Taking the all-in-one concept to the next level is the company that makes the Aether 1 Bioprinter, a machine that promises to combine traditional 3D printing with CNC milling, laser engraving, and good old fashioned painting. Reading the list of promised possibilities, the only thing missing is the ability to bring you a cold beer at the end of a hard day – and who knows, that might have been in the fine print. The machine has 24 extruders, can print in more materials, and offers a wide variety of attachments, such as solenoid microvalves, which I thought was a type of oyster, but is actually a miniature valve composed of a coil of wire wound in a helix that is used for precisely controlling liquids and gases.
To describe the capabilities of their machine, the team at Aether released this statement:
“Across the ages from the ancient to the modern world, human potential has been defined by our tools. Give an innovative mind a powerful new tool, and there is no limit to what can be accomplished. That’s why Aether has developed Aether 1, the most versatile tool ever created. Aether 1 will help the university, government, and private researchers achieve their most ambitious and world-changing goals, for a price that any lab can afford.”
If this were set to the right music, it could very easily be the setup for an opening scene in a Marvel Comic movie. As it is, however, the folks at Aether aren’t hampered by their seriousness. They have recognized the possibility of a tool such as this to be used for simple pleasures such as the creation of artwork. In a newly released video, they demonstrate the machine recreating University of Washington Husky memorabilia using paintbrushes, laser raster engraving, and colored mechanical pens.
They were interested in their machine’s ability to create works of art because of their belief that art provides an access point for students to become familiar with cutting edge technology:
“3D printing and bioprinting are essential skills for students to learn, they will completely disrupt industries ranging from medicine to manufacturing. To stay ahead, students must have access to the latest critical technologies, and Aether 1 is easily the most cutting-edge device on the market. Art is an easy and captivating way for students of all ages to learn to use the world’s most advanced 3D bioprinter. For teachers and students alike, Aether 1 may be the most engaging device ever placed in a classroom…Art and science unite as one.”
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[Images provided by Aether]