Level of Education of Students Involved
Undergraduate
Faculty Sponsor
Simon Sunblade
College
College of Engineering (COE)
Discipline(s)
Mechanical and Bioengineering
ORCID Identifier(s)
0009-0002-9015-1234
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Symposium Date
Spring 4-24-2025
Abstract
VAM (volumetric additive manufacturing) is a method of 3D printing that produces 3D geometries using projected light and resin. Using VAM produces layerless prints in minutes. Current methods only use a UV projector to produce a geometry. Our method of VAM aims to use projection methods of much lower power to produce comparable final objects. Due to the nonlinear nature of VAM resin, we attempt to use an ambient light source to reduce the power output of projection. The resin cures only in regions that pass a light dose threshold. The reaction of the resin could almost be viewed as if the light “freezes” the resin with the addition of enough light. Similarly, SLS (selective light sintering) uses just enough laser light to melt powder in the outline of an object. SLS uses a heated chamber just below the melting point. This allows the laser required to create the final object to have relatively lower power requirements than without. This same principle enables a lower power projector to be used in VAM, lowering the cost of such a device. Our experimentation required the creation of a standard VAM 3D printing setup as a baseline. This was done using modified consumer electronics to achieve 405 nm projection. An adjustable 405 nm LED light source with a custom lens is used to create evenly disturbed ambient light. Together, this allows for controllable printing conditions. Lower printing times and lower required projection intensity in printing are expected.
Recommended Citation
Bos, Ian; Miroballi, Alex; Luckett, Kyan; and Peyer, Nate, "Use of Ambient Light in VAM 3D Printing" (2025). Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 1462.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/cus/1462
Biographical Information about Author(s)
Alex Miroballi is an environmental engineering major with a passion for environmental awareness. Alex, throughout this project, has worked on researching and acquiring resins for printing. Kyan Luckett is a mechanical engineering major hoping to work with greater research in the future. Kyan has worked on modifying projection hardware and creating the printing stage. Nate Peyer is an electrical engineering major who loves working through software issues. Nate has worked on creating a software solution for adjustable testing. Ian Bos is a bioengineering major who has always had a fascination with 3D printing. Ian created the project and helped connect all elements of the experimentation.