Rapid Liquid Print’s new silicone 3D printer deposits liquid into a gel, producing seamless, strong parts and it looks like pure sorcery.
A new 3D printing technique from Rapid Liquid Print is turning heads not just for its innovation, but for how eerily magical it looks in action. The method involves depositing liquid silicone into a gel, where the material cures mid-air, fully supported by the buoyant medium.
The process, showcased in a recent demo, solves one of the biggest hurdles in liquid 3D printing: sagging or deformation during curing. By printing into a hydrogel, each layer blends seamlessly into the next, potentially offering isotropic strength a stark contrast to the layer-line weaknesses of traditional FDM printing. While hard data on material properties isn’t yet available, the visual results speak for themselves: finished parts appear smooth and almost injection-molded.
The gel itself is a commercially available hydrogel, though the sheer volume required around 125 liters hints at the system’s scale. The silicone resin is also off-the-shelf, albeit likely fine-tuned for the machine. Rapid Liquid Print is already taking pre-orders, with shipments slated for next year, but the tech’s DIY potential is already sparking curiosity. After all, as with early resin and SLS printers, hobbyists might soon find ways to adapt the concept.
Also read: Walmart Unveils Second 3D Printed Expansion in Alabama
For now, though, the Levity printer remains a feat of engineering no wizardry, just clever science.
