If you never thought “T2” technology would come to life …. well, not yet, anyway. But thanks to incredible progress being made by the 3D printing technology company founded by UNC/NCSU professor, inventor and tech wizard Dr. Joe DeSimone the days of 3D manufacturing based on liquids is coming. Fast.

In a recent TED talk, DeSimone discussed how special effects in the movie T2 (the T1000 based on liquid metal) inspired he and his cofounders to launch Carbon3D. (Watch the video …the Eiffel Tower forms before your very eyes.)

“I can’t wait to see what designers and engineers around the world are going to be able to do with this great tool,” DeSimone said.

And the video (featured with this blog) shows just how quickly the DeSimone-team, which is largely based in Silicon Valley but has a team in Chapel Hill, is making, (WTW reported extensively on the new venture last fall.{{/a))

Carbon3D has already raised $41 million in venture funding from Silicon Valley heavyweights such as Sequoia. And DeSimone is living in the Valley, taking time off from his UNC-NCSU duties to focus on the launching of the latest in a series of companies to sprout from his obviously fertile, magnificient mind.

The secret sauce of the venture is technology called CLIP, or Continuous Liquid Interface Production.

Carbon3D says its new technology not only speeds up 3D printing (25 to 100 times) but the materials used are much stronger than those now available in 3D printing. That strength and speed open the door to commercial 3D manufacturing, they believe.

The potential is there “to revolutionize manufacturing,” DeSimone said in a recent interview.

“Our CLIP technology offers the game-changing speed, consistent mechanical properties and choice of materials required for complex commercial quality parts.”

The magazine 3D Print sees big news coming from DeSimone and felloow researchers Professor Edward Samulski, and Dr. Alex Ermoshkin.

“It’s going to be very interesting to see just how this technology ultimately plays out, and when it may come to market,” the magazine notes.

Then it raises an interesting question:

“Now that the company is out of stealth mode, will the larger players within the space try acquiring them?”