MIT created the first of a new class of glass printers that include kiln cartridge -- heating glass to 1,900 degree levels. Once at this temperature, the glass can be essentially squeezed out of a nozzle, drizzled down to layer itself and can be used to rapidly create glass-blown objects.
Using molten glass as a medium, this invention has so far created decorative objects like vases or prisms that will be showcased at the Cooper Hewitt in NYC. However, the potential for this machine goes much further than art. The idea is for glass printers to create large facades for buildings or even fiber optic cables.
Looking toward the future, anything that can now be made into glass has the potential to capture solar energy. While this invention may reduce the market for glass-blowing artists, it also encourages of the development of glass solar-panel technology as well.
Molten Glass Printers
The 'G3DP' Prints Glass-Blown Objects Like Drizzled Hardening Honey
Trend Themes
1. Molten Glass Printing - The ability to 3D print glass objects expands the possibilities for rapid prototyping and large-scale production in several industries, including architecture and optics.
2. Kiln Cartridge Technology - The use of kiln cartridges to heat the glass to high temperatures offers potential for other applications in material science and engineering.
3. Glass Solar-panel Technology - The development of glass printers for solar energy panels presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for the renewable energy industry.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture and Building Design - Molten glass printing technology has the potential to revolutionize architectural design by enabling rapid prototyping and large-scale production of glass facades and windows.
2. Optics and Fiber-optic Communications - The ability to 3D print intricate glass structures opens up new possibilities for optics and fiber-optic communications, improving speed and efficiency.
3. Renewable Energy and Green Technology - The development of glass printers for solar energy panels can drive innovation in the renewable energy industry, reducing costs and improving efficiency.