New light-based 3D printing builds millimeter-scale objects in fraction of a second
A research team from Tsinghua University says it has developed a 3D printing method capable of fabricating millimeter-scale objects in under a second, which is a dramatic improvement over most current volumetric techniques.

The work, published in Nature, introduces a system the team calls digital incoherent synthesis of holographic light fields, or DISH. The approach focuses on generating a complete three-dimensional light pattern inside a stationary resin volume, rather than building an object layer by layer.
Many existing volumetric printing methods, such as computed axial lithography (CAL), rely on rotating either the light source or the sample while projecting patterns into photosensitive resin. That rotation adds mechanical complexity and can limit speed and stability. It also often requires thicker resins to prevent printed structures from drifting before they solidify.
The DISH method removes rotation of the resin container altogether. Instead, the system uses a rapidly rotating optical periscope, reportedly spinning up to 10 times per second, to project multiple light patterns from different angles. These patterns are generated by a digital micromirror device and directed into the resin through a single flat optical interface.
By combining these projections in quick succession, the system forms a full 3D light intensity distribution that cures the entire structure nearly at once.
According to the paper, millimeter-scale objects can be printed in as little as 0.6 seconds. The reported volumetric printing rate reaches 333 cubic millimeters per second, with minimum feature sizes around 12 micrometers. The team also reports maintaining approximately 19-micrometer resolution across a one-centimeter depth, which exceeds the typical depth-of-field limits of standard optics.
To achieve this, the researchers used iterative optimization of holographic patterns for each projection angle, refining how light energy accumulates within the resin volume.
The technology is still at the experimental stage, but the potential applications are broad. High-speed fabrication at this scale could be relevant for micro-optical components, small robotic systems, flexible electronics, and biomedical scaffolds.
Whether DISH becomes commercially viable remains to be seen. But as a proof of concept, it pushes the boundaries of what rapid additive manufacturing can look like.
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