PAM JAM ARCHIVE

March 9, 2026

Johanna Schwartz, Lawrence Livermore National Lab [email]

“ONGOING EFFORTS IN VOLUMETRIC ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING AND COMPOSITE PRINTING USING MICROWAVES”

Summary: Johanna Schwartz presents her team's pioneering work on microwave-based volumetric additive manufacturing (VAM) — a 3D printing technique that cures entire objects at once rather than layer by layer. Unlike traditional light-based VAM, which is limited to transparent resins, her approach uses microwave irradiation to print with opaque, particle-loaded, and composite materials, opening the door to ceramics, carbon fiber composites, and beyond. Join her for a candid look at building a novel technology from the ground up, complete with early breakthroughs, ongoing challenges, and exciting future directions. 

WATCH VIDEO 