Researchers at the University of Texas have been experimenting with optical 3D printing using near infrared (NIR) light instead of the more traditional ultraviolet. They claim to have a proof of concept and, apparently, using NIR has many advantages. The actual paper is paywalled, but there are several good summaries, including one from [3D Printing Industry].
UV light degrades certain materials and easily scatters in some media. However, decreasing the wavelength of light used in 3D printing has its own problems, notably less resolution and slower curing speed. To combat this, the researchers used an NIR-absorbant cyanine dye that exhibits rapid photocuring. The team reports times of 60 seconds per layer and resolution as high as 300 micrometers. Nanoparticles in the resin allow tuning of the part’s appearance and properties.
For now, the work is considered proof of concept, but it wouldn’t be hard to attempt work in this area in a hobby-grade workshop. Perhaps the most difficult part would be incorporating nanoparticles into the resin. Light in the 400 to 780 nanometer range mentioned by the team isn’t that hard to produce. LEDs are available, for example in that entire range; 400 nm is a violet color and 780 is decidedly red.
Last time we looked at NIR, there was coffee brewing. Turns out for many applications, seeing NIR is more interesting than generating it.
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