28 May 2024 | Jianxiang Cheng, Shouyi Yu, Rong Wang, Qi Ge
This review article focuses on digital light processing (DLP) multimaterial 3D printing, a technology that can integrate multiple materials into a single printed structure, offering high resolution, complexity, and speed. The authors introduce the fundamental mechanisms of DLP 3D printing, including resin composition, photopolymerization reaction, light propagation, and UV pattern projection. They highlight the challenges and solutions related to material switching methods and material contamination issues, which are critical for achieving successful multimaterial printing. The article also reviews several typical examples of DLP multimaterial 3D printing systems, detailing their system structures, working principles, material switching methods, residual resin removal methods, printing steps, and representative structures and applications. Finally, the authors provide perspectives on the future development of DLP multimaterial 3D printing technology, emphasizing its potential in various engineering fields such as materials, electronics, robotics, and biomedicine.This review article focuses on digital light processing (DLP) multimaterial 3D printing, a technology that can integrate multiple materials into a single printed structure, offering high resolution, complexity, and speed. The authors introduce the fundamental mechanisms of DLP 3D printing, including resin composition, photopolymerization reaction, light propagation, and UV pattern projection. They highlight the challenges and solutions related to material switching methods and material contamination issues, which are critical for achieving successful multimaterial printing. The article also reviews several typical examples of DLP multimaterial 3D printing systems, detailing their system structures, working principles, material switching methods, residual resin removal methods, printing steps, and representative structures and applications. Finally, the authors provide perspectives on the future development of DLP multimaterial 3D printing technology, emphasizing its potential in various engineering fields such as materials, electronics, robotics, and biomedicine.