LLNL Sheds Light on 3D Printing Next-Gen Metamaterials

U.S. government labs have become involved in 3D printing in a big way, necessarily adopting the technology for research and development purposes since the technology’s inception, but also pushing the boundaries of what 3D printing is truly capable of.

3D Bioprinting Saved by Vitamins

Researchers developing techniques to 3D print extremely small objects for medical purposes have had a problem. To fuse material at the nano scale, a “two photon” technique is used. The material becomes solid when exposed to the targeted photons.    However, bio material is not typically fusible, so researchers often print a scaffold on which… Continue reading 3D Bioprinting Saved by Vitamins

Micrometer Scale 3D Printing

German-based Nanoscribe announced a new micrometer-scale 3D printer, the Photonic Professional GT, billed as the “world’s fastest commercially available 3D printer for micro- and nanostructures”.    The Photonic Professional GT uses a highly accurate, mirror-guided laser system to polymerize photosensitive material into solid objects of incredibly tiny size. The machine is capable of producing fine… Continue reading Micrometer Scale 3D Printing

DIY Pioneer Dislikes 3D Printing???

A provocative headline at LiveScience proclaims: “Why a DIY Pioneer Dislikes 3D Printing”. The pioneer in this case is Neil Gershenfeld, director of MIT’s Center for Bits and Atoms, someone who should know the space very well indeed.    It seems that Gershenfeld views the current state of “DIY” manufacturing as an extension of 1950’s… Continue reading DIY Pioneer Dislikes 3D Printing???

NanoPixies?

  Years ago Eric Drexler proposed the concept of Nanotechnology in his breakthrough book, “Engines of Creation”. The book envisioned titanic swarms of microscopic machines beavering away at problems in an almost magical way. Converting a vat of raw chemicals into a house, picking off virus cells one by one from within your living body,… Continue reading NanoPixies?

Center for Responsible Nanotechnology

Jamais Cascio, Director of Impacts Analysis at the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology (CRN), describes his thoughts on the implications of future “nanofactories”, which to me sounds a lot like my vision of the eventual end-goal of 3D printing and fabbing. Among the topics covered by Jamais were design, distribution, “toner” or its 3d printing equivalent,… Continue reading Center for Responsible Nanotechnology