scholarly journals A Printable Device for Measuring Clarity and Colour in Lake and Nearshore Waters

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Brewin ◽  
Thomas Brewin ◽  
Joseph Phillips ◽  
Sophie Rose ◽  
Anas Abdulaziz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
Scientific Discovery ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Secchi Depth ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Water Clarity ◽  
3D Printer ◽  
Satellite Validation ◽  
Wide Range

Two expanding areas of science and technology are citizen science and three-dimensional (3D) printing. Citizen science has a proven capability to generate reliable data and contribute to unexpected scientific discovery. It can put science into the hands of the citizens, increasing understanding, promoting environmental stewardship, and leading to the production of large databases for use in environmental monitoring. 3D printing has the potential to create cheap, bespoke scientific instruments that have formerly required dedicated facilities to assemble. It can put instrument manufacturing into the hands of any citizen who has access to a 3D printer. In this paper, we present a simple hand-held device designed to measure the Secchi depth and water colour (Forel Ule scale) of lake, estuarine and nearshore regions. The device is manufactured with marine resistant materials (mostly biodegradable) using a 3D printer and basic workshop tools. It is inexpensive to manufacture, lightweight, easy to use, and accessible to a wide range of users. It builds on a long tradition in optical limnology and oceanography, but is modified for ease of operation in smaller water bodies, and from small watercraft and platforms. We provide detailed instructions on how to build the device and highlight examples of its use for scientific education, citizen science, satellite validation of ocean colour data, and low-cost monitoring of water clarity, colour and temperature.

scholarly journals Design and implementation of a three dimensions (3D) printer for modeling and pre-manufacturing applications

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 4749
Author(s):  
Ghazi Qaryouti ◽  
Abdel Rahman Salbad ◽  
Sohaib A. Tamimi ◽  
Anwar Almofleh ◽  
Wael A. Salah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
3D Printer ◽  
Overall Design ◽  
Design And Implementation ◽  
Manufacturing Applications ◽  
Functional Components

The three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies represent a revolution in the manufacturing sector due to their unique characteristics. These printers arecapable to increase the productivitywithlower complexity in addition tothe reduction inmaterial waste as well the overall design cost prior large scalemanufacturing.However, the applications of 3D printing technologies for the manufacture of functional components or devices remain an almost unexplored field due to their high complexity. In this paper the development of 3D printing technologies for the manufacture of functional parts and devices for different applications is presented. The use of 3D printing technologies in these applicationsis widelyused in modelingdevices usually involves expensive materials such as ceramics or compounds. The recent advances in the implementation of 3D printing with the use of environmental friendly materialsin addition to the advantages ofhighperformance and flexibility. The design and implementation of relatively low-cost and efficient 3D printer is presented. The developed prototype was successfully operated with satisfactory operated as shown from the printed samples shown.

scholarly journals Characterization of 3-Dimensional Printing and Casting Materials for use in Computed Tomography and X-ray Imaging Phantoms

2020 ◽  
Vol 125 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. E. Yunker ◽  
A. Holmgren ◽  
K. F. Stupic ◽  
J. L. Wagner ◽  
S. Huddle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Imaging System ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
3D Printer ◽  
Attenuation Coefficients ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
Imaging Phantoms ◽  
Wide Range

Imaging phantoms are used to calibrate and validate the performance of medical computed tomography (CT) systems. Many new materials developed for three-dimensional (3D) printing processes may be useful in the direct printing or casting of biomimetic and geometrically accurate CT and X-ray phantoms. The X-ray linear attenuation coefficients of polymer samples were measured to discover materials for use as tissue mimics in phantoms. This study included a cohort of polymer compounds that were tested in cured form. The cohort consisted of 101 standardized polymer samples fabricated from: two-part silicones and polyurethanes used in commercial casting processes; one-part optically cured polyurethanes used in 3D printing; and fused deposition thermoplastics used in 3D printing. The testing was performed with a commercial micro-CT imaging system from 40 kVp to 140 kVp. The X-ray linear coefficients of the samples and human tissues were plotted with error bars to allow the reader to identify suitable mimics. The X-ray linear attenuation coefficients of the tested material samples spanned a wide range of values, with a small number of them overlapping established human tissue mimic values. Twenty 3D printer materials and one castable polyurethane tracked nylon and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) as established X-ray mimics for fat. Five 3D printer materials tracked water as an established X-ray mimic for muscle.

scholarly journals Analysis of Mechanical Properties of Polylactic Acid Using a New 3D Printer Nozzle

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 666-675
Author(s):  
Nor Aiman Sukindar ◽  
Mohd Khairol Anuar Mohd Ariffin ◽  
B. T. Hang Tuah Baharudin ◽  
Che Nor Aiza Jaafar ◽  
Mohd Idris Shah Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Polylactic Acid ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Extrusion Process ◽  
3D Printer ◽  
Layer By Layer ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Stability And Accuracy

Additive manufacturing, also known as three-dimensional (3D) printing, is the process of developing 3D products in a layer-by-layer manner using filament as a material feedstock to create a solid structure. Owing to its unique properties and advantages, which include biodegradability and printing speed, polylactic acid is one of the most common 3D printing extrusion materials. While a considerable attention has been paid to the manipulation of process parameters in order to achieve desired finished product quality, to date less research has been performed on improving the hardware systems of low-cost 3D printers. This study focuses on fabricating the 3D printer nozzle parts, with an emphasis on die angle, nozzle diameter, liquefier design, and insulator composition. Modifying the properties of these components from the conventional nozzle, it is possible to optimize the stability and accuracy of the extrusion process, leading to better-quality printed products. To demonstrate the capability of the new nozzle, its tensile and compressive strengths were compared to those of a conventional nozzle. The obtained results proved that the proposed augmentations to the nozzle system lead to finished products with improved mechanical properties.

scholarly journals Three-dimensional printing versus conventional machining in the creation of a meatal urethral dilator: a cost and mechanical strength analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Yue-Cheng Chen ◽  
Jacob Skewes ◽  
Ryan Daley ◽  
Maria Ann Woodruff ◽  
Nicholas John Rukin
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Strength Analysis ◽  
3D Printer ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Conventional Machining

Abstract Background Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a promising technology in medicine. Low-cost 3D printing options are accessible but the limitations are often poorly understood. We aim to compare fused deposition modelling (FDM), the most common and low cost 3D printing technique, with selective laser sintering (SLS) and conventional machining techniques in manufacturing meatal urethral dilators which were recently removed from the Australian market.Methods A meatal urethral dilator was designed using computer-aided design (CAD). The dilator was 3D printed vertically orientated on a low cost FDM 3D printer in polylactic acid (PLA) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). It was also 3D printed horizontally orientated in ABS on a high-end FDM 3D printer with soluble support material, as well as on a SLS 3D printer in medical nylon. The dilator was also machined in medical stainless steel using a lathe. All dilators were tested mechanically in a custom rig by hanging calibrated weights from the handle until the dilator snapped.Results The horizontally printed ABS dilator experienced failure at a greater load than the vertically printed PLA and ABS dilators respectively (503g vs 283g vs 163g, p < 0.001). The SLS nylon dilator did not fail but began to bend and deformed at around 5,000g of pressure. The steel dilator did not bend even at 10,000g of pressure. The cost per dilator is highest for the steel dilator if assuming a low quantity of five at 98 USD, but this decreases to 30 USD for a quantity of 1000. In contrast, the cost for the SLS dilator is 33 USD for a quantity of five but relatively unchanged at 27 for a quantity of 1000.Conclusions SLS and conventional machining created clinically functional meatal dilators but low-cost FDM printing could not. We suggest that at the current time 3D printing is not a replacement for conventional manufacturing techniques which are still the most reliable way to produce large quantities of parts with a simple geometry such as the meatal dilator. 3D printing is best used for patient-specific parts, prototyping or manufacturing complex parts that have additional functionality that cannot be achieved with conventional machining methods.

scholarly journals Efficient 3D printing via photooxidation of ketocoumarin based photopolymerization

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyu Zhao ◽  
Ye Zhao ◽  
Ming-De Li ◽  
Zhong’an Li ◽  
Haiyan Peng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Visible Light ◽  
Light Exposure ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
3D Printer ◽  
Light Penetration ◽  
Viable Solution

AbstractPhotopolymerization-based three-dimensional (3D) printing can enable customized manufacturing that is difficult to achieve through other traditional means. Nevertheless, it remains challenging to achieve efficient 3D printing due to the compromise between print speed and resolution. Herein, we report an efficient 3D printing approach based on the photooxidation of ketocoumarin that functions as the photosensitizer during photopolymerization, which can simultaneously deliver high print speed (5.1 cm h−1) and high print resolution (23 μm) on a common 3D printer. Mechanistically, the initiating radical and deethylated ketocoumarin are both generated upon visible light exposure, with the former giving rise to rapid photopolymerization and high print speed while the latter ensuring high print resolution by confining the light penetration. By comparison, the printed feature is hard to identify when the ketocoumarin encounters photoreduction due to the increased lateral photopolymerization. The proposed approach here provides a viable solution towards efficient additive manufacturing by controlling the photoreaction of photosensitizers during photopolymerization.

scholarly journals An Overview on the Rheology, Mechanical Properties, Durability, 3D Printing, and Microstructural Performance of Nanomaterials in Cementitious Composites

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 2950
Author(s):  
Hongwei Song ◽  
Xinle Li
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Cementitious Materials ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Cementitious Composites ◽  
Split Tensile Strength ◽  
Contour Crafting ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Active Research

The most active research area is nanotechnology in cementitious composites, which has a wide range of applications and has achieved popularity over the last three decades. Nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as possible materials to be used in the field of civil engineering. Previous research has concentrated on evaluating the effect of different NPs in cementitious materials to alter material characteristics. In order to provide a broad understanding of how nanomaterials (NMs) can be used, this paper critically evaluates previous research on the influence of rheology, mechanical properties, durability, 3D printing, and microstructural performance on cementitious materials. The flow properties of fresh cementitious composites can be measured using rheology and slump. Mechanical properties such as compressive, flexural, and split tensile strength reveal hardened properties. The necessary tests for determining a NM’s durability in concrete are shrinkage, pore structure and porosity, and permeability. The advent of modern 3D printing technologies is suitable for structural printing, such as contour crafting and binder jetting. Three-dimensional (3D) printing has opened up new avenues for the building and construction industry to become more digital. Regardless of the material science, a range of problems must be tackled, including developing smart cementitious composites suitable for 3D structural printing. According to the scanning electron microscopy results, the addition of NMs to cementitious materials results in a denser and improved microstructure with more hydration products. This paper provides valuable information and details about the rheology, mechanical properties, durability, 3D printing, and microstructural performance of cementitious materials with NMs and encourages further research.

scholarly journals Supercritical Impregnation of PLA Filaments with Mango Leaf Extract to Manufacture Functionalized Biomedical Devices by 3D Printing

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2125
Author(s):  
José María Rosales ◽  
Cristina Cejudo ◽  
Lidia Verano ◽  
Lourdes Casas ◽  
Casimiro Mantell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Activity ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Polylactic Acid ◽  
Leaf Extract ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
3D Printer ◽  
Pharmacological Properties ◽  
Bioactive Properties ◽  
Supercritical Impregnation ◽  
Mango Leaves

Polylactic Acid (PLA) filaments impregnated with ethanolic mango leaves extract (MLE) with pharmacological properties were obtained by supercritical impregnation. The effects of pressure, temperature and amount of extract on the response variables, i.e., swelling, extract loading and bioactivity of the PLA filaments, were determined. The analysis of the filaments biocapacities revealed that impregnated PLA filaments showed 11.07% antidenaturant capacity and 88.13% antioxidant activity, which after a 9-day incubation shifted to 30.10% and 9.90%, respectively. Subsequently, the same tests were conducted on printed samples. Before their incubation, the printed samples showed 79.09% antioxidant activity and no antidenaturant capacity was detected. However, after their incubation, the antioxidant activity went down to only 2.50%, while the antidenaturant capacity raised up to 23.50%. The persistence of the bioactive properties after printing opens the possibility of using the functionalized PLA filaments as the feed for a three-dimensional (3D) printer.

scholarly journals Low-Cost Customized Cranioplasty with Polymethyl Methacrylate Using 3D Printer Generated Mold: An Institutional Experience and Review of Literature

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ankit Chaudhary ◽  
Virendra Deo Sinha ◽  
Sanjeev Chopra ◽  
Jitendra Shekhawat ◽  
Gaurav Jain
Keyword(s):  
Polymethyl Methacrylate ◽  
Bone Fractures ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Operating Time ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Wound Dehiscence ◽  
3D Printer ◽  
Skull Defects ◽  
Aesthetic Appearance ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Background Cranioplasty is performed to repair skull defects and to restore normal skull anatomy. Optimal reconstruction remains a topic of debate. Autologous bone flap is the standard option but it may not be available due to traumatic bone fractures, bone infection, and resorption. The authors present their experience with prefabrication of precise and low-cost polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) mold using three-dimensional (3D) digital printing. Methods A total of 30 patients underwent cranioplasty between March 2017 and September 2019 at Sawai Man Singh Medical College Jaipur, India. Preoperative data included diagnosis for which decompressive craniectomy was done and Glasgow coma scale score. Intraoperative data included operating time. Postoperative data included cosmetic outcome in the form of cranial contour and margins, complications such as infection, seroma, implant failure, wound dehiscence, and hematoma. Results Patient age at cranioplasty ranged from 12 to 63 years with a mean age of 36.7 years. The mean operating time was 151.6 minutes (range 130–190 minutes). The mean follow-up period was 8 months (range 6–13 months). Postoperative wound dehiscence developed in one case (3.3%). Cranial contour and approximation of the margins were excellent and aesthetic appearance improved in all patients. Conclusion Low-cost PMMA implant made by digital 3D printer mold is associated with reconstruction of the deformed skull contour giving satisfactory results to the patient and his family members, at a low cost compared with other commercially available implants. This technique could be a breakthrough in cranioplasty.

Research on the printing error of tilted vertical beams in delta-robot 3D printers

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuezong Wang ◽  
Jinghui Liu ◽  
Mengfei Guo ◽  
LiuQIan Wang
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Kinematic Model ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
3D Printer ◽  
Simulation Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Printing Quality ◽  
Delta Robot ◽  
Error Generation ◽  
Error Simulation

Purpose A three-dimensional (3D) printing error simulation approach is proposed to analyze the influence of tilted vertical beams on the 3D printing accuracy. The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of such errors on printing accuracy and printing quality for delta-robot 3D printer. Design/methodology/approach First, the kinematic model of a delta-robot 3D printer with an ideal geometric structure is proposed by using vector analysis. Then, the normal kinematic model of a nonideal delta-robot 3D robot with tilted vertical beams is derived based on the above ideal kinematic model. Finally, a 3D printing error simulation approach is proposed to analyze the influence of tilted vertical beams on the 3D printing accuracy. Findings The results show that tilted vertical beams can indeed cause 3D printing errors and further influence the 3D printing quality of the final products and that the 3D printing errors of tilted vertical beams are related to the rotation angles of the tilted vertical beams. The larger the rotation angles of the tilted vertical beams are, the greater the geometric deformations of the printed structures. Originality/value Three vertical beams and six horizontal beams constitute the supporting parts of the frame of a delta-robot 3D printer. In this paper, the orientations of tilted vertical beams are shown to have a significant influence on 3D printing accuracy. However, the effect of tilted vertical beams on 3D printing accuracy is difficult to capture by instruments. To reveal the 3D printing error mechanisms under the condition of tilted vertical beams, the error generation mechanism and the quantitative influence of tilted vertical beams on 3D printing accuracy are studied by simulating the parallel motion mechanism of a delta-robot 3D printer with tilted vertical beams.

scholarly journals Implementing a 3D printing service in a biomedical library

2017 ◽  
Vol 105 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Verma Walker, MLIS
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
3D Modeling ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
National Institutes Of Health ◽  
3D Printer ◽  
Service Model ◽  
Steep Learning Curve ◽  
3D Printers ◽  
Creative Problem

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is opening new opportunities in biomedicine by enabling creative problem solving, faster prototyping of ideas, advances in tissue engineering, and customized patient solutions. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Library purchased a Makerbot Replicator 2 3D printer to give scientists a chance to try out this technology. To launch the service, the library offered training, conducted a survey on service model preferences, and tracked usage and class attendance. 3D printing was very popular, with new lab equipment prototypes being the most common model type. Most survey respondents indicated they would use the service again and be willing to pay for models. There was high interest in training for 3D modeling, which has a steep learning curve. 3D printers also require significant care and repairs. NIH scientists are using 3D printing to improve their research, and it is opening new avenues for problem solving in labs. Several scientists found the 3D printer so helpful they bought one for their labs. Having a printer in a central and open location like a library can help scientists, doctors, and students learn how to use this technology in their work.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document