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A major leap in photonic technology may soon transform how and where we manufacture 3D objects. Researchers at MIT have unveiled a small photonic chip that enables 3D printing using light alone. This compact system, small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, could pave the way for portable, low-cost 3D printers that dramatically streamline fabrication.
According to Interesting Engineering, the chip-based system operates by projecting reconfigurable visible-light holograms into a stationary well of photosensitive resin. As the light interacts with the resin, it hardens specific areas to form solid shapes—no mechanical movement, mirrors, or motors involved.
Unlike conventional 3D printers, which rely on mechanical stages to build objects layer by layer, this approach uses a stationary optical phased array embedded on the chip to steer light beams in real time. By eliminating moving parts, the device reduces complexity, enhances portability, and opens the door to ultra-compact designs suited for field deployment or desktop use.
Current 3D printing technologies often involve bulky machinery and require careful calibration. In contrast, this new method is built on silicon photonics principles, using a single integrated chip to perform the entire printing process. This significantly simplifies the system and lowers the cost barrier for adoption.
Beyond printing, the same photonic architecture was also used to demonstrate an optical “tractor beam” on a chip—capable of manipulating microscopic biological samples with light. This innovation provides a clean, contact-free method for studying cells, DNA, or disease mechanisms in lab environments where contamination must be avoided.
Researchers say this new class of chip-based photonic tools holds promise across a variety of fields, from rapid prototyping and field manufacturing to medical diagnostics and biotechnology. With continued development, these technologies could reshape both consumer and industrial applications by enabling precise, light-driven fabrication and manipulation on a miniature scale.
The research was published in Nature
