From hearts to pizza, many industries have been eager to investigate the potential usages of 3D printing since the technology first became an obsession. In the realm of architecture, companies have experimented with everything from 3D printed homes to bridges. However, the limitations – mainly that the process is too slow, difficult for large-scale adaptation, and the materials are of low quality – have kept the technology from being used on a commercial level.

Here to change that is MIT and furniture-giant, Steelcase, whom have teamed up to work on a new process of 3D printing that solves many of these issues. The innovation is Rapid Liquid Printing, in which a giant tub of goo is injected with a material (hard plastics or flexible rubbers) in continuous streams to form the shape of the desired object. Printing inside a gel allows the designer to draw in 3D space without the limitations of gravity. Additionally, the two-part mixing process chemically cures the material allowing the mixing, extruding, and curing processes to occur while the 3D printing is underway. 

This new technique allows the printing process to forego the standard of printing forms in layers thus speeding up the process by which objects can be made. The team unveiled the new technology at Milan Design Week. While they are very hopeful for what can be done with the new process, they are currently still researching how to scale the technology and whether or not it can be applied with other materials. The end-goal, at least for the furniture giant, is to allow customers to one day personalize their furniture in a speedier, and more economical way.

Check out a video below of the Rapid Liquid Printing process in action!