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BCN3D Lithography 3D Printing Shape Parts in Open Air

Viscous resin is rapidly carried on a laminate to build each layer. LCD screen size, not vat size, is the limit on productivity.

Edited by:  AM Editorial Team

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In the VLM process, material carried by a laminate fuses to the part to form the next layer. The part takes shape in the open air, unlike other lithography processes. Image courtesy of BCN3D.

In the VLM process, material carried by a laminate fuses to the part to form the next layer. The part takes shape in the open air, unlike other lithography processes. Photo Credit: BCN3D.

3D printing technology provider BCN3D is calling its new polymer additive manufacturing process Viscous Lithography Manufacturing (VLM). The process is similar to digital light processing in that it uses light to solidify a layer of material all at once, with the major difference that part formation does not take place within a resin vat.

Material is carried to the part on a moving laminate instead. Two important consequences are: (1) much more viscous resins can now be used in a lithography process (because recirculation of resin within the vat is no longer a concern) and (2) build volume is now scalable without any consideration of vat size limitations. Build volume is instead determined by the size of the LCD screen solidifying each layer.

See article with video.

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