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Rapid Liquid Printing (RLP)

Short answer: RLP stands for Rapid Liquid Printing, a 3D-printing method developed at MIT's Self-Assembly Lab. Instead of stacking thin layers in air, a nozzle on a robot or CNC machine draws liquid rubber, foam or plastic freely in 3D inside a tank of granular gel.

The gel holds the wet material in place until it cures. Then the part is lifted out and rinsed with water. Prints take seconds to minutes rather than hours, and they can be as big as furniture.

VideoWrite-up5 sources

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What should you know about Rapid Liquid Printing (RLP)?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. RLP (Rapid Liquid Printing), from MIT's Self-Assembly Lab, prints liquid rubber, foam or plastic inside a tank of gel instead of layer by layer in air.

    DD-013-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (What RLP stands for)

  2. Rapid Liquid Printing can make a complex object in seconds to minutes, and objects up to the size of furniture.

    DD-013-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit E (Big and fast)

Video transcript: Rapid Liquid Printing (RLP): This Machine Prints Objects Inside a Tank of Gel

DID YOU KNOW? Rapid Liquid Printing, or RLP, is an additive manufacturing technique that creates large, soft objects by extruding liquid material directly into a tank filled with a specially engineered gel suspension rather than building it layer by layer in air, allowing complex three-dimensional shapes to be formed almost instantly. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 18.0s Reel ·

Video coming soonRapid Liquid Printing (RLP) · Instagram Reel
Rapid Liquid Printing (RLP): This Machine Prints Objects Inside a Tank of Gel Instagram Reel · · 18.0s

The write-up

This machine prints objects inside a tank of gel. MIT's Rapid Liquid Printing draws rubber and foam in 3D: no layers, in minutes.

  1. Exhibit A

    What RLP stands for

    RLP is Rapid Liquid Printing, an experimental additive manufacturing process from MIT's Self-Assembly Lab. It was developed with designer Christophe Guberan and the furniture maker Steelcase.

  2. Exhibit B

    Drawing inside gel

    A nozzle 'draws' liquid material in 3D inside a tank of granular gel. The gel acts as a reusable support, holding the material in place while it cures.

  3. Exhibit C

    Not layer by layer

    Ordinary 3D printers build in flat layers. An RLP machine can print freely in any direction, so it doesn't need support structures for overhangs.

  4. Exhibit D

    Real industrial materials

    RLP can use any one- or two-part material that cures by light or chemistry, including industrial-grade rubbers, foams and plastics.

  5. Exhibit E

    Big and fast

    Prints range from inches to many feet. A complex object takes seconds to minutes rather than hours or days, and a whole piece of furniture can be printed.

  6. Exhibit F

    Rinse and done

    When printing finishes, the part is lifted out of the tank and washed with water. Inflatable prints can then be inflated, deflated and inflated again.

  7. Exhibit G

    From lab to company

    The process is now being commercialised by Rapid Liquid Print Co. for elastomer parts, which it calls 'Gravity Free Manufacturing'. Its prints go straight into a suspension gel with no molds.

Questions people ask about Rapid Liquid Printing (RLP)

What does RLP stand for?

Rapid Liquid Printing, developed at MIT's Self-Assembly Lab.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (What RLP stands for) · Rapid Liquid Printing (MIT Self-Assembly Lab); Large-Scale Rapid Liquid Printing (Hajash et al., 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, 2017; MIT DSpace)

Where does an RLP machine 'draw' its objects?

The nozzle prints inside a granular gel that holds the liquid in place while it cures.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Drawing inside gel) · Large-Scale Rapid Liquid Printing (Hajash et al., 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, 2017; MIT DSpace); Rapid Liquid Printing (MIT Self-Assembly Lab); Liquid to Air: Pneumatic Objects (MIT Self-Assembly Lab)

How does RLP differ from a typical 3D printer?

The gel acts as support, so the nozzle can move freely in 3D.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Not layer by layer) · Large-Scale Rapid Liquid Printing (Hajash et al., 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, 2017; MIT DSpace); Technology (Rapid Liquid Print Co.)

Which materials can RLP use?

Any photo- or chemically cured one- or two-part material, including industrial-grade rubbers, foams and plastics.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Real industrial materials) · Large-Scale Rapid Liquid Printing (Hajash et al., 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, 2017; MIT DSpace); Liquid Printed Products (MIT Self-Assembly Lab)

Roughly how long does RLP take to print a complex object?

MIT reports seconds to minutes, rather than hours or days.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Big and fast) · Large-Scale Rapid Liquid Printing (Hajash et al., 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, 2017; MIT DSpace); Rapid Liquid Printing (MIT Self-Assembly Lab); Liquid to Air: Pneumatic Objects (MIT Self-Assembly Lab)

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. What does RLP stand for?

    1. Robotic Laser Printing
    2. Rapid Liquid Printing
    3. Resin Layer Processing
    4. Remote Lithography Printing
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Rapid Liquid Printing Rapid Liquid Printing, developed at MIT's Self-Assembly Lab. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (What RLP stands for) · Rapid Liquid Printing (MIT Self-Assembly Lab); Large-Scale Rapid Liquid Printing (Hajash et al., 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, 2017; MIT DSpace)

  2. Where does an RLP machine 'draw' its objects?

    1. On a heated bed in open air
    2. Inside a tank of gel
    3. Underwater in a pool
    4. Inside a vacuum chamber
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Inside a tank of gel The nozzle prints inside a granular gel that holds the liquid in place while it cures. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Drawing inside gel) · Large-Scale Rapid Liquid Printing (Hajash et al., 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, 2017; MIT DSpace); Rapid Liquid Printing (MIT Self-Assembly Lab); Liquid to Air: Pneumatic Objects (MIT Self-Assembly Lab)

  3. How does RLP differ from a typical 3D printer?

    1. It prints only metal
    2. It prints freely in any direction instead of layer by layer
    3. It needs extra support structures
    4. It uses powder and lasers
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. It prints freely in any direction instead of layer by layer The gel acts as support, so the nozzle can move freely in 3D. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Not layer by layer) · Large-Scale Rapid Liquid Printing (Hajash et al., 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, 2017; MIT DSpace); Technology (Rapid Liquid Print Co.)

  4. Which materials can RLP use?

    1. Only PLA filament
    2. Only metals
    3. Industrial rubbers, foams and plastics
    4. Only clay
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. Industrial rubbers, foams and plastics Any photo- or chemically cured one- or two-part material, including industrial-grade rubbers, foams and plastics. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Real industrial materials) · Large-Scale Rapid Liquid Printing (Hajash et al., 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, 2017; MIT DSpace); Liquid Printed Products (MIT Self-Assembly Lab)

  5. Roughly how long does RLP take to print a complex object?

    1. Seconds to minutes
    2. About a day
    3. About a week
    4. Under a millisecond
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Seconds to minutes MIT reports seconds to minutes, rather than hours or days. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Big and fast) · Large-Scale Rapid Liquid Printing (Hajash et al., 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, 2017; MIT DSpace); Rapid Liquid Printing (MIT Self-Assembly Lab); Liquid to Air: Pneumatic Objects (MIT Self-Assembly Lab)

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Rapid Liquid Printing (RLP)." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-013, last updated Jun 18, 2026. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/rapid-liquid-printing/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/rapid-liquid-printing/ · Last updated

Markdown version

Cite a single fact by its ID, for example DD-013-F01 → https://detailenjoyer.com/case/rapid-liquid-printing/#DD-013-F01

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