A team of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Texas (Austin) has created a prototype of a portable 3D printer the size of a coin. According to scientists, this development completely changes the ideas of what a 3D printer should be. If before they were bulky devices that took up a lot of space, now we are talking about a compact portable device. The main component of the invention is a special photonic chip that has no moving parts, but instead relies on small optical antennas to control light beams. : The chip is heated by compact modulators, then an electric field is used to adjust the precision of the beams to maximize print detail.
Another important element is the use of a unique photopolymer resin that hardens in light. Chemists have chosen the optimal composition and concentration of materials, which ensures "long shelf life and rapid hardening" under the influence of light rays. This made it possible to print 2D parts in seconds. The team plans to use the same principles to create a 3D printer that will work with photosensitive resin and allow printing complex 3D models in a single pass. According to Elena Notaros, one of the authors of the research group, the operation of the device is expected to be demonstrated in the near future. "This system completely redefines what a 3D printer is. This is no longer a huge box on a pedestal, but something very portable. It's interesting what new applications it can have as a result and how the 3D printing industry can change globally," said Notaros.
