Azul 3D now offers a commercial version of its LAKE 3D printer that uses the proprietary HARP technology of high-efficient SLA 3D printing involving the usage of a “dead” separating layer and resin cooling system. (The idea of using a dedicated cooling system for increasing print speed is not new. Uniz claimed to achieve the print speed of up to 200mm/hr back in 2019 with their Slash 2 3D printer).
The HARP (High-Area Rapid Printing) technology is mainly based on the SLA method but with two additions. The first one is the usage of a separating layer that reduces suction that would affect prints when the plate raises. The second addition is the usage of forced cooling and fluorinated oil circulation. Together, both of the solutions allow for an impressive print speed of around 100 liters per hour.
The developers at Northwestern University, Illinois, demonstrated a test system a few years ago. And now the startup is ready to offer a commercial version named LAKE. The new system uses the 385 nm wave light source and a pixel size of 72 microns. The device features a build volume of 254 x 205 x 610 mm.
Cody Petersen, CEO of Azul 3D, commented: “In the past year, manufacturers have been throttled by supply chain disruptions.” He added: “At the same time, everyone is demanding more highly engineered solutions immediately. The LAKE printer offers a revolutionary solution to both problems and is the first step in industrializing additive manufacturing at scale.”
The video below shows how the LAKE prints a product with the height of 760 mm just in 1 hour 45 minutes:
