Concordia University researchers 3D print with acoustic holograms

Researchers at Concordia University have developed a new 3D printing process that uses acoustic holograms. The process is faster than previous methods and enables the production of more complex objects.

HDSP builds on a method introduced in 2022 in which sonochemical reactions in microscopic cavitation bubbles generate extremely high temperatures and pressures for fractions of a second. These conditions make it possible to precisely cure resins into complex patterns. By integrating acoustic holograms, which contain cross-sectional images of a design, polymerization can be significantly accelerated. Instead of printing layer by layer, HDSP enables the simultaneous production of entire objects.

“We can also change the image while the operation is under way,” he says. “We can change shapes, combine multiple motions and alter materials being printed. We can make a complicated structure by controlling the feed rate if we optimize the parameters to get the required structures.”

Another advantage of HDSP is the ability to change the image during the printing process, which facilitates the production of complex structures. In addition, the precise control of the acoustic holograms allows multiple images to be stored in a single hologram. This means that several objects can be produced simultaneously at different positions in the print space.

The potential applications of this technology are diverse and range from the production of complex tissues for medical research to targeted drug and cell delivery systems to the repair of damaged organs or sensitive aerospace components.

“You can imagine the possibilities,” he says. “We can print behind opaque objects, behind a wall, inside a tube or inside the body. The technique that we already use and the devices that we use have already been approved for medical applications.”

In conclusion, Concordia’s HDSP is a promising advancement in the field of additive manufacturing. By combining acoustic holograms and precise control, this method offers new ways to produce high-quality 3D printed objects in an efficient and versatile way.