HARP 3D printer set to 'revolutionise manufacturing'
Researchers at Northwestern University have overcome issues around overheating to develop HARP, a 3D printer claimed to produce an object the size of an adult human in two hours.
"3D printing is conceptually powerful but has been limited practically," said Northwestern's Chad A. Mirkin, who led the product's development. "If we could print fast without limitations on materials and size, we could revolutionise manufacturing. HARP is poised to do that."
Mirkin predicts that HARP, which is described in Science, will be available commercially in the next 18 months. David Walker and James Hedrick co-authored the paper.
According to Northwestern, HARP prints vertically and uses projected ultraviolet light to cure the liquid resins into hardened plastic. This process can print pieces that are hard, elastic or ceramic. These continually printed parts are said to be mechanically robust and can be used in a wide range of products that include cars and aircraft.
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