Printing large objects fast: Research & Innovation

The High-Area Rapid Printing 3D printer is sufficiently big and fast to print objects as large as an adult human in just a couple of hours. The ability to rapidly print parts on demand could make parts warehousing and expensive molds things of the past. Developed by Northwestern University researchers, HARP will be available by next year from Azul 3D Inc., Evanston, Illinois.

“HARP enables machinists to make jigs, tools and molds quickly and efficiently out of durable materials,” said James Hedrick, CEO and co-founder of Azul 3D.

He said large parts can be made in a single piece from industrial-grade materials.

The HARP 3D printer is suitable for producing both large and small parts. Image courtesy of Azul 3D

While Hedrick completed his doctorate at Northwestern under the supervision of professor Chad Mirkin, he worked in a laboratory with postdoctoral student David Walker. The three men started to develop a nano-3D printer.

They realized early that the printer could print both large and tiny structures.

“We recognized immediately that with HARP, we had the ability to transform manufacturing,” Hedrick said. “We transitioned our focus from nano to macro, and the three of us founded Azul 3D to transition the technology from the lab to the factory.”