Oppo Find N6 uses 3D liquid printing to eliminate foldable display crease
A laser-scan-and-print process applied to every unit targets a long-standing pain point in folding smartphone design, as the Chinese manufacturer improves on the previous N5 model
Oppo has deployed a per-unit 3D liquid printing process on its Find N6 foldable smartphone to reduce the visible crease that has persisted as a structural limitation of folding displays since the category’s emergence.
The process begins with a laser scan of the device’s 2nd Generation Titanium Flexion Hinge, which generates a three-dimensional map identifying surface irregularities.
The company then uses that map to guide what it claims is an “industry-first 3D liquid printing” step, depositing layers of polymer into uneven areas to bring the surface toward flatness.
A UV light source cures each layer, and the full scan-print-cure cycle is repeated 20 times per unit to achieve the target finish. According to Oppo, the process achieves 0.3-micrometer precision and reduces hinge surface irregularities from 0.2 mm to 0.05 mm, creating a near-level base for the flexible display panel, or what it refers to as a “zero-feel crease”.
Hinge and glass work in tandem
The 3D printing process operates alongside a revised glass specification. The Find N6 uses what Oppo calls “Auto-Smoothing Flex Glass,” which is 50% thicker than the material used in its predecessor, the Find N5.
The additional thickness produces a 300% increase in bending resistance, according to the company. The hinge itself was widened by 11% compared to the previous generation and employs a closed teardrop geometry to protect display panel integrity while maintaining a folded thickness of 8.93 mm – the same as the Find N5.
Oppo reported that the combined effect of the material choice and printing process made the crease 82% less visible than on the Find N5, with a 20% improvement in hinge strength. The N6 is also a marginal 4 grams lighter than its predecessor.
The device received TÜV Rheinland certification for display flatness retention through 600,000 folds, with Oppo claiming operational integrity beyond one million fold cycles.
Limited market availability
The Find N6 launched on March 20th, with availability currently restricted to Asia-Pacific markets including China, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand.
