Did we mention, MP is a high-speed continuous process with no discreet layers!

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It's a secret but just a little info won't hurt...

What Inspired MP 3D Printing, and Is it Really Special?

MP 3D printing is a powerful new technology designed from the ground up to address the limitations of existing systems and reshape the future of 3D printing. During its development, special care was taken to address the flaws of current technologies while leveraging their potential strengths.

While the technology is still secret, we can share a little information about how it came to be…

How Did Existing 3D Printing Issues Influence the Development of MP 3D Printing?

Exploring the issues and challenges created with various 3D printing technologies (see section below on existing tech) revealed several overarching problems:

Limited material options
Material safety concerns
Lack of multi-material capabilities (including full color)
High costs
Assembly printing limitations
Poor scaling of print time with print area increases
IP limitations and associated cost

Despite these limitations, each technology also has its strengths and potential applications. The critical question became: Can we improve or create a new 3D printing technology that addresses these challenges while retaining the strengths?

Primary Goals for MP 3D Printing

As we identified the problems of existing technologies and considered solutions, a collection of critical goals were defined:

1. Universal and Open Material

Print powders, pastes, gels, and liquids.

Work with production grade materials—polymers, metals, glass, ceramics, biological materials, reactive materials, etc.—within a single system.

No preference concerning particle shape. (Filament, pellets, granules, or flakes can be powderized with any method, including in-system options.)

Deliver multiple materials selectively, rapidly, accurately, and with minimal influence on each other.

2. Versatile Material Processing

Ensure the system accommodates a wide range of in-system general and selective material processing methods without compromising effectiveness or efficiency.

Allow material additives, including full color and reactive combinations.

3. High Resolution and Speed

Function through a blended continuous process, eliminating discreet layers.

High-speed simultaneous material placement and processing (no pausing or stages).

Build area size and part count do not affect print times.

4. Safe, Simplistic, and Controlled

Prevent exposure to unprocessed materials at all stages of printing.

A fully contained universal material handling system that is inherently self-cleaning and clog free.

A clean and simple process, with no special machine setup or cleanup.

Compatible with automated part unloading.

Fully monitored and responsive process.

5. Scalability

Eliminate any inherent size and scale restrictions.

Usable in any orientation or environment (including variable atmospheres, pressures, or gravity.)

Usable as a robotic end effector if desired.

Support experimentation and expansion.

Open cost range from inexpensive personal machines to full manufacturing systems.

6. Freedom from Existing Intellectual Property (IP) Restrictions

Avoid limitations imposed by existing patents, enabling innovation.

Ultimately, MP 3D printing makes it possible to achieve all these capabilities and goals within a single printer, simultaneously!

Problems Faced by Various Existing 3D Printing Technologies

(As the listed development goals show, MP printing was specifically created to address these problems and limitations.)

Technology	Common Issues
Extrusion	Poor resolution Weak layer adhesion Inherent speed limits and print size/number highly impacts time Limited volumetric control and resolution for multi-materials Limited material processing options
Vat Photopolymerization (Also Including 2 Photon or Volume Based)	Limited materials and very few multi-material options (all impact time or quality) Exposure to unprocessed material Multi-step postprocessing requirements (commonly with dangerous solvents) Physically attached supports Limited options for restricting assembly fusion Print bed size restrictions Additional material processing only available through postprocessing
Material Jetting (Photopolymerization or Post Sintering)	Limited materials (often with poor functionality) Extreme machine and material cost Poor uptime and excessive machine maintenance Restrictive intellectual property issues (much of the technology is not licensable)
Powder Bed (Including Bound or Fused)	Exposure to unprocessed materials High material waste Limited options for restricting assembly fusion Low surface quality due to influence of neighboring unprocessed material Often complicated, messy, and time consuming setup, cool down, or cleanup Often requires highly spherical particle shape. Few multi-materials options Additional material processing only available through postprocessing High machine cost
Direct Energy Deposition	Limited resolution Inherent speed limits and print size/number highly impacts time Exposure to unprocessed material Safety concerns in the operating environment High-cost robotic systems
Lamination	Often poor resolution Limited form possibilities Limited material and processing options Typically large industrial setups Complex, multi-step processes often with complicate postprocessing Extreme machine costs