Scientists have used 3D printing to replicate an ancient Chinese bronze-casting technique, reducing a multi-week process to under 40 hours, while another team developed a 30x faster resin-based 3D printing method. Both advancements highlight the growing precision and speed in additive manufacturing.
Recreating Ancient Techniques with Modern Precision
Researchers recreated the piece-mold casting method used in China’s Shang and Zhou dynasties by combining digital modeling, 3D printing, and substitute materials. Traditional bronze-casting experiments could take up to two months, requiring skilled craftsmanship and extensive manual labor. This method retained the intricate features of ancient techniques while significantly cutting time and resource use. A Shang dynasty-style “Ding” vessel was successfully produced in under 40 hours, compared to the weeks traditionally required.
The process involved digitally modeling a taotie-patterned Ding, dividing it into outer mold sections and an inner core, then 3D printing these components. Gypsum was used as a substitute for clay to speed up drying and maintain dimensional accuracy. Low-melting-point alloys replaced traditional bronze, allowing for faster casting. The team emphasized that the goal was not to replicate ancient materials but to test the logic of historical techniques, making experimental reconstruction more accessible and repeatable.
The study, titled Integrated digital casting: a new method for simulating piece-mold techniques of ancient bronzes, focused on piece-mold casting,
a method used to produce ritual bronzes during China’s Shang and Zhou dynasties. Traditionally, reconstructing this process for research could require highly skilled craftspeople, extensive manual work, and around one to two months to complete. The new approach tested a Shang dynasty-style “Ding” and retained important features associated with piece-mold production while making experimental reconstruction more precise and reproducible.
Scientists recreated an ancient Chinese bronze-casting technique with 3D
Traditional reconstruction was demanding and took almost 2 months of hard work. The researchers also documented a conventional piece-mold casting workflow to understand the practical difficulties involved. Traditional experiments required numerous stages, including making a model, preparing the mold material, shaping and carving its surfaces, drying the mold, and, in some cases, firing it before metal could be poured. Small mistakes at different points in the process could cause failure, forcing the work to begin again. The study found that producing a single mold set could take at least 50 days, even when undertaken by a skilled craftsperson. Drying alone could substantially extend the process, while factors such as temperature and humidity made some stages difficult.
A New Era of 3D Printing Speed
Meanwhile, scientists at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland unveiled a 30x faster resin-based 3D printing method. The technique uses intersecting light beams to solidify selective areas of photocurable resin, enabling the production of a sample figurine 30x faster than conventional additive manufacturing. The volumetric method involves spinning a resin-filled vessel while light beams target specific areas, hardening them simultaneously. This method, first conceptualized five years ago, was refined to achieve one of the fastest in the world.
In tests, the EPFL team produced a Yoda figurine using opaque resin in 20 seconds, compared to 10 minutes with traditional additive 3D printing. The resin/light 3D printer provided a 30-fold speed increase, with the quality and detail of the two methods said to be comparable. The opaque resin, previously considered unsuitable for light-hardening due to resolution loss, was successfully used in this demonstration. The material’s flexibility makes it ideal for biomedical applications, such as crafting artificial arteries.
Researchers noted that the method maintains the same resolution as existing 3D-printing techniques while drastically reducing production time. The appeal of the opaque resin lies in its use for biomedical objects, with potential applications in rapid prototyping of biological materials.
Scientists Claim New 3D Resin Print Process Is 30X
Implications for History, Technology, and Industry
The two advancements underscore 3D printing’s dual role in preserving historical techniques and pushing technological boundaries. By replicating ancient methods, researchers can better understand pre-modern craftsmanship without relying on scarce artifacts.
For historians, the 3D-printed bronze-casting method offers a practical tool to test theories about ancient production workflows. For engineers, EPFL’s resin-based system presents a viable alternative to slower, layer-by-layer additive manufacturing. Both developments highlight the growing synergy between digital tools and traditional practices, enabling faster, more accurate experimentation across disciplines.
What Remains Uncertain?
