The 3D printer that crafts complex robotic organs in a single run

3D printing technology has made huge breakthroughs in recent years, able to quickly produce everything from small plastic components to entire buildings. But one area that remains a challenge is the construction of intricate mechanical devices which require multiple materials and moving parts. This new printer combines inkjet printing technology with error correction guided by machine vision to tackle this challenge and construct sophisticated functional devices. By scanning and adjusting layer by layer as it prints, it can maintain speed and accuracy while its multiple print heads lay down different materials side by side. And while the researchers behind the technique, called vision-controlled jetting, have started by demonstrating prints with soft and rigid plastics, the machine has the potential to print electronics or even cellular scaffolds for tissue engineering. Read the research paper here: For more stories like these sign up for the Nature Briefing: An essential round-up of science news, opinion and analysis, free in your inbox every weekday: