Digital Fabrication of Mathematical Models via Low-Cost 3D FDM Desktop Printer

Background: Monitoring the ecological status of coastal ecosystems is essential to track the consequences of anthropogenic pressures and assess conservation actions. Monitoring requires periodic measurements collected in situ, replicated over large areas and able to capture their spatial distribution over time. This means developing tools and protocols that are cost-effective and provide consistent and high-quality data, which is a major challenge. A new tool and protocol with these capabilities for non-extractively assessing the status of fishes and benthic habitats is presented here: the KOSMOS 3.0 underwater video system. Methods: The KOSMOS 3.0 was conceived based on the pre-existing and successful STAVIRO lander, and developed within a digital fabrication laboratory where collective intelligence was contributed mostly voluntarily within a managed project. Our suite of mechanical, electrical, and software engineering skills were combined with ecological knowledge and field work experience. Results: Pool and aquarium tests of the KOSMOS 3.0 satisfied all the required technical specifications and operational testing. The prototype demonstrated high optical performance and high consistency with image data from the STAVIRO. The project’s outcomes are shared under a Creative Commons Attribution CC-BY-SA license. The low cost of a KOSMOS unit (~1400 €) makes multiple units affordable to modest research or monitoring budgets.

Download Full-text

Flexible 3D Printed Molds for Educational Use. Digital Fabrication of 3D Typography

International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineering (iJOE) ◽

10.3991/ijoe.v15i13.11155 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (13) ◽

pp. 4 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alejandro Bonnet De León ◽

Jose Luis Saorin ◽

Jorge De la Torre-Cantero ◽

Cecile Meier ◽

María Cabrera-Pardo

Keyword(s):

3D Modeling ◽

Low Cost ◽

Digital Fabrication ◽

3D Printer ◽

School Environments ◽

Flexible Material ◽

Educational Environments ◽

3D Printers ◽

3D Printed ◽

The Subject

One of the drawbacks of using 3D printers in educational environments is that the creation time of each piece is high and therefore it is difficult to manufacture at least one piece for each student. This aspect is important so that each student can feel part of the manufacturing process. To achieve this, 3D printers can be used, not to make pieces, but to make the molds that students use to create replicas. On the other hand, for a mold to be used to make several pieces, it is convenient to make it with flexible material. However, most used material for 3D printers (PLA) is very rigid. To solve this problem, this article designs a methodology that allows the use of low-cost 3D printers (most common in school environments) with flexible material so that each mold can be used to manufacture parts for several students. To print flexible material with low-cost printers, it is necessary to adapt the machine and the print parameters to work properly. This article analyzes the changes to be made with a low cost 3D printer and validates the use of molds in school environments. A pilot test has been carried out with 8 students of the subject of Typography, in the School of Art and Superior of Design of Tenerife. During the activity, the students carried out the process of designing a typography and creating digital molds for 3D printing with flexible material. The designs were made using free 3D modeling programs and low-cost technologies.

Download Full-text

Computer Aided Design to Produce High-Detail Models through Low Cost Digital Fabrication for the Conservation of Aerospace Heritage

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app9112338 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 2338 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jose Luis Saorín ◽

Vicente Lopez-Chao ◽

Jorge de la Torre-Cantero ◽

Manuel Drago Díaz-Alemán

Keyword(s):

Computer Aided Design ◽

Low Cost ◽

Collaborative Work ◽

European Space Agency ◽

Digital Fabrication ◽

Additional Information ◽

Space Agency ◽

Physical Scale ◽

Scale Models ◽

Aided Design

Aerospace heritage requires tools that allow its transfer and conservation beyond photographs and texts. The complexity of these engineering projects can be collected through digital graphic representation. Nevertheless, physical scale models provide additional information of high value when they involve full detailed information, for which the model in engineering was normally one more product of the manufacturing process, which entails a high cost. However, the standardization of digital fabrication allows the manufacture of high-detail models at low cost. For this reason, in this paper a case study of the graphic reengineering and planning stages for digital fabrication of a full-scale high-detail model (HDM) of the spatial instrument of the European Space Agency, named the Solar Orbiter mission Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager (SO/PHI), is presented. After the analysis of this experience, seven stages of planning and graphic reengineering are proposed through collaborative work for the low cost digital manufacture of HDMs.

Download Full-text

Low cost digital fabrication approach for thumb orthoses

Rapid Prototyping Journal ◽

10.1108/rpj-12-2015-0187 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 23 (6) ◽

pp. 1020-1031 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Miguel Fernandez-Vicente ◽

Ana Escario Chust ◽

Andres Conejero

Keyword(s):

3D Printing ◽

Computer Aided Design ◽

Low Cost ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Recovery Process ◽

Digital Fabrication ◽

Cost Comparison ◽

Content Type ◽

Custom Made ◽

The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe a novel design workflow for the digital fabrication of custom-made orthoses (CMIO). It is intended to provide an easier process for clinical practitioners and orthotic technicians alike. It further functions to reduce the dependency of the operators’ abilities and skills. Design/methodology/approach The technical assessment covers low-cost three-dimensional (3D) scanning, free computer-aided design (CAD) software, and desktop 3D printing and acetone vapour finishing. To analyse its viability, a cost comparison was carried out between the proposed workflow and the traditional CMIO manufacture method. Findings The results show that the proposed workflow is a technically feasible and cost-effective solution to improve upon the traditional process of design and manufacture of custom-made static trapeziometacarpal (TMC) orthoses. Further studies are needed for ensuring a clinically feasible approach and for estimating the efficacy of the method for the recovery process in patients. Social implications The feasibility of the process increases the impact of the study, as the great accessibility to this type of 3D printers makes the digital fabrication method easier to be adopted by operators. Originality/value Although some research has been conducted on digital fabrication of CMIO, few studies have investigated the use of desktop 3D printing in any systematic way. This study provides a first step in the exploration of a new design workflow using low-cost digital fabrication tools combined with non-manual finishing.

Download Full-text

Looks count: Computing and constructing visually expressive mass customized housing

Artificial intelligence for engineering design analysis and manufacturing ◽

10.1017/s0890060409990126 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 425-445 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Terry Knight ◽

Lawrence Sass

Keyword(s):

Cultural Values ◽

Low Cost ◽

Digital Fabrication ◽

Digital Design ◽

Numerical Control ◽

Computer Assisted ◽

Assembly Systems ◽

Shape Grammars ◽

Pilot Studies ◽

Assembly Design

AbstractThis paper introduces new research that seeks to develop low-cost, high quality, mass customizable building assembly systems that provide visually rich design variations for housing or other small structures. The building systems are intended to be tailored for particular cultures and communities by incorporating vernacular decorative design into the assembly design. Two complementary research areas are brought together in this work: shape grammars and digital fabrication. The visual, aesthetic aspects of the research are explored through shape grammars. The physical design and manufacturing aspects are explored through advanced digital design and fabrication technologies, and in particular, build on recent work on monomaterial assemblies with interlocking components that can be fabricated with computer numerical control machines and assembled easily by hand. The long-term objective of this research is the development of formal, visual–physical grammars with rules that generate complete computer-assisted design/computer-assisted manufacturing data for fabrication of full-scale components for assembly design variations. This paper reports on the first phase of this research: pilot studies for prototype assembly systems that incorporate vernacular languages from different parts of the world. The results of these studies are very promising, and demonstrate a spectrum of strategies for embedding visual properties in structural systems. Important next steps in this research are outlined. If successful, this work will lead to new solutions for low-cost, easily manufactured housing, which is especially critical in developing countries and for postdisaster environments. These new housing solutions will not only provide shelter but also support important cultural values through the integration of familiar visual design features. Beyond the specific context of housing and building assemblies, the research has the potential to impact the design and manufacture of designed artifacts on many scales and in many domains, especially in domains where visual aesthetics need to be considered jointly with physical, structural, or material requirements, and where design customization and variation is important.

Download Full-text

Use of ovitraps for the seasonal and spatial monitoring of Aedes spp. in an area endemic for arboviruses in Northeast Brazil

The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries ◽

10.3855/jidc.12245 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (04) ◽

pp. 387-393

Author(s):

João Victor Oliveira Noleto ◽

Hevilem Letícia Moura do Nascimento Moraes ◽

Tamires De Moura Lima ◽

João Gustavo Mendes Rodrigues ◽

Diogo Tavares Cardoso ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Spatial Analysis ◽

High Risk ◽

Mathematical Models ◽

Low Cost ◽

Abiotic Factors ◽

Northeast Brazil ◽

Egg Distribution ◽

Egg Density ◽

Set Up

Introduction: Due to recent outbreaks of Dengue and Chikungunya and an absence of effective monitoring of the mosquito Aedes spp. in the municipality of São Raimundo das Mangabeiras, State of Maranhão, we aimed to demonstrate the potential of ovitraps used together with mathematical models and geotechnology to improve control of this mosquito. Methodology: From January to December of 2017, ovitraps were set up in five different neighborhoods (Centro, Vila Cardoso, Nazaré, São José e São Francisco). Positivity indices were calculated for each ovitraps, besides the egg density and average number of eggs. Some of the eggs were used for species identification. Mathematical models of correlation and logistic regression were used to evaluate the influence of abiotic factors on egg distribution during each month. Spatial analysis was carried out using georeferencing. Results: A total of 4,453 eggs were counted, with A. aegypti and A. albopictus present in each month and neighborhood. The mathematical models show that rainfall can result in a significant increase in the number of eggs. Entomological calculation indicates that there is a high risk of dissemination of arboviruses in the area. Spatially, it was possible to indicate sites with the largest number of collected eggs, which may facilitate future interventions. Conclusions: As such, ovitraps have proven to be an effective and low cost method for the monitoring of Aedes spp., and that its use may help in arboviruses prevention campaigns.

Download Full-text

Modelling-Guided Design of Paper Microfluidic Networks – A Case Study of Sequential Fluid Delivery

10.26434/chemrxiv.12696545 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Dharitri Rath ◽

Bhushan Toley

Keyword(s):

Mathematical Models ◽

Low Cost ◽

Microfluidic Devices ◽

Computational Design ◽

Engineering Problem ◽

Richards Equation ◽

Trial And Error ◽

Microfluidic Networks ◽

Paper Microfluidic ◽

Flow Through

Paper-based microfluidic devices are popular for their ability to automate multi-step assays for chemical or biological sensing at a low cost, but the design of paper microfluidic networks has largely relied on experimental trial and error. A few mathematical models of flow through paper microfluidic devices have been developed and have succeeded in explaining experimental flow behaviour. However, the reverse engineering problem of designing complex paper networks guided by appropriate mathematical models is largely unsolved. In this article, we demonstrate that a two-dimensional paper network (2DPN) designed to sequentially deliver three fluids to a test zone on the device can be computationally designed and experimentally implemented without trial and error. This was accomplished by three new developments in modelling flow through paper networks: i) coupling of the Richards equation of flow through porous media to the species transport equation, ii) modelling flow through assemblies of multiple paper materials (test membrane and wicking pad), and iii) incorporating limited-volume fluid sources. We demonstrate the application of this model in the optimal design of a paper-based signal-enhanced immunoassay for a malaria protein, PfHRP2. This work lays the foundation for the development of a computational design toolbox to aid in the design of paper microfluidic networks.

Download Full-text

ANÁLISE DOS MODELOS MATEMÁTICOS UTILIZADOS NO DIMENSIONAMENTO DE EMISSORES DO TIPO MICROTUBOS NA MICROIRRIGAÇÃO

Irriga ◽

10.15809/irriga.2015v1n2p21 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 21-29

Author(s):

Dinara Grasiela Alves ◽

Marinaldo Ferreira Pinto ◽

Ana Paula Alves Barreto Damasceno ◽

Conan Ayade Salvador ◽

Tarlei Arriel Botrel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mathematical Models ◽

Low Cost ◽

Original Data ◽

Good Alternative ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

São Paulo ◽

Water Application ◽

High Uniformity ◽

Irrigation Uniformity ◽

Micro Irrigation

ANÁLISE DOS MODELOS MATEMÁTICOS UTILIZADOS NO DIMENSIONAMENTO DE EMISSORES DO TIPO MICROTUBOS NA MICROIRRIGAÇÃO DINARA GRASIELA ALVES1; MARINALDO FERREIRA PINTO2; ANA PAULA ALVES BARRETO DAMASCENO3; CONAN AYADE SALVADOR2; TARLEI ARRIEL BOTREL4 E LEONARDO DUARTE BATISTA DA SILVA5 1Pós-doutoranda, bolsista PNPD/CAPES, Departamento de Engenharia, Instituto de Tecnologia, UFRRJ, Seropédica – RJ. Email: [email protected] Doutor, Professor Adjunto, Departamento de Engenharia, Instituto de Tecnologia, UFRRJ, Seropédica – RJ. Email: [email protected]; [email protected] Doutora em Ciências, Departamento de Engenharia de Biossistemas, ESALQ, Piracicaba-São Paulo. Email: [email protected] Doutor, Professor Titular, Departamento de Engenharia de Biossistemas, ESALQ, Piracicaba-São Paulo. Email: [email protected] Doutor, Professor Associado, Departamento de Engenharia, Instituto de Tecnologia, UFRRJ, Seropédica – RJ. Email: [email protected] 1 RESUMO A busca por estratégias para otimizar a eficiência de aplicação de água tem sido objeto de estudo de vários pesquisadores. Neste sentido, destaca-se a utilização de sistemas de microirrigação com microtubos devido ao seu baixo custo e elevada uniformidade de aplicação de água, sendo uma boa alternativa para pequenos agricultores. Porém, para que sejam atingidas boas uniformidades de aplicação de água é imprescindível que o sistema seja bem dimensionado, ou seja, é necessário um projeto criterioso e detalhado. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os modelos matemáticos utilizados no dimensionamento de emissores do tipo microtubos na microirrigação. Foram comparados os três principais modelos de dimensionamento de comprimento de microtubos existentes na literatura e avaliado qual apresenta maior aderência aos dados observados em laboratório. A equação de Vermeiren-Jobling foi a que apresentou a melhor exatidão (99,9%) quando comparado com os dados originais. Palavras-chave: Irrigação, uniformidade de aplicação de água, inovação tecnológica ALVES, D. G.; PINTO, M. F.; DAMASCENO, A. P. A. B.; SALVADOR, C. A.; BOTREL, T. A.; SILVA, L. D. B. daANALYSIS OF MATHEMATICAL MODELS USED IN THE DIMENSIONING OF EMITTERS OF TYPE MICROTUBES IN THE MICROIRRIGATION 2 ABSTRACT The search for strategies to optimize water application efficiency has been studied by many researchers. In this sense, there is the use of micro-irrigation systems with microtubes due to its low cost and high uniformity of water application and is a good alternative for small farmers. However, for good water application uniformity are achieved it is essential that the system is well proportioned, ie, a careful and detailed design is required. This study aimed to evaluate the mathematical models used in the design of emitters type microtubes in microirrigation. We compared three microtubes length dimensioning models existing in the literature and evaluated which corresponds best to the data observed in the laboratory. The equation Vermeiren-Jobling showed the best accuracy (99.9%) when compared to the original data. Keywords: Irrigation, uniformity of water application, technological innovation

Download Full-text

Modelling-Guided Design of Paper Microfluidic Networks – A Case Study of Sequential Fluid Delivery

10.26434/chemrxiv.12696545.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Dharitri Rath ◽

Bhushan Toley

Keyword(s):

Mathematical Models ◽

Low Cost ◽

Microfluidic Devices ◽

Computational Design ◽

Engineering Problem ◽

Richards Equation ◽

Trial And Error ◽

Microfluidic Networks ◽

Paper Microfluidic ◽

Flow Through

Paper-based microfluidic devices are popular for their ability to automate multi-step assays for chemical or biological sensing at a low cost, but the design of paper microfluidic networks has largely relied on experimental trial and error. A few mathematical models of flow through paper microfluidic devices have been developed and have succeeded in explaining experimental flow behaviour. However, the reverse engineering problem of designing complex paper networks guided by appropriate mathematical models is largely unsolved. In this article, we demonstrate that a two-dimensional paper network (2DPN) designed to sequentially deliver three fluids to a test zone on the device can be computationally designed and experimentally implemented without trial and error. This was accomplished by three new developments in modelling flow through paper networks: i) coupling of the Richards equation of flow through porous media to the species transport equation, ii) modelling flow through assemblies of multiple paper materials (test membrane and wicking pad), and iii) incorporating limited-volume fluid sources. We demonstrate the application of this model in the optimal design of a paper-based signal-enhanced immunoassay for a malaria protein, PfHRP2. This work lays the foundation for the development of a computational design toolbox to aid in the design of paper microfluidic networks.

Download Full-text

Electronic devices for studying mechanical properties of biological tissues

Технология и конструирование в электронной аппаратуре ◽

10.15222/tkea2020.5-6.40 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 40-47

Author(s):

A. G. Dubko ◽

R. S. Osipov ◽

Yu. V. Bondarenko ◽

O. F. Bondarenko

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Mathematical Models ◽

Biological Tissue ◽

Low Cost ◽

Operation Mode ◽

Experimental System ◽

Biological Tissues ◽

Optimal Operation ◽

Biocompatible Materials ◽

Tissue Samples

The paper shows the relevance of studying the mechanical properties of biological tissues and biocompatible materials for solving the problems of general and reconstructive surgery, transplantology, manual therapy, virtual simulation of surgical operations, robotic surgery, etc. The authors present basic information about biological tissue as an object of research and give a brief overview of the devices used for studying the mechanical characteristics of biological tissues. An experimental system for testing deformations of biological tissues and biocompatible materials during compression is described. The system is developed using modern hardware and software, as well as effective technical solutions. The results of the practical use of the developed device are presented and the obtained dependences of the mechanical stress of biological tissue samples on their deformation under pressure are analyzed. The system has high metrological characteristics and low cost, and allows performing all the necessary functions for measuring, processing and visualizing the data. The measurements obtained with this system can help form the recommendations for doctors on choosing the optimal operation mode of medical devices and instruments in each specific case. In addition, the measured data can be used to create mathematical models of biological tissues and biocompatible materials in order to further carry out virtual experiments. In further studies, the authors plan to create the mathematical models of biological tissues based on the finite element method and using the actual values characterizing the tissue, obtained with the developed system.

Download Full-text