In a short period of time, 3D printers have shown the capability to manufacture small, niche products. Slowly ... but they get the job done.
Now, an inventor of a new kind of 3D printer says his research group is about two years from building a quicker, bigger machine capable of mass producing competitively-priced plastic parts.
According to MIT's Technology Review, Neil Hopkinson, a professor at the UK's University of Sheffield, has been developing a new method of 3D printing, called high-speed sintering, for over 10 years strong.
Laser-sintering 3D printers build objects by melting and fusing thin layers of powdered polymer with a single-point laser one by one. Hopkinson's revamped model replaced the single-point laser system with an infrared lamp and ink-jet print head. This results in a quicker process, in which the infrared lamp melts and fuses the powder into patterns.
How much quicker? Well, Hopkinson's group has demonstrated that their high-speed sintering is "on the order of 100 times faster" than laser sintering certain kinds of parts, according to the Technology Review. Hopkinson also says the speed will be responsible for mass producing millions of small parts in one shot.
His group has received funding from the British goverment and industry associates to build the bigger, more effective 3D printer. However, Hopkinson's new 3D printer is likely to have competition in the form of Hewlett Packard's Multi Jet Fusion technology, which was recently brought up during an interview.
Although Hopkinson doesn't seem to be too worried about HP, having already licensed his technology to German 3D printing player Voxeljet, among other companies. He also says his machine will be able to print electronic devices via the use of conductive inks.
Your move, HP.
