Layerless fabrication with continuous liquid interface production.
Despite the increasing popularity of 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM), the technique has not developed beyond the realm of rapid prototyping. This confinement of the field can be attributed to the inherent flaws of layer-by-layer printing and, in particular, anisotropic mechanical properties that depend on print direction, visible by the staircasing surface finish effect. Continuous liquid interface production (CLIP) is an alternative approach to AM that capitalizes on the fundamental principle of oxygen-inhibited photopolymerization to generate a continual liquid interface of uncured resin between the growing part and the exposure window. This interface eliminates the necessity of an iterative layer-by-layer process, allowing for continuous production. Herein we report the advantages of continuous production, specifically the fabrication of layerless parts. These advantages enable the fabrication of large overhangs without the use of supports, reduction of the staircasing effect without compromising fabrication time, and isotropic mechanical properties. Combined, these advantages result in multiple indicators of layerless and monolithic fabrication using CLIP technology.
Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599.
Rima
R
Janusziewicz
Carbon, Inc., Redwood City, CA 94063.
John R
JR
Tumbleston
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695.
Adam L
AL
Quintanilla
Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599.
Sue J
SJ
Mecham
Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599; Carbon, Inc., Redwood City, CA 94063; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695 desimone@email.unc.edu.
Joseph M
JM
DeSimone
3D printing; additive manufacturing; continuous liquid interface production; isotropic properties; stereolithogaphy
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