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Third-generation light-curing 3D printing technology

Release time:

2025-01-10 17:04

Third-generation light-curing 3D printing technology

The three technologies—SLA, DLP, and LCD—have become remarkably mature after years of development. However, these technologies have long been plagued by a significant bottleneck: slow printing speeds. Completing a single print typically takes several hours, and as the complexity of printed objects increases, the time required only becomes more pronounced.

So, is there any way to shorten the time required for light-curing 3D printing?

The answer is yes. Next, let me introduce to you a revolutionary technology—CLIP 3D printing technology!

CLIP, or Continuous Liquid Interface Manufacturing, is an innovative upgrade based on traditional SLA technology. It leverages the oxygen-inhibition polymerization effect of acrylates and incorporates a transparent, breathable Teflon film at the bottom of the resin tank, allowing both light and oxygen to pass through simultaneously. By precisely controlling the amount and timing of oxygen entering the resin pool, a “dead zone” several dozen microns thick forms near the film—this zone is incapable of undergoing photopolymerization. Meanwhile, ultraviolet light cures the resin in the remaining areas, enabling the printed object to “grow” out of the liquid state.

The two core advantages of this technology are highly remarkable.

1. Breakthrough improvement in printing speed.

CLIP technology’s printing speed is 25 to 100 times faster than traditional 3D printing, and it even has the potential to increase up to 1,000 times.

2. Printing accuracy has been significantly improved.

Traditional 3D printing slices a 3D model into layers, inevitably resulting in a rough surface between layers. In contrast, CLIP technology achieves seamless transitions by using continuous light images projected from the bottom—effectively evolving from “stacking slides” to “stacking video.” Although the frame rate of video isn't infinite, the improvement in fineness compared to static slices undoubtedly represents a qualitative leap.

However, this technology still faces some challenges at present:

1. Limitations in material selection.

To achieve rapid printing, CLIP technology requires the use of low-viscosity resins and hollow models. Low-viscosity resins ensure that the resin can quickly fill the printing area, while hollow models help reduce resin consumption. However, for high-viscosity resins or solid models, CLIP’s efficiency is relatively lower.

2. The cost of oxygen-permeable membranes.

The Teflon oxygen-permeable membrane used in CLIP technology is relatively expensive, which to some extent limits the technology's large-scale application.

Nevertheless, the groundbreaking innovation of CLIP technology has opened up entirely new possibilities for the field of 3D printing. As the technology continues to evolve and improve, we may soon see its application in an even wider range of real-world scenarios.

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