--- title: "RLP’s Levity 3D printer is breaking the law… of gravity" url: https://www.voxelmatters.com/rlps-levity-3d-printer-is-breaking-the-law-of-gravity/ date: 2025-06-18 modified: 2025-06-16 lang: en author: "Davide Sher" description: "Say what you will about the additive manufacturing industry, but one thing is for sure: it never stops innovating. New technologies continue to emerge, and some are capable of disrupting..." categories: - "3D Printer Hardware" - "Decision Makers" - "Executive Interviews" - "Polymers" - "Thermosets" tags: - "Featured" image: https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RLP-levity-640x455.jpg word_count: 838 --- # RLP’s Levity 3D printer is breaking the law… of gravity Say what you will about the additive manufacturing industry, but one thing is for sure: it never stops innovating. New technologies continue to emerge, and some are capable of disrupting an already highly disruptive segment of manufacturing. The title of the potentially most disruptive technology to be commercialized in 2026 will likely go to [MIT spinoff Rapid Liquid Print](https://www.voxelmatters.directory/company/rlp-rapid-liquid-printing/) and [RLP’s new 3D printer, Levity](https://www.voxelmatters.com/rlp-gets-ready-to-launch-levity-3d-printer-in-2026/). With over five years of rigorous development, Levity brings a fresh concept: gravity-free manufacturing. In an exclusive conversation with VoxelMatters, RLP CEO Schendy Kernizan dives deep into what makes Levity a true innovation in additive manufacturing. ![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Schendy_Kernizan2020.jpeg)RLP Co-founder and CEO, and MIT Self Assembly Lab Director, Schendy Kernizan. From the outset, RLP (Rapid Liquid Print) challenged conventional 3D printing by eliminating long-standing limitations. Traditional printing involves numerous post-processing steps, substantial material waste, and safety risks associated with removing fragile supports. But what if you could skip all of that? Levity makes it possible through a novel gel-based suspension system, enabling objects to be printed mid-air without supporting structures. ## Five years to break free from gravity Schendy Kernizan explained, “We’ve been building this machine for five years. Before Levity, we sold three beta units to trusted partners to collect feedback and validate performance.” This patient approach allowed RLP to refine hardware, material and software, evolving their system from a cool concept to a product with significant market potential. “The first thing we did correctly was build a good team,” Schendy noted. “From the first hire, we brought in people who think differently. Innovation thrives when you have minds that challenge each other creatively.” He attributes the success to their unique tech and this dynamic and inclusive culture. At the core of Levity’s power lies its gravity-free manufacturing approach. The process prints directly into a reusable suspension gel, eliminating the need for physical supports. After printing, parts are rinsed in water, no curing, sanding, or stress. This slashes waste and reduces post-processing time, leading to faster, cleaner, and more sustainable production. The object forms within a hydrogel bath, which keeps the print stable regardless of its geometry or orientation. “You just need a sink to rinse the part and a shelf to store your gel,” Kernizan said. “That’s it.” The hydrogel is water-based, non-toxic, and safe for both the environment and users. ## [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RLP_Levity_Gravity_Free_99194a3444074acd88bc35cfc3b94cf5335ccae9-6960x4640-1-640x427.avif)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RLP_Levity_Gravity_Free_99194a3444074acd88bc35cfc3b94cf5335ccae9-6960x4640-1-scaled.avif) [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RLP_Levity_Gravity_Free_33674b9faf98b34d338018168678da60ce13ea61-5494x3662-1-640x427.avif)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RLP_Levity_Gravity_Free_33674b9faf98b34d338018168678da60ce13ea61-5494x3662-1-scaled.avif) [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RLP_Levity_Gravity_Free_9695a447b44bd4ab0944eccb1b058f2dee7b1bf4-6481x4321-1-640x427.avif)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RLP_Levity_Gravity_Free_9695a447b44bd4ab0944eccb1b058f2dee7b1bf4-6481x4321-1-scaled.avif) [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RLP_Levity_Gravity_Free_37d0cd19420a616ff8d5d2fa599230b81fab5f03-5523x3681-1-640x426.avif)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RLP_Levity_Gravity_Free_37d0cd19420a616ff8d5d2fa599230b81fab5f03-5523x3681-1-scaled.avif) ## Simply silicone With external dimensions of 129.1×117×223 cm and a build volume of 50×50×50 cm, Levity balances footprint and productivity. It's optimized for industrial-scale applications yet simple enough to operate with minimal hardware. Levity is focused on elastomer printing, particularly silicones. Schendy emphasized, “We can print all elastomers. While our commercial focus is silicone, we’ve shown that polyurethane and photocurable resin can be used too.” These silicones range from shore 00-50 to shore 50A, allowing different flexibility levels within the same part. The materials are platinum-cured and suitable for high—and low-temperature applications. Thanks to proprietary material blending, Levity can print parts with varying durometers in a single run. "The straightforward process is blending. If you want 10% of the part to be shore 50A and the rest shore 30, we can do that seamlessly,” said Kernizan. ![ARMA 3D printed performance gloves](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/arma-gloves-1.jpg)A next-gen glove shows unique applications that can be created using RLP's technology. The hydrogel used during printing is fully reusable and cost-effective. According to Schendy, “It’s just water transformed into a gel. Safe, drainable, and reusable—it keeps your costs low and your conscience clear.” To complement the hardware, RLP developed a proprietary platform called VEER. It’s designed to handle non-planar toolpaths and material-driven slicing strategies, delivering smooth, seamless prints. “Existing slicers couldn’t handle what our technology needed. So we built our own,” Kernizan noted. VEER ensures high-speed, continuous manufacturing without compromising print quality. ## Levity across industries and geographies RLP collaborates with automakers like BMW to explore low-volume, high-complexity part production without the traditional cost barriers of tooling or casting. “You can print from a digital file—no mold needed,” Schendy explained. Perhaps most exciting is Levity’s potential in healthcare. From customized prosthetics to inflatable bladders, the precision and safety of silicone printing make it ideal for medical use. “It’s amazing to be part of a process where the output directly benefits someone’s health and comfort,” Kernizan shared. ![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/RLP_teampic_Rapid25-e1749823747590.jpeg) Levity’s flexibility also opens doors for designers and artists, offering new frontiers in fashion, cosplay, and prosthetics that combine function and aesthetics. To explore as many potential applications as possible, RLP runs a hybrid model, using Levity internally as a service bureau while also selling machines. “We’ve built our own service pipeline to validate the tech and help customers identify viable applications,” Kernizan said. With a team of 11, RLP plans to scale slowly and intentionally. “We’ll probably grow to 14 or 15 this year,” he said, emphasizing lean growth to ensure sustained innovation. RLP is also preparing for global markets. “We’re planning to be at Formnext this year,” said Schendy. “We want to bring Levity to Europe and meet partners who can support regional rollouts.”