In collaboration with Skylar Tibbits’ Self Assembly Lab at MIT, Steelcase has unveiled a new method of 3D printing called “rapid liquid printing”. The technology breaks the three constraints of traditional 3D printing by using a rapid liquid printing technique enhancing speed, scale-size, quality and materials available to existing 3D printing methods.
The partnership between MIT, Steelcase, one of the largest office furniture firms in the world, and Guberan explores the future of furniture personalization and the opportunities for customization through innovation.
Currently, the limitations – mainly that the process is too slow, difficult for large-scale adaptation, and the materials are of low quality – have kept the technology from being used on a commercial level.
This new technique allows which a giant tub of goo is injected with a material (hard plastics or flexible rubbers) in continuous streams to form the shape of the desired object. Printing inside a gel allows the designer to draw in 3D space without the limitations of gravity. Additionally, the two-part mixing process chemically cures the material allowing the mixing, extruding, and curing processes to occur while the 3D printing is underway.
They are currently still researching how to scale the technology and whether or not it can be applied with other materials. The end-goal, at least for the furniture giant, is to allow customers to one day personalize their furniture in a speedier, and more economical way.
The partnership between MIT, Steelcase, one of the largest office furniture firms in the world, and Guberan explores the future of furniture personalization and the opportunities for customization through innovation.
Currently, the limitations – mainly that the process is too slow, difficult for large-scale adaptation, and the materials are of low quality – have kept the technology from being used on a commercial level.
This new technique allows which a giant tub of goo is injected with a material (hard plastics or flexible rubbers) in continuous streams to form the shape of the desired object. Printing inside a gel allows the designer to draw in 3D space without the limitations of gravity. Additionally, the two-part mixing process chemically cures the material allowing the mixing, extruding, and curing processes to occur while the 3D printing is underway.
They are currently still researching how to scale the technology and whether or not it can be applied with other materials. The end-goal, at least for the furniture giant, is to allow customers to one day personalize their furniture in a speedier, and more economical way.
“As a designer, what’s most fascinating and unique about Rapid Liquid Printing is the line quality of the print. It’s soft, almost organic. It evokes images of brushstrokes or the branches of plants,” says Yuka Hiyoshi, turnstone senior industrial designer. “The printing speed is very impressive. In the far future, large scale objects could be printed in minutes instead of days. Also, it’s not limited to typical 3D printing material making the technology very desirable from a design perspective.”
VIDEO CREDITS:
Rapid Liquid Printing by Self-Assembly Lab + Christophe Guberan + Steelcase
Self-Assembly Lab Team: Kate Hajash, Bjorn Sparrman, Mattis Koh, Schendy Kernizan, Jared Laucks & Skylar Tibbits.
In collaboration with Christophe Guberan.
Steelcase Team: Yuka Hiyoshi, Rob Poel, Markus McKenna, Paul Noll, Sharon Tracy, Edward Vanderbilt, Chris Norman & Charlie Forslund.
Music by Lullatone.
