Is Carbon3D CLIP game changer in 3D printing?

We expect 3D printing to be the game changer in everything, including games awnd household goods. But what about the developments inside the 3D printer industry? Carbon – previously Carbon3D – and their CLIP (Continuous Liquid Interface Production) aims to revolutionize it with a method that allows for much greater speeds as well better quality, strength and smooth surfaces.

CLIP printing starts with a bath of resin. The bottom is made of oxygen permeable glass that separates the resin from an UV window. A dead zone is maintained above the glass, which maintains a liquid interface between the part and glass. The UV window then projects the cross section of the object you want to print, which then appears to “grow” as it is drawn out of the bath by a manipulator arm.

The bottom-up process seems to solve at least two of the three great obstacles to widespread adoption of 3D printing: speed and reliability. CLIP is expected to be from 25 to a 100 times faster than other, more conventional building processes. This process doesn’t waste time slowly laying down layer after layer – the entire layer, if such a word can apply, is printed simultaneously in a  continuous chemical process of UV triggered photopolymerization rather than mechanical one.

This also leads to smoother surfaces and greater material consistency. With no discernible layers the part is homogenous and much stronger than one made through traditional 3D printing. As such, parts printed via CLIP are closer to injection molded stuff in quality and endurance. The process can also utilize a wide variety of polymeric materials. For example, elastomers can cover a range of needs, from high elasticity (great for athletic shoes) to strength and temperature resistance (very much needed in automotive parts).

What is the response of the industry? A year has passed since the memorable TED presentation that revealed Carbon’s CLIP tech to the world. And as of few days ago, four 3D printing companies have announced that will offer Carbon’s CLIP printing technology. Sculpteo, CIDEAS, The Technology House and WestStar Precision are promising early access to some of their clients. Sculpteo is extremely important: while this online 3D printing vendor only offers limited access to the technology today, it might be the platform to introduce CLIP printing to the masses.

Meanwhile, competitors are appearing. Gizmo 3D is offering an alternative in the shape of their top-down printer. In a Gizmo machine the build plate is submerged in a resin vat while the cross section of the object is projected from the top. The build plate slowly dives deeper while the model grows, and it reappears once the process is finished. The top down projection method means that several objects can be printed simultaneously.

Gizmo 3D claims that their process is faster – and a special “super-speed” add-on can increase the printing speed to 3mm per minute – and that the object is both easier to remove from the build plate as well as requiring less in the way of supports. Meanwhile, the slower standard  speed is useful for more detailed objects. The project is currently on IndieGoGo, and they already have half the money they want with a month left to go. The printer would reach the buyers in September 2016.

Gizmo3D’s campaign gives probably the best clues about the price of CLIP printing. The smallest printer costs about $3000 dollars while biggest unit approaches $5000, with the “super-speed” add-on costing a hefty $2600. The machines accept a variety of materials,with Fun To Do Resing being the cheapest, costing about $50 for a litre.

In general, CLIP and related technologies seem to be promising. They have the speed part down – it’s one of the main selling points – and the smooth surfaces combined with durable printed material makes it a very attractive proposition. When the time comes, we will be printing anything we can get our hand on. An with stock 3D-printing-ready models – several thousands of which are available on websites like CGTrader – we already have quite the backlog!