The effects of 3D printing in design thinking and design education

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 752-769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Greenhalgh
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Rapid Prototyping ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Interior Design ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Design Technology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Design Students

Purpose Rapid prototyping and three-dimensional (3D) printing allows the direct creation of objects from 3D computer-aided design files. To identify the effects 3D printing may have on student experiences and the learning of the design process, students were asked to create a design and create a prototype of that design. Design/methodology/approach This study follows an experimental design involving four total courses of interior design students. After conceptualizing a design, students were randomly selected to either create the prototype by hand or given access to 3D printing equipment. The models were graded by three subject experts using a rubric that focused on three key aspects of the model project, namely, craftsmanship, design quality and scale (proportion). Findings All three measures produced significant mean differences with a medium effect size when comparing the 3D printed models to the traditionally built models. Additional observations provided insights into the design processes approached by students using hand-constructed and 3D printed modeling. The most notable difference was the propensity for curved and rectilinear shapes by available design technologies. Research limitations/implications The experiment showed that the design technology (3D printing) did have an impact on the designs students conceptualized. This suggests that students do connect ideation to implementation, and the availability of enabling technology impacts the design process. This research was conducted in an interior design environment and consists of primarily female students. The experimental research may be limited to design programs with similar student populations and levels of exposure to various design technologies. Practical implications This research is designed to provide instructors and programs valuable information when looking at implementing new design technologies into the curriculum. Instructors are made aware that new design technologies do impact student design strategies. Additionally, although certain design technologies allow for revisions, it was apparent that students continued to be resistant to revise their initial models suggesting instructors prepare to address this issue in instruction. Social implications There is a strong body of research indicating inequality in education where students have differing access to technologies in schools. This research shows that 3D printing, similar to many technologies in education, can impact the cognitive processes of content being learned. Originality/value There is limited research on how design technologies impact design cognition and the experiences of design students. This paper looked specifically at one design technology (3D printing/rapid prototyping) and how it impacts the processes and quality of design, in addition to the quality of design products (prototypes or models). Research such as this provides instructors and faculty members an insight into how design technologies impact their curriculum.

Method for characterization and enhancement of 3D printing by binder jetting applied to the textures quality

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 162-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Gardan
Keyword(s):  
Image Processing ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Product Life Cycle ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Aided Design ◽  
Binder Jetting

Purpose This paper aims to present a technical approach to evaluate the quality of textures obtained by an inkjet during binder jetting in 3D printing on a powder bed through contours detection to improve the quality of the surface printed according to the result of the assembly between the inkjet and a granular product. Design/methodology/approach The manufacturing process is based on the use of computer-aided design and a 3D printer via binder jetting. Image processing measures the edge deviation of a texture on the granular surface with the possibility of implementing a correction in an active assembly through a “design for manufacturing” (DFM) approach. Example application is presented through first tests. Findings This approach observes a shape alteration of the printed image on a 3D printed product, and the work used the image processing method to improve the model according to the DFM approach. Originality/value This paper introduces a solution for improving the texture quality on 3D printed products realized via binder jetting. The DFM approach proposes an active assembly by compensating the print errors in upstream of a product life cycle.

Rapid prototyping eddy current sensors using 3D printing

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 106-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Li ◽  
Lifan Meng ◽  
Hongyu Wang ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Chunmei Liu
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Rapid Prototyping ◽  
Eddy Current ◽  
Fused Deposition Modeling ◽  
Current Sensor ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
Eddy Current Sensor ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Current Sensors

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the process of rapid prototyping eddy current sensors using 3D printing technology. Making full use of the advantages of 3D printing, the authors study on a new method for fabrication of an eddy current sensor. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, the authors establish a 3D model using SolidWorks. And the eddy current sensor is printed by the fused deposition modeling method. Findings Measurement results show that the 3D printing eddy current sensor has a wider linear measurement range and better linearity than the traditional manufacturing sensor. Compared to traditional eddy current sensor fabrication method, this 3D printed sensor can be fabricated at a lower cost, and the fabrication process is more convenient and faster. Practical implications This demonstrated 3D printing process can be applied to the 3D printing of sensors of more sophisticated structures that are difficult to fabricate using conventional techniques. Originality/value In this work, the process of rapid prototyping eddy current sensors using 3D printing is presented. Sensors fabricated with the 3D printing possess lots of merits than traditional manufactures. 3D printed sensors can be customized according to the configuration of the overall system, thus reducing the demand of sensor's rigid mounting interfaces. The 3D printing also reduce design costs as well as shortens the development cycle. This allows for quick translation of a design from concept to a useful device.

Biomimetic Design of 3D Printed Tissue-engineered bone Constructs

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Liu ◽  
Shifeng Liu ◽  
Yunzhe Li ◽  
Peng Zhou ◽  
Qian ma
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Engineering ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Advanced Materials ◽  
Bionic Design ◽  
Material Interfaces ◽  
Precise Control ◽  
Cell Printing ◽  
Biomimetic Scaffolds ◽  
3D Printed

Abstract:: Surgery to repair damaged tissue, which is caused by disease or trauma, is being carried out all the time, and a desirable treatment is compelling need to regenerate damaged tissues to further improve the quality of human health. Therefore, more and more research focus on exploring the most suitable bionic design to enrich available treatment methods. 3D-printing, as an advanced materials processing approach, holds promising potential to create prototypes with complex constructs that could reproduce primitive tissues and organs as much as possible or provide appropriate cell-material interfaces. In a sense, 3D printing promises to bridge between tissue engineering and bionic design, which can provide an unprecedented personalized recapitulation with biomimetic function under the precise control of the composition and spatial distribution of cells and biomaterials. This article describes recent progress in 3D bionic design and the potential application prospect of 3D printing regenerative medicine including 3D printing biomimetic scaffolds and 3D cell printing in tissue engineering.

A review on the role of 3D printing in the fight against COVID-19: safety and challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sapam Ningthemba Singh ◽  
Vavilada Satya Swamy Venkatesh ◽  
Ashish Bhalchandra Deoghare
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Medical Supplies ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
Safety And Reliability ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Comprehensive Study

Purpose During the COVID-19 pandemic, the three-dimensional (3D) printing community is actively participating to address the supply chain gap of essential medical supplies such as face masks, face shields, door adapters, test swabs and ventilator valves. This paper aims to present a comprehensive study on the role of 3D printing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, its safety and its challenges. Design/methodology/approach This review paper focuses on the applications of 3D printing in the fight against COVID-19 along with the safety and challenges associated with 3D printing to fight COVID-19. The literature presented in this paper is collected from the journal indexing engines including Scopus, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, PubMed, Web of Science, etc. The main keywords used for searches were 3D printing COVID-19, Safety of 3D printed parts, Sustainability of 3D printing, etc. Further possible iterations of the keywords were used to collect the literature. Findings The applications of 3D printing in the fight against COVID-19 are 3D printed face masks, shields, ventilator valves, test swabs, drug deliveries and hands-free door adapters. As most of these measures are implemented hastily, the safety and reliability of these parts often lacked approval. The safety concerns include the safety of the printed parts, operators and secondary personnel such as the workers in material preparation and transportation. The future challenges include sustainability of the process, long term supply chain, intellectual property and royalty-free models, etc. Originality/value This paper presents a comprehensive study on the applications of 3D printing in the fight against COVID-19 with emphasis on the safety and challenges in it.

A scalable mass customisation design process for 3D-printed respirator mask to combat COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiya Li ◽  
Usman Waheed ◽  
Mohanad Bahshwan ◽  
Louis Zizhao Wang ◽  
Livia Mariadaria Kalossaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Acquisition Time ◽  
Geometric Accuracy ◽  
Depth Sensor ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mass Customisation ◽  
Equipment Cost ◽  
Cad Models ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Acquisition Method

Purpose A three-dimensional (3D) printed custom-fit respirator mask has been proposed as a promising solution to alleviate mask-related injuries and supply shortages during COVID-19. However, creating a custom-fit computer-aided design (CAD) model for each mask is currently a manual process and thereby not scalable for a pandemic crisis. This paper aims to develop a novel design process to reduce overall design cost and time, thus enabling the mass customisation of 3D printed respirator masks. Design/methodology/approach Four data acquisition methods were used to collect 3D facial data from five volunteers. Geometric accuracy, equipment cost and acquisition time of each method were evaluated to identify the most suitable acquisition method for a pandemic crisis. Subsequently, a novel three-step design process was developed and scripted to generate respirator mask CAD models for each volunteer. Computational time was evaluated and geometric accuracy of the masks was evaluated via one-sided Hausdorff distance. Findings Respirator masks were successfully generated from all meshes, taking <2 min/mask for meshes of 50,000∼100,000 vertices and <4 min for meshes of ∼500,000 vertices. The average geometric accuracy of the mask ranged from 0.3 mm to 1.35 mm, depending on the acquisition method. The average geometric accuracy of mesh obtained from different acquisition methods ranged from 0.56 mm to 1.35 mm. A smartphone with a depth sensor was found to be the most appropriate acquisition method. Originality/value A novel and scalable mass customisation design process was presented, which can automatically generate CAD models of custom-fit respirator masks in a few minutes from a raw 3D facial mesh. Four acquisition methods, including the use of a statistical shape model, a smartphone with a depth sensor, a light stage and a structured light scanner were compared; one method was recommended for use in a pandemic crisis considering equipment cost, acquisition time and geometric accuracy.

scholarly journals Effect of temperature on the mechanical properties of 3D-printed PLA tensile specimens

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 1337-1346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marzio Grasso ◽  
Lyes Azzouz ◽  
Paula Ruiz-Hincapie ◽  
Mauro Zarrelli ◽  
Guogang Ren
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Mechanical Test ◽  
Optical Microscope ◽  
Middle Part ◽  
Gauge Length ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Relevant Effect ◽  
3D Printed

Purpose Recent advancements of 3D printing technology have brought forward the interest for this technique in many engineering fields. This study aims to focus on mechanical properties of the polylactic acid (PLA) feeding material under different thermal conditions for a typical fusion deposition of 3D printer system. Design/methodology/approach Specimens were tested under static loading within the range 20ºC to 60ºC considering different infill orientations. The combined effect of temperature and filament orientation is investigated in terms of constitutive material parameters and final failure mechanisms. The difference between feeding system before and post-3D printing was also assessed by mechanical test on feeding filament to verify the thermal profile during the deposition phase. Findings The results in terms of Young’s modulus, ultimate tensile strength (UTS), strain at failure (εf) and stress at failure (σf) are presented and discussed to study the influence of process settings over the final deposited material. Fracture surfaces have been investigated using an optical microscope to link the phenomenological interpretation of the failure with the micro-mechanical behaviour. Experimental results show a strong correlation between stiffness and strength with the infill orientation and the temperature values. Moreover, a relevant effect is related to deformed geometry of the filament approaching glass transition region of the polymer according to the deposition orientation. Research limitations/implications The developed method can be applied to optimise the stiffness and strength of any 3D-printed composite according to the infill orientation. Practical implications To avoid the failure of specimens outside the gauge length, a previously proposed modification to the geometry was adopted. The geometry has a parabolic profile with a curvature of 1,000 mm tangent to the middle part of the specimen. Originality/value Several authors have reported the stiffness and strength of 3D-printed parts under static and ambient temperature for different build parameters. However, there is a lack of literature on the combination of the latter with the temperature effects on the mechanical properties which this paper covers.

scholarly journals Experimental studies of the quality of embossed characters of the Braille alphabet

2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 607-614
Author(s):  
R. Barczyk ◽  
D. Jasińska-Choromańska
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Rapid Prototyping ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Printed Text ◽  
Blind Persons ◽  
Blind Individuals

Abstract The paper presents studies pertaining to the quality of embossed characters of the Braille alphabet used, among other applications, for tagging drug labels. The following parameters of embossed inscriptions were measured: height, diameter of the dots and surface roughness (18 samples with various combinations of their values). 48 blind individuals assessed the quality of the printed text. Statistical analysis proved that a text with dots having height of 0.9 millimeter, diameter of 1.6 millimeters and roughness Ra of about 1 micrometer to be the best. The samples had been made using two different methods of rapid prototyping: PolyJet and SLS. 3D printing is increasingly popular and the studies proved the usefulness of these methods for labeling with embossed inscriptions, due to the repeatability, durability and quality they ensure. The assessing group of blind individuals was comprised of 24 persons 14–17 years old and other 24 persons aged over 60 who were not proficient in reading Braille alphabet, This allows to conclude that a text featuring the above values of the parameters will be easy to read for the majority of blind persons.

A physical investigation of dimensional and mechanical characteristics of 3D printed nut and bolt for industrial applications

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramesh Chand ◽  
Vishal S. Sharma ◽  
Rajeev Trehan ◽  
Munish Kumar Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Shear Strength ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Surface Properties ◽  
3D Printer ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Machine Failure ◽  
Sharp Edges ◽  
3D Printed

Purpose A nut bolt joint is a primary device that connects mechanical components. The vibrations cause bolted joints to self-loosen. Created by motors and engines, leading to machine failure, and there may be severe safety issues. All the safety issues and self-loosen are directly and indirectly the functions of the accuracy and precision of the fabricated nut and bolt. Recent advancements in three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies now allow for the production of intricate components. These may be used technologies such as 3D printed bolts to create fasteners. This paper aims to investigate dimensional precision, surface properties, mechanical properties and scanning electron microscope (SEM) of the component fabricated using a multi-jet 3D printer. Design/methodology/approach Multi-jet-based 3D printed nut-bolt is evaluated in this paper. More specifically, liquid polymer-based nut-bolt is fabricated in sections 1, 2 and 3 of the base plate. Five nuts and bolts are fabricated in these three sections. Findings Dimensional inquiry (bolt dimension, general dimensions’ density and surface roughness) and mechanical testing (shear strength of nut and bolt) were carried out throughout the study. According to the ISO 2768 requirements for the General Tolerances Grade, the nut and bolt’s dimensional examination (variation in bolt dimension, general dimensions) is within the tolerance grades. As a result, the multi-jet 3D printing (MJP)-based 3D printer described above may be used for commercial production. In terms of mechanical qualities, when the component placement moves from Sections 1 to 3, the density of the manufactured part decreases by 0.292% (percent) and the shear strength of the nut and bolt decreases by 30%. According to the SEM examination, the density of the River markings, sharp edges, holes and sharp edges increased from Sections 1 to 3, which supports the findings mentioned above. Originality/value Hence, this work enlightens the aspects causing time lag during the 3D printing in MJP. It causes variation in the dimensional deviation, surface properties and mechanical properties of the fabricated part, which needs to be explored.

Novel antimicrobial materials designed for the 3D printing of medical devices used during the COVID-19 crisis

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Furka ◽  
Daniel Furka ◽  
Nitin Chandra Teja Chandra Teja Dadi ◽  
Patrik Palacka ◽  
Dominika Hromníková ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Rapid Prototyping ◽  
Medical Devices ◽  
Hybrid Material ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Layered Silicate ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Antimicrobial Materials ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Designed Materials

Purpose This study aims to describe the preparation of antimicrobial material usable in 3D printing of medical devices. Despite the wealth of technological progress at the time of the crisis caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus: Virus that causes current Pandemic situation (COVID-19), the global population had long been exposed beforehand to an acute absence of essential medical devices. As a response, a new type of composite materials intended for rapid prototyping, based on layered silicate saponite (Sap), antimicrobial dye phloxine B (PhB) and thermoplastics, has been recently developed. Design/methodology/approach Sap was modified with a cationic surfactant and subsequently functionalized with PhB. The hybrid material in powder form was then grounded with polyethylene terephthalate-glycol (PETG) or polylactic acid (PLA) in a precisely defined weight ratio and extruded into printing filaments. The stability and level of cytotoxicity of these materials in various physiological environments simulating the human body have been studied. The applicability of these materials in bacteria and a yeast-infected environment was evaluated. Findings Ideal content of the hybrid material, with respect to thermoplastic, was 15 weight %. Optimal printing temperature and speed, with respect to maintaining antimicrobial activity of the prepared materials, were T = 215°C at 50 mm/s for PETG/SapPhB and T = 230°C at 40 mm/s for PLA/SapPhB. 3 D-printed air filters made of these materials could keep inner air flow at 63.5% and 76.8% of the original value for the PLA/SapPhB and PETG/SapPhB, respectively, whereas the same components made without PhB had a 100% reduction of airflow. Practical implications The designed materials can be used for rapid prototyping of medical devices. Originality/value The new materials have been immediately used in the construction of an emergency lung ventilator, Q-vent, which has been used in different countries during the COVID-19 crisis.

Use of polymer concrete for large-scale 3D printing

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-474
Author(s):  
Martin Krčma ◽  
David Škaroupka ◽  
Petr Vosynek ◽  
Tomáš Zikmund ◽  
Jozef Kaiser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Construction Material ◽  
Polymer Concrete ◽  
Fused Deposition Modelling ◽  
Cast State ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
3D Printed

Purpose This paper aims to focus on the evaluation of a polymer concrete as a three-dimensional (3D) printing material. An associated company has developed plastic concrete made from reused unrecyclable plastic waste. Its intended use is as a construction material. Design/methodology/approach The concrete mix, called PolyBet, composed of polypropylene and glass sand, is printed by the fused deposition modelling process. The process of material and parameter selection is described. The mechanical properties of the filled material were compared to its cast state. Samples were made from castings and two different orientations of 3D-printed parts. Three-point flex tests were carried out, and the area of the break was examined. Computed tomography of the samples was carried out. Findings The influence of the 3D printing process on the material was evaluated. The mechanical performance of the longitudinal samples was close to the cast state. There was a difference in the failure mode between the states, with cast parts exhibiting a tougher behaviour, with fractures propagating in a stair-like manner. The 3D-printed samples exhibited high degrees of porosity. Originality/value The results suggest that the novel material is a good fit for 3D printing, with little to no degradation caused by the process. Layer adhesion was shown to be excellent, with negligible effect on the finished part for the longitudinal orientation. That means, if large-scale testing of buildability is successful, the material is a good fit for additive manufacturing of building components and other large-scale structures.

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