Design and Development of a System for Computed Axial Lithography Application

Computed Axial Lithography (CAL) is a volumetric 3D printing technique that solidifies photopolymer resin using projected light patterns within a rotating cylindrical vat, enabling rapid fabrication without layer-by-layer curing. This study presents the development of a portable, scalable, and user-friendly CAL system. The design phase involved creating detailed solid models of all subcomponents using SolidWorks, followed by fabrication, procurement, and mechanical assembly. An ESP32 microcontroller was employed to integrate and control the electronic subsystem. System testing was carried out in two stages: first, the motor's rotational stability was verified using a tachometer; second, a resin-filled vat was rotated while projecting UV light to validate curing performance. Optimal curing was achieved at 10 RPM, balancing speed and print quality. The results demonstrate that the developed CAL system successfully performs volumetric 3D printing with stable operation and effective initial resin curing.