Apr 27, 2016 | By Andre
Because of some unfortunately slick marketing campaigns in the past, It’s sometimes hard to distinguish the true innovators in the 3D printing space from the pretenders. Yet every once in a while, true and original advancements in the field present themselves. A small 3D printing company called Orange Maker, originally covered by 3ders in 2014, is hoping to be that company and if a recently filed patent is any indication, they just might end up being that company. Or maybe not.
The technology they’ve developed is a UV light curing process called Heliolithography that uses a rotational spiral method of 3D printing that is said to increase print speed while limiting the adhesion forces during the build (basically the weight of the print affecting its ability to built upon itself as it gains mass). This spiral print system is said to allow for continuous 3D printing and a wider range of materials to be used vs. what traditional SLA printers currently allow.
I must now interject that, since I’m someone that’s been around the block a few times when it comes to new 3D print technology, I am cautiously optimistic about what Orange Maker has on offer. It is true what they’ve written in a press release distributed last year, “existing 3D printing technologies such as FDM (fused deposition molding) and SLA (stereolithography) have reached their limits" and that "current printers take too long, prints lack structural integrity, and sacrifice resolution for print size.”
A solution needs to be developed and this may in fact be that, but so far most of the literature available on the technology is wrought with buzz-words and vagaries. Of course, the purpose of a patent is to explain how the technology in question works, so looking at one in detail is important.
As I skimmed the patent for key concepts, I noticed it sounded very much like they were describing SLA technology and they admitted that “certain aspects of Heliolithography are similar to stereolithography.” But they then note differences between the two in that “heliolithography utilizes the best of "singular point" and "plane exposure" concepts to continuously solidify the building material, such as a photopolymer material, in thin lines by a spiral buildup.”
This constantly spinning spiral helix UV curing 3D printer has, just like any good patent should, all of its bases covered by mentioning biological and metal 3D printing, mass-production and multi-polymer production.
And while I may sound pessimistic in wording this article, I don’t mean to be. The Orange Maker team seems to be talented and motivated, is setting up an east coast base and is said to be forming relevant business relationships to grow their brand.
This said, I will reserve my excitement until I see a working version of the 3D printer in action. This is because there have been too many instances - BotObjects, the $100 Peachy Printer, and 3D Systems sub-$5,000 full-color CubeJet 3D printer for example - where big things have been promised only to have them forgotten in time.
OrangeMaker is right, 3D printing does have a long way to go. Here’s hoping they’re the ones that will make it happen.
Posted in 3D Printing Technology
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Seems like it can save 1 axis on a laser scanner. Maybe some benefit of mixing the photopolymer as the built object moves. Probably limited by the viscosity of the resin.
MarcC IoM wrote at 4/29/2016 4:50:41 PM:
Looks very similar to something developed in Liverpool UK many moons ago, Spiral Growth Manufacturing Liverpool University!
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