This new slime bath could help scientists 3D print the medical implants of the future
A newly developed goop could be the key to 3D printing delicate objects. Scientists have discovered that suspending fragile 3D-printed structures in a Jello-like goo while the liquid ink hardens keeps them from warping or sagging. This could eventually improve the manufacturing of things like personalized medical implants — but for now, the new technique is still in its proof-of-concept stages.
Say you want to 3D print a thin, hollow, or otherwise fragile object — like a replacement windpipe, for example. The 3D printer lays down layers of a material like silicone until enough builds up to form a tube. But there’s this lag time between when the printer first squirts out the liquid ink, and when that ink solidifies — which presents a…
