Researchers from Inkbit have leveraged their vision-controlled jetting (VCJ) 3D printing technology to print a functioning robotic hand in a single run. IEEE Spectrum covered this story but stemmed from Inkbit's own Nature article covering VCJ and its applications in exhaustive detail, with the hand being only one of many examples used.
So, what makes VCJ a big deal compared to the best 3D printers with traditional 3D printing methods? Let's break it down. By using a 3D vision scanner alongside an inkjet unit and a UV-curing unit, VCJ allows for precise layer-by-layer jetting-and-curing of multiple 3D printing materials. This means that soft and rigid materials can be printed simultaneously, and the 3D vision scanner ensures per-layer corrections can be made without needing direct contact with the construct.
