The CLIP technology was introduced for the first time in February 2014, when its inventors filled the two first patents. A few months later, the company CARBON3D (currently Carbon) was created to commercially use this brand new technology. The company made itself famous through at TED talk given by CARBON3D’s founde, while one of its creators – Joseph M. DeSimone demonstrated that it was possible to 3D print a complex object in roughly 10 minutes and as a consequence a recent $100 millions investment from Google in the company also contributed to make it famous in the 3D printing industry and in the whole tech world.
The CLIP (continuous liquid interface production) technology bases on 3D printing from light-hardened resins in a very short time, which is 20-100 times quicker than all of the another 3D printing technologies existing on the market. Models are printed layer by layer, but it proceeds continuously. It happens because this technology uses oxygen as a factor, which slows down the whole process. To sum up, a mechanical process was converten into a photochemical process, which not only makes the production of the model quicker, but it also eliminates its layers.
CLIP combines the engineering-grade properties of thermoplastics with exceptional resolution and surface finish. It makes a range of features and applications possible for industries as varied as automotive, medical and consumer electronics.
Carbon is working at the intersection of hardware, software and molecular science to deliver on the promise of 3D printing, enabling creators to think beyond the limitations of convention to design the parts and products that will drive the businesses of the future. It announced yesterday the addition of leading 3D printing service bureaus and contract manufacturers to its early customer program. After Ford, BMW, Legacy Effects and Johnson & Johnson, it’s time for four new companies.
I would like to introduce you The Carbon‘s Fantastic Four…
Sculpteo – one of the top 3D printing service bureaus in the world. Is an online 3D printing service based in the San Francisco area and Paris. They offer on-demand 3D printing of individual products as well as short-run manufacturing.They have over 50 materials, colours and finishes available, plus superior file analysis and repair. It ill be the first and only global 3D print platform to use CLIP! New resins are available from March 1st.
CIDEAS – is a full-service, additive manufacturing, and 3D printing center, headquartered in Crystal Lake, IL and house over 30 in-house machines. Its production capabilities include: SLA, SLS, FDM, PolyJet, urethane casting and recently CLIP.
CIDEAS is one of four partners to be using CLIP technology from Carbon
WestStar Precision – a company serving customers in aerospace, medical, biotech and alternative energy sectors with high tech manufacturing of products. WestStar has been watching the market for years but was never convinced to enter, because of the slow speed, high cost and limited mechanical properties available from other technology. The CLIP technology will actually be their first foray into 3D printing.
The Technology House – a company serving a growing range of businesses to include medical, aerospace, defense, industrial, energy and consumer products markets. It offers expertise in blending 3D printing, cast urethane, plastic injection molding, and multi-axis CNC machining.
Company’s CEO and Co-Founder of Carbon commented on it:
These new customers are key drivers of innovation and production across industries. We’re excited to partner with them and offer expanded access to CLIP to further uncover application opportunities for our technology.
Joseph DeSimone, CEO and Co-Founder of Carbon