'Terminator' 3D Printer Gets the Job Done, Real Quick: Video

The new age of 3D printing is here and it is motivated by two-decade old Terminator flick.

According to BBC, the printer was demonstrated at the TED conference in Vancouver. The printer notably cuts down printing time compared to existing printers which print layer by layer. The Carbon3D printer is said to be inspired by the T 1000 robot that rises from liquid metal in Terminator 2.

The device uses a photochemical process, unlike mechanical processes employed by existing printers. UV light and oxygen are used to cast shapes from specifically made resins that harden on exposure to light. Oxygen stops the hardening process. The printer employs various levels of light and oxygen to achieve shapes.

During the TED conference, the printer made a ball from resin in 10 minutes, which would have taken several hours using existing 3D printers.

"Current 3D printing technology has failed to deliver on its promise to revolutionize manufacturing. Our CLIP technology offers the game-changing speed, consistent mechanical properties and choice of materials required for complex commercial quality parts," said Dr. Joseph DeSimone, CEO and Co-Founder, Carbon3D.

The printer could have applications in various fields including medicine where doctors could print custom replacement human organs in minutes even as the patient waits. The printer can now only print using polymer resins but Carbon3D is said to be working on other material.