Sub-Second 3D Printing: Tsinghua Researchers Achieve Near-Instant Manufacturing

Volumetric 3D printing just got a massive speed upgrade. Researchers from Tsinghua Universitys Department of Automation have demonstrated a new method that can print complex millimeter-scale objects in less than one second.

Beyond Traditional Volumetric Printing

Traditional volumetric printing uses a rotating volume of photosensitive resin to print nearly any geometry. However, rapid rotation of liquid creates turbulence and instability. The Tsinghua team took a different approach: instead of rotating the printing volume, they rotate the projector itself using a high-speed periscope system.

This architectural change allows for several significant improvements:

• Use of less viscous resins — enabling easier fluid handling
• Pumping during printing — allowing continuous production
• Mass production capability — printing results can be pumped directly into collection vessels

Micrometer Accuracy at Lightning Speed

Despite the extreme speed, the researchers managed to maintain quality through algorithmic correction, achieving accuracy on the scale of micrometers (μm). This level of precision is remarkable given the sub-second print times.

What This Means for Manufacturing

While volumetric printing hasnt yet found common use among average hobbyists, this breakthrough could change that. The ability to pump resin and collect printed parts continuously opens up possibilities for:

• High-volume production — more flexible than traditional injection molding
• Rapid prototyping — parts in seconds rather than hours
• On-demand manufacturing — possible integration into production lines

The technology builds on previous advances in xolography and other volumetric techniques, but represents a significant step toward practical, high-speed additive manufacturing.

The Future of Speed

This research, published in Nature, demonstrates that the frontier of 3D printing speed is still expanding. While consumer-level adoption may be years away, the implications for industrial manufacturing are substantial.

As the technology matures, we could see volumetric printing move from research labs into factories, enabling new paradigms for rapid manufacturing.