[jimbokun]

ELI5?

Is this a Star Trek replicator or what?

[c22]

I believe this happens inside a liquid substrate that cures (hardens) when exposed to light. Instead of building up a shape by exposing a series of flat layers (stacked on top of eachother) one at a time, this exposes the entire 3d shape at once, using holograms.

[Nevermark]

That replicator involved arbitrary chemistry, so except for fans of polymer flavored “chicken” nuggets, no. :)

But if they can scale up dimensions it is a big opportunity.

Or scale down dimensions.

Or scale up resolution.

Or scale up the throughput for manufacturing small complex parts. Not just one part at a time but many parts in proximity at a time, a bit like chip production.

All four seem likely now that the principle has been proven.

[kadoban]

Star Trek replicator but only for a particular type of ~plastic, you can't make arbitrary materials/chemicals.

[ra]

that was my first reaction