Researchers from the Department of Forest Biomaterials at the University of Freiburg (UCF) have developed a novel environmentally-friendly wood-based 3D printing material. The team, headed by UCF’s Professor Marie-Pierre Laborie, combined lignin, a chemical that provides strength to plant cell walls, with cellulose balls to create a novel biosynthetic polymer. As Lignen is produced endlessly […]
Researchers achieve 6.35x part strength increases with new non-planar FDM framework
A team of six international scientists have developed a new computational framework for the multi-axis, non-planar 3D printing of polymer parts. The FFF-based technique works by aligning filaments along the direction in which they experience the greatest stress, alleviating ‘weak points’ and increasing the overall strength of the part. The work has garnered some very […]
UMN researchers partner with Medtronic to 3D print patient-specific heart valve models
Researchers from the University of Minnesota (UMN) have worked with medical technology firm Medtronic to develop realistic customizable 3D printed aortic models. Using tailor-made silicone-based polymeric inks, the UMN team fabricated lifelike duplicates of a human aortic root, the vascular section which is attached closest to the heart. The patient-specific replicas could enable surgeons to […]
Spanish-led research team develops 3D printed T-cell boosting hydrogel for cancer patients
A Spanish-led research team has 3D printed a hydrogel capable of mimicking the behaviour of human lymph nodes, and accelerating the production of T-cells in cancer patients. By combining a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based polymer and the anticoagulant heparin, the team fabricated a structure which allowed T-cells to migrate and proliferate more effectively. Given that T-cells […]
LLNL scientists use 3D bioprinting to better understand cancerous tumor formation
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) researchers have combined 3D bioprinting with computational flow simulations to better understand the spread of cancer during metastasis. Working alongside scientists from Duke University, the team injected tumorous cells into a 3D printed brain cell structure. By applying fluid dynamics analysis to the process, the team were able to identify […]
Kiel University scientists 3D print low-cost, open-source photography lighting domes
Researchers from Germany’s Kiel University (CAU) have developed low-cost 3D printed dome-shaped systems that optimize lighting for wildlife photography. The modular illumination devices offer a cheaper, less complex alternative to existing lighting setups, while remaining capable of supporting scientific micro and macrophotography. Having made the STL files publicly available, the Kiel team’s system is also designed […]
Korean researchers 3D print quantum dot pixels for “super-high-resolution” display devices
A team of researchers from the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute has used 3D printing to develop high-density quantum dot pixel arrays at the nanoscale. By embedding and solidifying liquid inks in polymer nanowires, the scientists were able to fabricate vertically freestanding pillars capable of emitting light. The printed structures are characterized by their long length […]
ORNL researchers develop eco-friendly 3D printed carbon dioxide capturing device
Scientists from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have developed a novel 3D printed device that’s capable of increasing the amount of CO2 captured from burning fossil fuels. Utilizing 3D printing, the researchers were able to combine a heat exchanger and a mass-exchanging contactor, into a multifunctional CO2 absorption device. The aluminum contraption’s in-situ cooling capabilities […]
Wisconsin-Madison scientists 3D print arteries to enable real-time blood pressure monitoring
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison University (UW-Madison) have 3D printed blood vessels that enable cardiac patients to monitor their blood pressure remotely. The research team’s implantable tubular structures emit piezoelectric pulses which act to alert patients when their blood pressure is either getting too high or too low. Leveraging the Wisconsin team’s new pressure-powered […]
Seville researchers develop novel method of composite filament production
Researchers from the University of Seville, Spain have developed a new method of producing highly-customizable composite filaments for the FFF 3D printing process. The method uses pellet-like polymer capsules filled with magnetic additives. Using a single screw desktop extruder, the team was able to prepare a custom composite filament from the capsules, one with a […]