MX3D-Metal Anti-Gravity 3D Printer Unveiled

You may recall from last year, the anti-gravity 3D printer revealed to the world by Joris Laarman Lab. The printer caught the eye of many within the industry, simply because it was created with “outside the box,” thinking. While most 3D printers are tethered to rods along three different axes, this device was not. 

Fast forward about nine months, and Joris Laarman Lab has advanced this technology quite a bit. They have introduced the MX3D-Metal, freely articulating 3D printer. It’s also referred to as an “anti gravity,” 3D printer because of the lack of an affect that gravity has on its printing process. The amazing new printer can print very accurate lines of steel, stainless steel, bronze, copper and aluminum, on any surface, whether its on a ceiling, a 90 degree angled wall, or in the traditional non-gravity defying orientation, a flat bed. Laarman described his lab, and how they operate,

Our Amsterdam-based lab is an experimental playground that tinkers with engineers and craftsmen on the many new possibilities of emerging technology in the field of art and design. We usually start working on projects based on the concept “what if…?” after which we start figuring out how we could hack or combine certain technologies to make something new. Usually, this results in a new series of design pieces with a form language; and this arises out of the new possibilities of the new technology. We believe we tackle technological challenges very differently than others by using a hands-on approach to create such design objects.

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The lab is continuing to work on progressing this technique of 3D printing. Currently they are able to print 5mm to 10mm lines of steel and stainless steel. The other materials, like copper, bronze and aluminum have different melting points so the instrument works in a varying manner. The printer is basically a welding torch which is attached to a sophisticated robotic arm, and operated via computer software. There is still much work to be done to allow for more accurate, controlled, and intricate printing, but the progress they have been making with this technique is fast paced for sure. To really understand how this 3D printer works, you have to watch the video below: