Skip to main content

This outrageously fast 3D printer creates objects at a blistering centimeter per minute

Traditional FDM 3D printers (the kind that squirt plastic through a nozzle and create objects layer by layer) have come a long way in the past few years, but generally speaking, they’re still pretty slow. Even relatively small parts can take half a day to print, so in an effort to speed things up, forward-thinking inventors have begun developing new techniques and technologies that allow for faster printing. Case in point? The NX1 3D printer from Italian startup Nexa3D.

At first glance, the NX1 appears to operate just like a stereolithography printer. Instead of melting plastic to create objects layer by layer, it uses a laser projection system to “grow” objects out of a pool of UV-curable resin. This technique has been in use for years now, but the NX1 employs a clever chemical trick to supercharge the process and produce prints at a considerably faster rate.

Related Videos

Unlike conventional bottom-up 3D printing systems, the NX1 interposes a transparent self-lubricating film between the bottom of the resin tank, the photo-curing resin, and the light source. By gradually releasing a layer of oil, the printer enables the finished resin to solidify while suspended on the substrate. This technique, which Nexa3D calls self-Lubricant Sublayer Photocuring (LSPc), basically removes the need to create objects layer by layer, and makes the printing process continuous instead of incremental.

If this all sounds strangely familiar, it’s probably because Nexa3D’s amazing LSPc printing technique bears a striking resemblance to the CLIP (continuous liquid interface production) technique pioneered by California startup Carbon3D — which made a splash on the Web a few months ago after appearing in a TED video.

The NX1 is still a prototype at this point, but Nexa3D says the printer is capable of printing at roughly one centimeter per minute, which is absolutely insane. With speeds like that, fabricating objects at home would ostensibly take less time than going out to a store and buying them premade. If the NX1 can live up to Nexa3D’s claims, it could very well be a game-changer for 3D printing.

Editors' Recommendations

Here’s what a trend-analyzing A.I. thinks will be the next big thing in tech
brain network on veins illustration

Virtual and augmented reality. 3D printing. Natural language processing. Deep learning. The smart home. Driverless vehicles. Biometric technology. Genetically modified organisms. Brain-computer interfaces.

These, in descending order, are the top 10 most-invested-in emerging technologies in the United States, as ranked by number of deals. If you want to get a sense of which technologies will be shaping our future in the years to come, this probably isn’t a bad starting point.

Read more
The best 3D printers under $500
3D printers are finally affordable. Here are the best models under $500
anycubic photon review 3d printer xxl 2

The 3D printing market has seen quite a few changes over the last few years. In just the span of a decade, the barrier to entry has dropped from well over several thousand dollars to under $200 in some cases. However, all entry and mid-level printers are not made equal. We have a few suggestions for prospective buyers and other information regarding alternatives not found on this list.

To some veterans of the 3D printing scene, this list may seem like it lacks a few of the most commonly recommended printers for newcomers. This is by design. Our list only considers printers with tested components from proven, reliable vendors. That's why we chose the Monoprice MP Mini v2 as our top pick--it's reliable and easy to use. We have avoided any printer with a frame primarily made from interlocking acrylic pieces and anything historically unreliable.
Most bang for your buck: Monoprice MP Mini v2
 

Read more
Hit takers: The cutting-edge engineering making football helmets safer than ever
helmet engineering

Football helmets aren’t what they once were. And, while most of the time that turn of phrase is used to describe how things used to be better in the good old days, in this case, it’s certainly not.

Helmets are, in some senses, the most crucial bit of protective gear football players wear on the gridiron. Over the years, they’ve evolved from the leatherhead shell of yore to take advantage of breakthroughs on the material science front. Today’s big four helmet makers include the legacy brands Schutt and Riddell, in addition to comparative newcomers like VICIS and Xenith.

Read more