Solvera
Automated and sustainable resin 3D printing
Introduction
We developed a dual-wavelength photopolymerization process that uses a single resin formulation to produce two different materials upon exposure to light: visible light produces dissolvable thermoplastic support structures, while UV light creates insoluble thermoset parts. Developed at MIT, this technology uniquely enables the automated removal of recyclable support structures in resin 3D printing, dramatically improving manufacturing efficiency and sustainability for industries such as dentistry, audiology, investment casting, and jewelry.
Problem
Resin 3D printing requires structural supports that must be manually removed and discarded after printing, making the process labor-intensive, costly, and environmentally wasteful. Manual support removal accounts for up to 50% of total production costs, and discarded supports often constitute 10-30% (up to 80% in some industries) of the total plastic used, creating significant economic and environmental burdens.
Opportunity
We developed a resin 3D printing process that creates supports that are easily dissolved in common solvents, eliminating manual labor and enabling automated post-processing. These dissolved supports can also be recycled directly back into new printing resin, drastically reducing waste and material costs.