3D printed projects, models, and community creations
Canadian researchers used 3D printing to create anatomically correct models of human organs, detailing their findings in the recently published ‘3D Printed CT-based abdominal structure mannequin for enabling research.’ Attempting to improve the medical imaging process, as well as offering more comprehensive education, the team created 3D printed organ ‘shells’ for the mannequin. When treating … Read more
A new startup has emerged from stealth mode promising a software capable of aiding designers in enhancing their parts for additive manufacturing (AM) in ways that go beyond generative design and topology optimization. Additive Flow’s newly announced FormFlow software is meant to allow engineers to quickly modify their models for AM in ways that maximize … Read more
Additive manufacturing (AM) is already making strong inroads into the injection molding industry due to its ability to reduce the cost and improve the performance of molds used in the process. What we are now starting to see is an increasing number of companies and services aimed specifically at leveraging AM and computer aided engineering … Read more
International researchers are taking advantage of the next level beyond 3D printing to produce novel materials and structures, as outlined in the recently published ‘Reversible energy absorbing meta-sandwiches by FDM 4D printing.’ With a focus on reversible energy absorption applications, the authors fabricate ‘meta-sandwiches,’ developed from hyper-elastic polymers and elasto-plastic shape memory polymers. Harkening to … Read more
If you had access to the world’s #1 supercomputer, what would you do? Figure out whatever happened to the legendary PROMIS software developed for the U.S. Department of Justice? Predict the impact of an imminent financial collapse due to multiple simultaneous market failures due to the climate crisis? Me too. Well, the team at GE … Read more
In the recently published Radiological Characteristics of Materials Used in 3-Dimensional Printing with Various Infill Densities,’ researchers from the Veterans Health Service Medical Center in Seoul, Korea are assessing new materials for 3D printing. With a focus on how infill densities affect 3D printing techniques, the research team considered a wide variety of materials, evaluated … Read more
Our skin protects us from invading microorganisms and foreign substances, eliminates harmful toxins, helps to regulate our core body temperature, and is in charge of receiving both tactile and thermal stimulation. But, it’s fragile and easily damaged, which can lead to open wounds that get infected. Michelle Orozco-Brenes, José A. Jiménez-Chavarría, and Dagoberto Arias-Aguilar, researchers … Read more
To conclude our series on the transformation of the maker movement, we’re going full circle to the place that inspired this series in the first place: Make: Community (previously known as Maker Media). As previously conveyed in our last two installments (part 5 and part 6), the maker movement is clearly not dead, and neither … Read more
Researchers from Romania have recently delved further into materials associated with 3D printing, outlining their findings in ‘Polysaccharide-Based 3D Printing Inks Supplemented with Additives.’ In this study, they combined a variety of different polysaccharides to improve 3D printing inks. “A wide range of materials have shown potential in 3D printing but modeling these materials into … Read more
Researchers from the US and Canada have released a supplement to their Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 2018 hands-on 3D printing course, reviewing techniques for creating 3D printed cranio-maxillofacial (CMF), orthopedic, and renal cancer models. These models can also be viewed in both virtual and augmented realities, as outlined in their recently published ‘Creating … Read more
Researchers from King Saud University in Saudi Arabia explore the potential—and the challenges—for industrial users engaged in metal 3D printing via EBM processes. Their findings are outlined in the recently published ‘Design for Metal Additive Manufacturing – An Investigation of Key Design Application on Electron Beam Melting,’ as authors Wadea Ameen, Abdulrahman Al-Ahmari, and Osama … Read more
Marine and offshore engineering group Sembcorp Marine has received a certification for its 3D printed parts[1]. The company’s construction and repair projects have been qualified by quality assurance and risk management company DNV GL[1]. As the company states in its release, the new development will allow them to unlock significant efficiencies and reduce supply chain … Read more