What Happened
UC Berkeley’s SpaceCAL 3D printer has successfully demonstrated volumetric 3D printing using computed axial lithography (CAL) technology in orbit, marking a pioneering achievement in additive manufacturing beyond Earth. Detailed in a 3Dnatives report, this marks a significant proof of concept for space-based volumetric printing and the first successful operation of CAL technology in microgravity.
Why It Matters
The success of SpaceCAL’s volumetric printing in orbit is a major milestone for additive manufacturing and space exploration. Traditional 3D printing methods rely on layer-by-layer deposition, which can be slow and limited in complex geometries, especially in microgravity environments where material handling is challenging. Computed axial lithography’s volumetric approach cures entire 3D objects simultaneously inside a photosensitive resin by projecting light patterns from multiple angles, enabling faster, more complex, and high-resolution prints.
Bringing CAL to orbit opens possibilities for in-space manufacturing of tools, components, and prototypes on demand, reducing the need for resupply missions and enabling long-duration missions with greater autonomy. This technology could revolutionize spacecraft maintenance, habitat construction, and scientific instrumentation in space.
Technical Context
Computed axial lithography (CAL) is a volumetric 3D printing technique that differs fundamentally from conventional additive manufacturing. Instead of building objects layer-by-layer, CAL uses a rotating container of photosensitive resin illuminated by a sequence of 2D light patterns from multiple angles. The cumulative light exposure solidifies the resin in the shape of the desired 3D object simultaneously, allowing for rapid fabrication without the mechanical constraints of layering.
SpaceCAL adapts this technology for microgravity conditions, which introduces unique challenges such as resin containment, uniform rotation, and precise light projection in a weightless environment. The UC Berkeley team engineered a system that maintains resin stability and optical precision despite the absence of gravity, demonstrating the viability of volumetric printing beyond Earth.
While the exact technical specifications and print resolutions achieved by SpaceCAL have not been fully disclosed, the successful prints confirm that the core principles of CAL translate well to orbit. This success suggests that volumetric printing can overcome some limitations of traditional 3D printing in space, such as print speed and mechanical complexity.
Near-term Prediction Model
SpaceCAL’s demonstration positions volumetric 3D printing technology at the cusp of transitioning from research and development into pilot deployment for space applications. Over the next 12 to 24 months, we can expect further refinement of the technology to improve print resolution, expand material compatibility, and validate long-term operational stability in orbit.
Commercial adoption in terrestrial industries like biomedical devices, microfluidics, and rapid prototyping may accelerate as CAL systems become more compact and cost-effective, benefiting from lessons learned in space adaptations. However, widespread commercial use in space manufacturing will require integration with spacecraft systems and supply chains, which could take 3 to 5 years to mature.
What to Watch
- Announcements of enhanced SpaceCAL missions or follow-up payloads deploying improved volumetric printers in orbit.
- Research publications detailing print quality, material properties, and operational challenges encountered during the SpaceCAL mission.
- Development of new photosensitive resin formulations optimized for space-based volumetric printing.
- Collaborations between space agencies and industry players aiming to commercialize volumetric printing for in-space manufacturing.
- Potential terrestrial applications emerging from space-hardened CAL technology adaptations.
In conclusion, UC Berkeley’s SpaceCAL printer has successfully demonstrated the promise of computed axial lithography in orbit, advancing volumetric 3D printing technology into a new frontier. While many technical details remain to be disclosed and challenges to overcome, this achievement lays foundational groundwork for autonomous manufacturing in space and novel volumetric printing applications on Earth.