Researchers at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Stockholm University in Sweden have successfully hacked into a 3D printer and made it work much like a laser printer to print different types of polymers without needing solvents, chemicals, or even a clean room.
3D printing or additive manufacturing allows for the rapid creation of three-dimensional models and even structures without the need to bring together multiple components. Researchers have been using 3D printing to build components they need quickly without going through long production cycles, from buildings to bridges, homes to spacecraft components.
The drawback of 3D printing is that it works with certain types of chemicals or ‘inks’ that can be used in printing. Typically, the printing happens in cleaner environments, especially if the component being built has sensitive applications such as aerospace or medical devices.
