LAKE Printer
Unleashing Scalable, High-Speed Resin 3D Printing
Problem
Additive manufacturing has the potential to transform production, but many resin-based 3D printing technologies remain limited by slow print speeds, restricted build volumes, and heat accumulation during the printing process. These constraints can make it difficult to scale additive manufacturing for production environments, particularly when large parts, complex geometries, or high throughput are required. Manufacturers increasingly need systems that combine the design flexibility of 3D printing with the speed, precision, and scalability necessary for industrial use.
Solution
The LAKE Printer, developed by Azul 3D, is the first commercial system built on the company’s proprietary High Area Rapid Printing (HARP™) technology. HARP™ is a photopolymerization process that uses ultraviolet light and a dynamically controlled liquid interface to convert liquid resin into solid parts at high speeds while continuously managing the heat generated during printing.
By actively dissipating thermal energy during the curing process, the LAKE Printer overcomes one of the primary limitations of conventional resin-based additive manufacturing, enabling continuous printing at industrially relevant scales. With a build volume of 10" × 12" × 24", the system is designed to support both large-format parts and high-throughput production applications.
Benefits
- Unrivaled Throughput: Up to 2000× faster than comparable industrial resin printers.
- Thermal Control: Active cooling enables continuous printing without warping or failure.
- Material Versatility: Compatible with rubber resins, high-temp ceramics, machinable resins, and more.
- Large Build Volume: Supports production of sizable parts with complex geometries.
- Scalable Manufacturing: Designed for industrial, consumer, and automotive applications.
Technology & Commercialization Status
The LAKE Printer is built on High Area Rapid Printing (HARP™) technology developed from research in the laboratory of Weinberg Professor Chad Mirkin. Innovations in photopolymer chemistry, rapid curing, and materials design created the foundation for a new generation of high-speed, large-format resin 3D printing.
To commercialize the technology, Azul 3D was founded in Skokie, Illinois, and launched the LAKE Printer in 2021, bringing HARP™ to industrial manufacturing. The platform has since been adopted for applications including industrial prototyping, consumer products, semiconductor manufacturing, and healthcare. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it demonstrated its production capacity by manufacturing 5,000 face shields in about 60 hours.
Today, the LAKE Printer anchors Azul 3D's additive manufacturing portfolio. Building on its success, the company has introduced larger next-generation systems, including the Ocean Printer, to further increase throughput, build volume, and manufacturing-scale reliability.
Northwestern Inventor
Chad A. Mirkin, PhD
George B. Rathmann Professor of Chemistry
Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Links
Website: https://www.azul3d.com/