Chinese researchers have achieved a breakthrough in 3D printing, creating fully solid objects from liquid in under a second—a speed never before reported in volumetric printing. The team at Tsinghua University introduced a technique that bypasses traditional layer-by-layer construction, using holographic projections to instantly transform a photosensitive material into three-dimensional structures. This development could redefine the pace and precision of industrial manufacturing, tissue engineering, and microscale device production.
Unlike conventional 3D printing, which relies on mechanical nozzles and can take minutes or hours to build objects layer by layer, the new method projects light from multiple angles simultaneously into a static container of printing material. By using a fast-rotating periscope and a high-speed micromirror device, the researchers achieved millimeter-scale structures in just 0.6 seconds. The process eliminates vibrations and material deformation, enabling the creation of features as small as 12 micrometres, far thinner than a human hair.
The breakthrough, published in Nature on February 12, demonstrates both speed and versatility. Laboratory prints included complex tetrahedron frames, an airplane model, a squid statuette, helical tubes, and a miniature statue of Theodoric the Great. Because the material remains stationary, the technique accommodates a wide range of fluids—from watery solutions to thick resins and biological hydrogels—making it ideal for biomedical applications and microsystem integration.
Significantly, the team successfully fabricated biocompatible structures that mimic blood vessels, indicating potential for tissue engineering, drug screening, and direct printing on living tissues. The stationary system also allows continuous automated production, creating microstructures or custom shapes on the fly, including thousands of drug carriers with adjustable concentrations in a single run. Beyond medicine, the technology shows promise for flexible electronics, microrobots, smartphone components, and multilayered structures that challenge conventional methods.
Looking ahead, the researchers plan to refine their holographic projection system with multiple beams or color variations to handle complex materials and real-time monitoring, potentially enabling multi-material printing and post-production modifications. With this sub-second printing capability, the possibilities for high-speed, high-precision fabrication across industries appear virtually limitless.
