A 3D Printing Method to Create Flexible Fibers Just a Few Microns Thick

Nature never ceases to surprise us. It is also a great source of inspiration for the additive manufacturing market, as demonstrated by a recent study published by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. It highlights a new 3D printing method, called 3DPX, which is capable of designing ultra-fine fibers, with a diameter of just 1.5 microns.

This process relies on the use of a viscoplastic fluid rheology support gel to print highly complex fibrous structures. The 3D printer’s nozzle is able to move in this gel, freeing itself from the gravitational constraints posed by this type of extremely fine fiber. The team behind this new approach to 3D printing hopes that it will enable the development of applications in the robotics, medical and materials sectors.

Who hasn’t been fascinated by the resistance of a spider’s web, the protective function of an eggshell or the strength of the silk that enables certain insects to capture their prey? When you think about it, these structures are impressive and an inexhaustible source of learning.