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Australia: Titomic Unveils Largest 3D Printed UAV, Over 1.8 Meters in Diameter

Titomic, is unveiling what they claim to be the largest titanium 3D printed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at over 1.8 meters in diameter (almost six feet). Created at Titomic’s research and development facility in Melbourne, Australia, the UAV was printed on the TKF 9000, with their proprietary technology, Titomic Kinetic Fusion™ (TKF), using titanium as the material for a rugged vehicle prototype meant for future applications in the military or law enforcement.

The UAV, benefiting from all the advantages of 3D printing with metal, is both strong and lightweight and can be easily fortified for live combat situations offering both durability and protection for soldiers. Drones are a common type of unmanned vehicle, often directed by remote control or a computer which may be located on board.

Potential is expanding for UAVS rapidly, although their uses have been primarily military. With metal 3D printing, companies and organizations like the military can make armaments on demand, and quickly. With the use of titanium for this endeavor, Titomic is demonstrating how their new technology can integrate materials historically known to be challenging due to affordability issues and size limits.

“Besides a relatively high melting point, titanium’s corrosion resistance and strength-to-density ratio is the highest of any metallic element. Titanium is also 60% denser than aluminum and twice as strong,” states Titomic on their website.

This should be encouraging to other companies interested in taking advantage of this material, although they may have been previously restricted to the use of more fragile plastic or heavier metal. With TKF, titanium powder particles are sprayed at supersonic speed, fusing together and consequently, forming enormous 3D printed parts.

“We’re excited to be working with the global defense industry to combine Australian resources, manufacturing and innovation which will increase our sovereign capability to provide further modern technology for Australia and its defense force,” said Titomic Managing Director Jeff Lang.

TKF came onto the industrial market a couple of years ago, and in that time, Titomic has not only continued to expand commercialization, but they have also secured patents in both the US and Australia. Co-developed and licensed with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), this unique process is behind the manufacturing of metal parts, and also surface coatings like nickel, copper, scandium, and other alloys like stainless steel. Numerous metals and materials can be melded into singular, high-performance parts.

3D printing brings something to nearly every industry today, from furthering aerospace endeavors to helping fashion designers and creators around the world break artistic barriers. But when it comes to fabrication with metal, users—often larger industrial companies—are looking forward to power. And this is demonstrated in the additive manufacturing hardware, a vast array of metal powders offering strength, as well as new techniques allowing companies to produce strong yet lightweight parts that may not have been possible previously.

What do you think of this news? Let us know your thoughts! Join the discussion of this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com.

[Source / Images: Titomic]

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How to Paint 3D Printed Eyeglass Frames Your Favorite Color

If you want to learn how to add finishing touches to your products post-production before shipping to your customers or transform your own 3D printed designs to a more vivacious color you can do so by following a few simple steps. In this tutorial, Steven and Jeremy Gonzalez of The Super Maker Bros demonstrate how to paint eyeglass frames printed in Multi Jet Fusion Plastic PA12 in multiple colors, a process that can be applied to many other projects of the same 3D printed material.

3D printed eyeglass frames in MJF PA12, 220/400/600 grit sandpaper (Photo by The Super Maker Bros)

Primers and paints (Photo by The Super Maker Bros)

Here is what you will need:

  •       3D model printed in Multi Jet Fusion Plastic PA12 (also applicable for Versatile Plastic)
  •       220 grit, 400 grit and 600 grit sandpaper
  •       Spray paint primer
  •       Spray paint in your desired color(s)
  •       Clear coat matte or gloss spray paint
  •       Reusable drop cloths or newspaper to protect your work area from paint
  •       Highly Recommended: A respirator with replaceable filters will not only protect you from spray paint fumes but will last you through many more future paint projects.

 

Once you have these materials you are ready to get started. Follow the steps below and check out this video to see each step in action. 

Step 1:

Prepare your workspace by placing newspaper or a drop cloth over the area to cover any furniture or floor space in range of your spray painting pattern. Protect enough space to spray from different angles.

Step 2:

Put on your respirator. Spray paint fumes are toxic and sanding generates dust particles that are dangerous to inhale, so make sure you sand and spray in a well ventilated area and wear your respirator.

Step 3:

3D printed eyeglass frames, sanded (Photo by The Super Maker Bros)

Start by sanding the glasses pieces to smooth out their surfaces. This will also help the paint adhere to the plastic. Makerbro Tip: The best sandpaper to use is wet/dry or waterproof paper because getting the paper wet helps cool the plastic while sanding as well as keeps small dislodged plastic particles under control. Waterproof sandpaper is black instead of tan or beige.

Begin with a rougher, 220 grit sandpaper to remove any bulky texture and then move on to 400 grit and 600 grit to buff the surface smooth. The lower the number, the rougher the paper is. Be sure to rinse and dry the pieces to remove loose particles.

Makerbro Tip: To give your sandpaper more longevity, apply spray adhesive to the back of your quarter sandpaper sheet and fold it over to make an extra thick one-eighth sheet. This will give you the ability to use more pressure without tearing a hole in the paper.

Step 4:

Prime the frames using a spray primer like the Dupli color filler primer. Spray the glasses using a sweeping motion, keeping the spray can at a distance of about 6 to 12 inches. Spraying too closely will coat the object in too much paint and cause dripping or even cause the coat to crack when dry. Make sure all visible surface area is covered and let the pieces dry before spraying the other side.

Makerbro Tip: Spray paint takes about 30 minutes to dry to touch but wait between 1 to 2 hours to handle it. It will be fully dry after 24 hours.

Step 5:

Once the glasses are primed, sand the surfaces once more using the 600 grit paper to achieve maximum smoothness and wipe away any resulting dust.

Step 6:

3D printed eyeglass frames, painted (Photo by The Super Maker Bros)

3D printed eyeglass frames, painted (Photo by The Super Maker Bros)

Using the same spray painting method as with the primer, spray each piece in the color of your choice and let fully dry for 24 hours.

Makerbro Tip: Want to use more than one color on the same piece? Use masking tape to cover parts of your project you want in a different color. Once the first color dries, cover that portion and paint the rest.

Step 7:

Once the glasses have had 24 hours to fully dry, it’s time to seal up the paint with a topcoat. Using the same spray painting method, apply two layers of topcoat, leaving 1 to 2 hours of drying time in between. This helps protect the paint and enhances the shine or matte finish desired. It also gives a buffer between paint and skin contact.

Step 8:

3D printed eyeglass frames, painted in blue and brown (Photo by The Super Maker Bros)

3D printed eyeglass frames, painted in green and red (Photo by The Super Maker Bros)

Now assemble the pieces and you’ve got a brand new pair of glasses! You can have a pair in every color.

Check out The Super Maker Bros on Instagram (where they’ll be posting more photos and videos) and YouTube for more fun 3D printed projects.

More from the Material of the Month Series: PA12

Part One: Material Overview
Part Two: Material Comparison: Nylon Plastics
Part Three: Business Example: PA12 used in the virtual reality industry

The post How to Paint 3D Printed Eyeglass Frames Your Favorite Color appeared first on Shapeways Magazine.

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This #3D Printed Animatronic Cogsworth Wiggles on the Hour

NewImage

From j48hicks on instructables:

This project is an animated figure of Cogsworth from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. I began this project to learn more about designing animatronics and the program required to bring them to life. For this design, I wanted to develop a program that would allow Cogsworth to wiggle back and forth every hour the same number as the hour and finish with a bow.

Read more

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Interview with Dr. Jenny Chen of 3DHEALS on Bioprinting and 3D Printing in Healthcare

A few years ago I started to notice a stream of interesting information coming from radiologist Jenny Chen. She was taking it upon herself to organize medical professionals the world over. She wanted to get Doctors and researchers in rooms together to learn, discuss and share information. 3DHEALS sprang from this enthusiasm. Now active the world over this organization brings together people in gatherings large and small. Professionals can now learn from each other directly and help innovate in bioprinting and 3D printing for healthcare. Isolated islands of information now can become shared torrents of understanding and knowledge. I really believe that 3DHEALS will do a lot to accelerate 3D printing in medicine. A lot of people are enthusiastic now but do not know where to start and where to learn. For bioprinting, 3DHEALS has become that central global hub. We interviewed Jenny Chen to find out more about 3DHEALS.

Who are the 3DHEALS members, and why did you start it? 

As a radiologist, 3D printing blurs the line between the digital imaging world and the physical world. Three years ago, I wanted to make my models to help the surgeons I work with, but there was no clear pathway. In addition to cost, the software and hardware were both challenging to use. There was no instruction. That’s why I started 3DHEALS to meet people who could help me with achieving my own goal of making a model. Initially, this was a small meetup group in San Francisco, but very soon, the group attracted talented professions from many different disciplines: engineering, healthcare providers, entrepreneurs, investors, students/residents, scientists, and more. Everyone brings in unique expertise and perspectives, and our meetings soon become more organized educational events, first in San Francisco, then all over the world.

So, in short, 3DHEALS intends to break down barriers between people and welcome everyone interested in using 3D printing technology in healthcare to join the conversation.

What is its purpose? 

3DHEALS’ goals are:

To connect innovators and early adopters on a single platform in healthcare 3D printing, bioprinting, and related technologies.
To educate communities worldwide in a single language that everyone understands.

To discover startups/innovators in every corner of the world and give them a stage to be visible.

What is holding back 3D printing in hospitals?

We have published multiple blogs from various experts all over the world in our “Expert Corner” section focusing on this particular topic, and these experts are in the trenches every day trying to tackle this very question. However, to sum up, these opinions are 1) Lack of knowledge. Hospitals that are at the forefront of using 3D printing often have in-house advocates. These are often surgeons or radiologists who first had the first-hand experience elsewhere. Their strong voices and persistence will bring administrative attention to this new area of development. 2) The large gap between “costs” and “benefits.” Costs include the cost of hardware and materials, staffing, opportunity cost (space + time), potential liability risk, etc. Benefits include improved workflow (i.e., decreased turn-around time), clinical outcome improvement, the pathway to more reimbursement, etc. This gap remains at a level unpalatable to many hospitals that don’t have enough R&D budget like the Mayo Clinic, for example. 3DHEALS had explored the financial aspect of implementing 3D printing for pre-surgical planning in-depth in one of our earlier publication (A Roadmap from Idea to Implementation: 3D Printing for Pre-Surgical Application: Operational Management for 3D Printing in Surgery), which still applies today.

What is holding back 3D printing in medicine? 

Not enough education, not enough expert network, not enough innovation/startups is holding back 3D printing in medicine.

It is not just a problem of healthcare; it is a problem of an entire ecosystem. This ecosystem should include many different members, ranging from engineering schools having an additive manufacturing curriculum for biomedical students to 3D printing companies that can look beyond currently a limited number of healthcare products (e.g., braces, aligners, etc.), all requiring nonconformists.

Are you a big believer in personalized medicine? 

If I am picking words here, I would argue that medicine has always “intended” to be personalized, and not a single patient I know wanted to be treated as an “average.” That’s human, we value individualism, and we have an ego. However, in reality, we know medicine often treats us as a part of an algorithm.

If I have to forecast, I think “decentralized medicine” AND “personalized medicine” will be the way our future healthcare will look like. 3D printing can enable both of these goals. I have written a few blogs recently talking about this vision of decentralized healthcare, where the hospitals will play a diminishing role as care provider, if not significantly different position.

What do you think of bioprinting?

Bioprinting is a fascinating field to me because it not only includes all the fantastic capabilities of 3D printing, but also combines stem cell technologies, material sciences, and biological sciences. I believe these elements will play a significant role in future medical innovations, whether or not bioprinting “survives.”

The subject became a hot topic because of its potential role in organ regeneration, but I would argue that if people want to solve that problem, then they should focus on that problem, regardless of the solution, bioprinting or not. They should open up their options to include any regenerative techniques available and not limited to just bioprinting.

On the other hand, from a different angle, if a bioprinting company wants to thrive for the long run, then it should think about what products it can produce are the most scalable and profitable with its technologies.

What are the best resources for doctors/hospitals to learn on implementing 3D printing?

I would recommend they check out 3DHEALS website. There are several main things they can take advantage of:
Read the “Expert Corner” blogs: Many of them address the issues they will encounter at any stage of the implementation.
Check out the “Influencer Interviews” section of the website: This is where they can figure out who is doing what so that they can directly connect with individuals that can be their mentors or collaborators directly.

Attend 3DHEALS events. We have had 70+ events all over the world, aiming to build local communities and connecting global hub without the high cost of attending conferences. That said, we are working on 3DHEALS2020, so stay tuned.
In terms of non-3DHEALS events/resources, I recommend SME and RSNA-SIG, both have dedicated individuals focusing on accelerating the adoption of 3D printing into healthcare, from different organizational angles.

I’ve always wondered why there isn’t more “non-critical” 3D printing going on, e.g., post-operative braces?

There are a lot of these activities. However, in the past, similar to a lack of adoption in hospitals, the same economic barriers apply. The gap between “costs” and “benefits” remains wide enough to not allow any such business into the profitable zone. Without profit, this type of practice will remain in the “nonprofit” world, which unfortunately often does not provide consistent products due to lack of funding, staffing, and other concurrent socioeconomic challenges unrelated to the technology (e.g., lack of electricity, transportation, etc.). That said, I do believe this gap is narrowing, and I have seen several startups in recent years that are showing promise to survive, both in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors (e.g., Mecuris, Xkelet, Victoria Hand Project, Protesis, etc.). So, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Does someone need to develop the perfect 3D printer for hospitals?

I would expand “hospital” to “healthcare” because the hospital is only one type of potential buyer of 3D printing technology. Since based on my theory that hospital will eventually play a diminishing role in our healthcare, I would urge innovators to focus on the result of improving a specific aspect of healthcare, for example, on-demand personalized 3D printed splints, implants, surgical tools, etc., then focusing on a specific buyer. There are so many new players in healthcare these days, and it may very well be Amazon or Apple that will be the “buyer,” rather than a hospital.

What happens at a 3DHEALS event?

The format of having people from different backgrounds to have direct conversations with one another is inspiring to attendees and well received. At 3DHEALS events, ideas can become a reality, blueprints can be an actual product. Together, people share the vision that 3D Printing will be one of the major forces that will revolutionize healthcare in the next 10-20 years.

In the past two years, with the help of 30+ dedicated community managers, 3DHEALS has grown from a single city to now over 20+ cities all over the world and growing. Therefore, there is a definite interest in the subject, and the format is working. Today, we are actively building 3DHEALS both offline and online, and wish geography will no longer pose as a barrier for members in this group to connect, innovate, and succeed together.

Our mission will remain to: educate, connect, and discover in healthcare 3D printing and bioprinting space.

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McGill University Researchers: Can We Use PLA for Desktop Bioprinting?

Bioprinting has proven to be useful for bone regeneration, as researchers learn to create more stable structures that mimic human tissue. In ‘Three-Dimensional Printed Polylactic Acid Scaffolds Promote Bonelike Matrix Deposition in Vitro,’ authors Rayan Fairag, Derek H. Rosenzweig, Jose L. Ramirez-Garcialuna, Michael H. Weber, and Lisbet Haglund explore the uses of desktop bioprinting with PLA.

Even in conventional medicine today, surgeons find difficulty in repairing bones that have undergone trauma, whether due to an accident, tumor, or other serious issue. Grafting can still be challenging to complete, and then problematic later in terms of pain, infection, and the need for multiple procedures. Materials such as calcium phosphate bone cement (a synthetic graft) have become more popular for repairing bone defects, but there are also limitations due to lack of mechanical strength. While poly-cements have been used also, they can cause stress around the ‘target area,’ and lead to secondary fracture, which defeats the purpose of healing altogether.

Here, the researchers have investigated the use of tissue engineering for bone repair in growing cells, scaffolds, and using numerous bioactive factors. 3D printing has been successful in fabricating scaffolds using different polymers like PLA.

“The ideal material for scaffold development should fulfill specific criteria,” state the researchers. “The material must be biocompatible and must be capable of being generated with an interconnected network to mimic the natural tissue architecture.”

Cell sustainability is the greatest challenge, along with creating stable structures. The researchers sought to create scaffolds that would allow for complete cell sustainability, along with the best environment for encouraging tissue to form. They must also allow for the following:

  • Fabrication in different, complex shapes
  • Resistance to inflammation and toxicity
  • Strong mechanical properties
  • Appropriate porosity
  • Affordability

In previous studies, the researchers were aware that PLA 3D printed from the desktop was suitable for both chondrocyte and nucleus pulposus tissue engineering applications. Here, they tested PLA scaffolds with pore sizes of 500, 750, and 1000 μm, fabricating accurate structures with good porosity; in fact, all scaffolds reflected pores in line with the initial designs, leaving the authors to conclude that this ‘suggested accuracy’ with desktop 3D printer—in this case, the Flashforge Creator Pro.

Pore size results were as follows:

  • Small pore scaffolds – 585.61 μm ± 26.40
  • Medium pore scaffolds – 769.94 μm ± 12.98
  • Large pore scaffolds – 1028.85 μm ± 57.54, p < 0.0001

“The scaffold fabrication and replication process manifests high accuracy and precision as evidenced by μCT analysis, which proves the value of low-cost printing in tissue engineering applications,” stated the researchers.

The authors reported the following for mechanical properties:

“Significant differences in stiffness were observed between the three sizes (p < 0.05, p < 0.0001) in which Young’s modulus for the small pore size was 206.7 MPa ± 0.17 SD, medium size scaffold was 137.5 MPa ± 6.98 SD, and 116.4 MPa ± 5.97 SD for the large size PLA scaffold.”

Mechanical properties of 3D-printed scaffolds. (A) Young’s modulus representing 5−10% compressive stress/strain curves of printed PLA scaffolds. For each set, (n = 3), error bars represent ±SD and (* = P value < 0.05), (# = P value < 0.0001). (B) Stress/strain curves of 500, 750, and 1000 μm showing the amount of deformation, elastic (proportionality) limit, and plastic region. For each set, (n = 3).

“The failure point of each scaffold was determined from the stress/strain curves in which the small-size failure point was around 21.63 MPa, around 11.86 MPa for the medium size, and around 8.53 MPa for the large-pore scaffold. Our results demonstrated an overall higher compressive modulus with smaller pores because of the addition of bulk material (smallest pore size has the highest amount of material and is the stiffest).”

The use of PLA was successful, indicating both accuracy and reproducibility, and the scaffolds presented properties like native bone. The authors stated that the data reflected structures stable enough for an environment recruiting host stem cells and repairing bone.

Morphological characterization of 3D printed scaffolds. (A) Representative images of the 3D models with dimensions and printing process. (B) Quantification of scaffold weight, (n = 6), error bars represent ±SD (** = P value < 0.005), (# = P value < 0.0001), with a representative image of printed scaffolds (Canon EOS 350d Camera). (C) Pore size was calculated by scanning electron microscopy, and porosity was determined by μ-CT. For each set, (n = 3), error bars represent ±SD and (* = P value < 0.05), (** = P value < 0.005), (# = P value < 0.0001).

“In vivo studies will be necessary to determine potential adverse effects, bone repair, and scaffold resorption rates,” stated the researchers. “It comes without surprise that 3D printing has been strongly adopted by orthopedic surgery clinical practice, medical education, patient education, and orthopedic-related basic science.

“Whereas 3D printing has been used for some time to generate patient models of defects for presurgical planning, there is a growing shift in using this technology in actual bone or tissue repair. One major focus in orthopedic and reconstructive surgery is to use 3D printed constructs for filling bone defects, substituting current standard therapies as an innovative approach for bone repair. Several studies have shown applicability and clinical relevance of using different types of 3D-printed polymers as a graft substitute.”

From 3D printing in hospitals to bioprinting in outer space and bringing forth materials which may eventually yield fabricated human organs, researchers are driven to create what used to be considered impossible, with a wide range of innovations already in use around the world. Find out more about desktop bioprinting here. What do you think of this news? Let us know your thoughts! Join the discussion of this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com.

SEM of acellular and cell-seeded scaffolds. Representative SEM images of acellular, osteoblasts, MSC−OST seeded scaffolds at 80×,450×,1500×, and 22 000× magnifications and scale bars represent 1 mm, 200, 50, and 5 μm with the rectangular marker indicating the region of the scan (n = 3).

[Source / Images: ‘3D-Printed Polylactic Acid (PLA) Scaffolds Promote Bone-like Matrix Deposition In-vitro’]

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Nano Dimension Ltd. to Release IoT Device for Testing Smart Products

Although 3D printing can produce spectacular innovation as it is today, users and manufacturers are constantly driven to add to the technology, propelling us further into the future—and providing us all with better tools. Smart devices and the Internet of Things (IoT) are often connected to 3D printing, and that trend continues as Nano Dimension Ltd. has manufactured the first 3D printed communication device for industrial companies and researchers to test smart products, along with prototypes.

Speed and ease in operation set this new device apart, created on the DragonFly Pro 3D Printer. It was then assembled and tested in less than a day; in fact, Nano Dimension states that it was ready to go within 18 hours—demonstrating speed in production that is a stunning 90 percent faster. Using conventional methods, this type of production would usually take around two weeks, at least.

The IoT device is operated by remote control and is smaller than a one-dollar coin, at 16 x 33 x 1.6mm. The concept was designed to help with routers in smarter homes, connecting in a more streamlined manner with kitchen appliances, electronics like TVs, air-conditioning thermostats, and more. The device could transcend much further, however, than just alerting homeowners to a milk supply that is running low in the fridge; essentially, its most basic form is that of a printed circuit board, but it could be helpful in much more high-level, complex design work with manufacturing of parts for autonomous cars.

“An ever-greater emphasis is being placed on smart cities, smart buildings, smart homes and smart products by industries and consumers alike. Our solution enables companies to speedily trial and finalize their prototypes in just one day without compromising on quality or performance. They no longer must wait over a fortnight to understand whether their smart device works or not. This ultimately increases product and cost efficiencies and reduces time to market, which means that the consumer can enjoy the benefits of these products faster than ever before,” states Amit Dror, CEO of Nano Dimension.

Their design team also expects the device to be available as both a transmitter and receiver—offering a two-way communication device to users. The Dragonfly Pro can make smaller and more efficient electronics and circuit boards. In their latest press release, Nano Dimensions details some of the other applications unique to this 3D printer, such as:

  • The transceiver – for transmitting and communicating, in a two-way device
  • The multilayer PCB torque sensor – to assist in creating sensors for almost any device
  • The RF amplifier – amplifies signals for portable devices and other vehicles like drones and satellites

While Nano Dimensions expects this device to be ready for use for smart homes and other products soon, it is still in the qualification phase.

Undeniably, we are living in a smarter world, as technology progresses beyond our wildest dreams—and 3D printing has certainly had much to do with that. Allowing for infinite freedom in design, 3D printing is also a technology that integrates well with others, such as the Internet of Things—allowing for greater efficiency, expansion with electronics, and innovation in manufacturing. What do you think of this news? Let us know your thoughts! Join the discussion of this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com.

[Source / Images: Nano Dimension]

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The Notre-Dame fire’s ashes could be used to 3D-print its new gargoyles

Via FastCompany

When Notre-Dame was partially destroyed during a fire this month, the world mourned not just the loss of the building, but the ornate stone details that didn’t survive. Architecture firms are already racing to propose plans to rebuild the cathedral’s roof, but one company is proposing a plan to resuscitate its fallen gargoyles and chimeras–by transforming the rubble and ashes into material that can be 3D-printed into exact replicas.

Learn more

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Added Scientific Used Xaar Printhead in Pilot Project for 3D Printing Personalized Pharmaceuticals

Cambridge-based company Xaar may have had its start in developing piezoelectric, drop-on-demand industrial printheads, but transitioned to the 3D printing world back in 2014 when it helped develop the high speed sintering (HSS) FACTUM 3D printer. Xaar is also a leading developer of digital inkjet printing technology, and is currently helping research organization Added Scientific, headquartered in Nottingham, as it works to determine how suitable inkjet printing is in fabricating personalized pharmaceuticals.

Added Scientific, a spinoff company from the University of Nottingham, is using Xaar’s 1201 printhead to bring personalized medicine, with dosages tailored to individual people on an industrial scale, just one step closer to reality.

Craig Sturgess, Research Manager for Added Scientific, said, “Inkjet printing offers the ability to digitally control the printing with its precision placement of tiny droplets a few picolitres in size and the capability to place multiple materials to create complex multi-functional objects in 2D & 3D.

The project was initiated by Added Scientific with its collaborating partners Xaar and global pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and funded under the UK government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund’s Medicines Manufacturing Challenge, with additional support from Innovate UK. They’re building on research previously conducted at the university regarding the development of excipients: everything but the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). This pilot project is looking at the long-term suitability and scalability of using inkjet printing to dispense APIs.

“Trial research carried out previously has shown that inkjet offers a real potential for printed medicines. This project was designed to answer questions pharmaceutical companies have around the suitability of inkjet printing in dispensing APIs at a scale that made both manufacturing and economic sense,” Sturgess continued.

The project partners used the Xaar 1201 printhead with one of the university’s formulations to evaluate its impact on the API, in addition to how well it can operate under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) conditions. GMP is the de facto standard for manufacturing in the pharmaceutical industry. They also studied if the formulation had an effect on the life of the printhead, and rounded out their experimental trials by evaluating AstraZeneca’s data from conventional tablet manufacturing against inkjet printing process times.

Xaar’s 1201 printhead

“The Xaar 1201 is ideal for a wide range of industrial applications including Advanced Manufacturing due to its ability to print fluids with a range of viscosities, reactivity and conductivity. This pilot project has demonstrated the Xaar 1201’s versatility for pharmaceuticals and how inkjet printing is proving itself to have the potential to drive innovation as well as efficiencies in many areas of 21 st century life,” stated Mike Seal, Business Development Manager, Advanced Manufacturing, at Xaar.

The results from the team’s project showed significant time saved in unit process times from inkjet printing in comparison to conventional manufacturing methods. Production trials consisted of 1,000 dosage forms printed in batches of 100, and no issues or interaction with the API occurred in Xaar’s 1201 printhead; additionally, there was no impact on the life of the printhead itself.

“These are exciting times. Our project has clearly shown that printing personalised medicines – with all their advantages of dose and design freedom – is no longer just a theory, but a scalable and economic reality for pharmaceutical companies and we look forward to extended trials to confirm these findings,” Sturgess concluded.

Added Scientific and its project partners are certainly not the first to investigate the idea of using 3D printing to fabricate personalized medication, and I doubt they will be the last. However, inkjet printing is not typically used to make 3D printed medication, so it will be interesting to see what the team’s next steps will be.

Discuss this story and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the Facebook comments below.

[Images: Xaar]

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3D Pod Episode 6 Bioprinting

Max and I discuss bioprinting this week. We go into detail about the different things that excite us from in situ, to scaffolds, to skin to cartilage. We talk about the science fiction like frontier that will open for us and the real things that are happening today. We’re both excited about near term ways through which bioprinting coupled with microfluidics can advance science and drug discovery can become a brute force problem. We’re also excited about how bioprinting can advance medicine by requiring less animal testing for example. As for cartilage and bone were also very positive about those developments. We both consider 3D printing organs to be years away but speculate about an exciting future where that is possible. Please enjoy!

The Spotify link is here, the Apple Podcasts link is here. The 3D printing in medicine podcast is here, the 3D Printing Guns podcast can be found here, the teaching in 3D podcast is here, this is the Fourth Industrial Revolution and this is the First one, Beyond PLA.