3D printing with glass is a highly attractive prospect. Not only could one quickly and easily create innovative light fixtures and artwork for around the home, but it would lead to new methods for creating fiber optic cables with significantly greater efficiency, potentially revolutionizing our ability to transmit data. With this in mind, several groups have been hard at work creating a printer that can work with glass. One of these is the Mediated Matter Group at MIT, which just recently announced their success in creating a fully-fledged glass printer.
This printer, which has been given the name G3DP, is capable of laying down strands of optically transparent glass with superior precision. According to Professor Neri Oxman, “The tunability enabled by geometrical and optical variation driven by form, transparency and color variation can drive, limit or control light transmission, reflection and refraction.” The implications of this technology are many, with potential applications in design, energy, bioware, and more.
To tap into the great potential of 3D printing and rapid prototyping for yourself, contact our Seattle 3D printing company today.
