TED 2015: 3D printer 'grows' objects

A 3D printing process that can grow objects has been demonstrated at the Ted conference in Vancouver.

Carbon3D machine produced a plastic ball from a pool of resin in 10 minutes while the traditional methods would take 10 hours according to Carbon3D chief executive Prof Joseph DeSimone.

He argued that the traditional printers inherit a fundamental flaw.

"First up, the name is a misnomer. It is really 2D printing over and over again," he said.

"There are mushrooms that grow faster than some 3D-printed parts," he joked.

The Terminator inspired printer could find its uses in medical sciences for growing bones, teeth and stents.