Non-Planar Granular 3D Printing (2025-10)¶

This study introduces Non-Planar Granular Printing (NGP), a novel additive manufacturing process that transcends the limitations of conventional layer-based 3D printing methods. By selectively binding reusable granular particles in non-planar trajectories, NGP eliminates the constraints of traditional planar slicing approaches, which typically suffer from slow printing speeds, restricted build volumes, and limited material compatibility. The process integrates multi-axis robotic deposition with customizable build volume parameters, enabling rapid production of complex, support-free geometries across various scales. Unlike traditional powder-based systems, NGP's innovative hardware configuration and process parameters allow for enhanced equipment flexibility and material versatility, making it particularly suitable for architectural-scale applications. Benchmark experiments demonstrate the system's practical workflow, significantly improved print speed, and consistent quality across diverse granular materials, establishing NGP as a transformative approach for scalable, geometrically liberated additive manufacturing.