IBM creates 3D nano-printer for tiny objects

IBM scientists have invented a tiny “chisel” with a heated nano-sized silicon tip that creates patterns and structures on a microscopic scale.

The tip, similar to the kind used in atomic force microscopes, is attached to a flexible cantilever that scans the surface of a substrate material with nanometer precision.

Unlike conventional 3D printers, by applying heat and force, the nano-sized tip can remove (rather than add) material based on predetermined patterns, thus acting as a “nanomilling” machine with extremely high precision. This new capability could improve the prototyping of new transistor devices, for more energy-efficient and faster electronic data centers from the cloud to smartphones.