakthrough technology enables post-print corrections and modifications to existing 3D printed parts, reducing waste and increasing efficiency.

For instance, the researchers successfully connected two separated channels in a fluidic device post-printing using the degradation response of the resin, showcasing the adaptability and versatility of this new resin.

Commercialization and Technical Advancements

The patented resin technology developed by LLNL is now available for commercialization, offering advanced manufacturing companies the opportunity to enhance their 3D printing capabilities. This unique resin allows for intricate part creation, error correction, and the addition and removal of temporary support structures, ultimately saving time and materials costs.

The resin’s chemistry has been meticulously optimized to respond to both blue and ultraviolet light, ensuring a balance between stability and degradability. This fine-tuned resin formulation allows for quick hardening and degradation, facilitating easy corrections and modifications.

Future of Adaptive Manufacturing

The LLNL scientists are actively exploring ways to further enhance this hybrid manufacturing process by integrating on-machine metrology and feedback control systems. This advancement will enable automatic error corrections during the printing process, leading to true adaptive manufacturing capabilities.

Author and LLNL scientist Liliana Dongping Terrel-Perez envisions expanding this technology beyond DLP printing to volumetric additive and subtractive manufacturing, allowing for the fabrication of 3D parts in a single step using light.

The collaborative effort led by Liliana Dongping Terrel-Perez involved researchers Benjamin Alameda, Johanna Schwartz, Holden Howard, Martin De Beer, and Magi Yassa.