Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2025
05:11
Multimodal 3D Printing of Phantoms to Simulate Biological Tissue
Published on: January 11, 2020
7.6K
Centrifugal multimaterial 3D printing of multifunctional heterogeneous objects
Jianxiang Cheng1,2, Rong Wang1,2, Zechu Sun1,2
1Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Soft Mechanics & Smart Manufacturing, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
Nature Communications
|December 24, 2022
Summary
A new centrifugal multimaterial (CM) 3D printing method overcomes limitations in digital light processing (DLP) for creating complex, voxel-level heterogeneous objects. This non-contact approach enables precise control over material composition and function in large-volume prints.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Additive Manufacturing
- Robotics
Background:
- Growing demand for multimaterial 3D printing to create objects with spatially defined properties.
- Digital Light Processing (DLP) offers high resolution and speed but faces challenges in multimaterial switching due to resin residue.
- Existing methods require physical contact for resin removal, limiting efficiency and scalability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel DLP-based method for fabricating large-volume, heterogeneous 3D objects with voxel-level control.
- To enable efficient and non-contact multimaterial switching for advanced 3D printing applications.
- To demonstrate the fabrication of diverse functional materials, including hydrogels, polymers, and ceramics.
Main Methods:
- Development of a DLP-based centrifugal multimaterial (CM) 3D printing technique.
- Utilizing centrifugal force for non-contact, high-efficiency switching between different resins.
- Printing of heterogeneous 3D structures over a large build area (180 mm × 130 mm).
Main Results:
- Successful fabrication of large-volume, heterogeneous 3D objects with programmable composition, properties, and functions at the voxel scale.
- Demonstrated capability to print diverse materials, including hydrogels, functional polymers, and ceramics.
- Achieved efficient, non-contact multimaterial switching, overcoming limitations of traditional DLP methods.
Conclusions:
- The CM 3D printing method provides a breakthrough for creating complex, multi-material 3D structures with unprecedented precision.
- This technology enables the digital fabrication of advanced materials, soft robots, and ceramic devices.
- The non-contact, centrifugal approach significantly enhances the scalability and versatility of DLP-based multimaterial printing.
