Tufts: Researchers Use SLA 3D Printing & Metal to Create Metamaterial Embedded Geometric Optics

We design the model in 3D CAD software. Then we print the model by 3D printer. In our first approach (first row in the figure) we coat the top surfaces of mushroom MEGO with conductive paste (stamping method). In our second approach (second row in the figure) we sputter metal on the whole 3D printed device and then submerge the device in etchant to etch away the existing metal on the pedestal and the substrate

Tufts University researchers are ready to revolutionize the realm of 3D printing further by using SLA 3D printing, metal, and wet etching to create optical components embedded with metamaterials. Authors Aydin Sadeqi, Hojatollah Rezaei Nejad, Rachel E. Owyeung, and Sameer Sonkusale explain more about their new technique in their recently published paper, ‘Three dimensional printing of metamaterial embedded geometrical optics (MEGO).’

Components such as the following are used in this approach:

  • Mushroom-type metamaterials
  • Curved wide-angle metamaterial absorbers/reflectors
  • Frequency selective moth eye hemispheric absorber

Cylindrical mushroom MEGO a cylindrical pillar arrays before coating and focused view of pillar metamaterial, the scale bar is 2 mm for magnified picture b the variability of the effective radius of the dots before coating c schematic figure of the device with t1 = 1 mm, t2 = 8 mm, t3 = 100 μm/100 nm (stamping/sputtering), d = 0.5 mm and p = 1 mm. d Pillar metamaterials after coating with silver and focused view of pillar metamaterial, the scale bar is 2 mm for magnified picture e the variability of the effective radius of the dots after stamping f transmission spectrum of the device by stamping and sputtering approaches comparing to the theoretical result g electric field distribution h magnetic field distribution i surface current density

“Finally, a unique MEGO device formed through the fusion of a frequency selective metamaterial with an optical parabolic reflector has been demonstrated that combines their individual properties in a single device,” state the researchers. “The fabricated MEGO devices operate in the millimeter wave frequency range.”

“Simulation and measurement results using terahertz continuous-wave spectrometer validate their functionality and performance. With improving resolution in 3D printing, MEGO devices will be able to reach Terahertz and optical frequencies in the near future.”

The approach the researchers use is hybrid, using both 2D and 3D, and a mixture of complex structures and ‘novel functionalities.’ Metamaterials can function on many different levels, from serving as absorbers to electromagnetic devices. The team made two different examples: one worked as a single MEGO frequency selective parabolic mirror while another was a frequency selective device in the form of an omni-directional hemispherical moth-eye lens.

Computer-aided design of the hemispherical moth-eye MEGO absorber b 3D printed and silver coated moth-eye MEGO absorber with magnified image c schematic of the device in different propagation angles as a function of θ d transmission spectrum of the omni-directional hemispherical moth-eye MEGO absorber as a function of θ.

The researchers combined optical and metamaterial features into one MEGO device for the optical parabolic reflector, 3D printed and then coated with metal and etching. The team did perform some additional manual steps after 3D printing, however, to create extras like curved mirrors, which were completed much more affordably in this process.

Because the mold created looked like a moth eye, the researchers dubbed it the moth-eye absorber. It was printed on the SLA 3D printer, and then coated with silver paste. The authors state that they believe this is the first angle‐insensitive narrow‐band metamaterial absorber in the form of a hemispherical moth-eye absorber that was fabricated on a curved substrate.

“We also show that we can fuse multiple electromagnetic functions, which traditionally were achieved by using different optical components into a single MEGO (Metamaterial Embedded Geometric Optics) device,” concluded the researchers. “We consolidated optical parabolic reflectors with frequency selective transmissive filter operating at 91 GHz into a single device. The functions and utilities of the MEGO devices bring a new toolkit to microwave and optical designers using conventional 3D printers.”

3D printing is all about innovating, and most users (especially big industry players) embrace the benefits of researching, collaborating, and experimenting with techniques for making new items like conductive materials, ceramic molds, and even a variety of materials that are often quite unusual, from graphene and seaweed to mixtures of titanium and ceramic. Find out more about combinations in 3D printing like SLA and metal 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.

a Continuous wave Terahertz spectrometer setup for conventional reflection measurement with regular metamaterial device b reflection measurement with parabolic MEGO reflector c Reflection spectrum of the MEGO device d the fabricated metamaterial on parabolic surface (scale bar is 3 cm) with magnified image, each dot resonator has 500 μm radius

[Source / Images: Three dimensional printing of metamaterial embedded geometrical optics (MEGO)]

Chinese Researchers Investigate Short Carbon Fibers in 3D Printed PEEK

In a paper titled “Flexural Properties and Fracture Behavior of CF/PEEK in Orthogonal Building Orientation by FDM: Microstructure and Mechanism,” (link) Qiushi Li’s team reveals their findings on the effects of adding short carbon fibers (SCFs) into the filament when 3D printing with PEEK. PEEK (polyether ether ketone) has experienced a sharp spike in popularity […]

The post Chinese Researchers Investigate Short Carbon Fibers in 3D Printed PEEK appeared first on 3D Printing.

#3DPrint your own Printmaking Press with the Open Press Project

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We are ? with the Open Press Project!

Using an iterative process, I built 10 prototypes, printed more than 100 proofs, and used more than a kilometer of filament. The final result is a portable printing press that costs only 5€ of material and can be printed by everyone with access to a 3D-printer. The plans of the »Open Press Project« are completely free to use in order to give access to printmaking to as many people as possible.

Read more and learn how to print your own press!

Wisconsin: Zero Barrier Labs is Trying to Make Metal 3D Printing 17 Times Cheaper

While many companies are keenly interested in the advances 3D printing is encouraging today—along with additive manufacturing processes making use of a variety of different metal powders to create strong, durable, yet lightweight parts—startup costs can be cost-prohibitive. The team at Wisconsin’s Zero Barrier aims to help others learn more about 3D printing, along with bridging the gap in challenges for others to actually make use of the technology.

Currently, they have plans to open a factory in Madison, WI, where others can send in their 3D designs for printing and then pick them up after a swift turnaround time. They also hope to commercialize their own metal 3D printers subsequently. The startup, founded two years ago, is comprised of a team of engineering students from UW-Madison who met through the university Hyperloop Team. Fast forward to the present moment, and they have created a metal 3D printer meant to streamline the fabrication process further—and especially for other designers and companies who would like to farm out the work.

“There are lots of companies out there that aren’t able to easily prototype, before they get an idea of whether they’ll be able to make a lot of money in the market,” said Evan Wolfenden, co-founder and CEO of Zero Barrier. “By having a technology that is able to allow mass production on such a large basis, and make it affordable…I’m opening up the field to all kinds of products to enter the market.”

Not only does Zero Barrier allow Wolfenden, an already experienced mechanical engineer, to keep his hands in a wide range of different projects pertaining to 3D printing with metal, he also enjoys being able to offer services to others that would not be affordable if they had to buy all the hardware and software on their own; in fact, he reports asking one company for a price to 3D print a 1kg object, and receiving a quote of $2,600 (which they apparently found expensive and we wouldn’t necessarily depending on the object!).

The new startup, currently funded by Wolfenden and friends and family, will offer 3D metal printing services which they project will be 60 times faster and 17 times cheaper than existing technologies. The Zero Barrier 3D printer builds objects out of inexpensive metal powder that contains light curable polymers that are hardened by UV light. The inexpensive metal powder may point to them using MIM powders for their builds. Their technology is not binder jet or SLM/DMLS powder bed fusion nor is it the FDM/FFF polymer filaments with metal inside but another way of printing metal. We’re not sure how it works exactly but looking at the prototype the assumption is that either the system works with UV curable silver or other metal photopolymers/UV inks cured through a DLP projector that can be turned into a green state model which is then sintered.

Solid Ground Curing by Cubital was a technology that could print metal and ceramics in the nineties; check out this mid-1990’s video below. You can also 3D print metal parts using stereolithography and this 1997 paper details how this can be done.  A  resin with photoinitiators for “photocurability, dispersants to maintain low viscosities at high solids loadings and the sinterable ceramic or metal powder” is turned into an SLA object which is then cured. Then the “photopolymer binder is removed by thermal decomposition and the part is sintered to impart high density and give the desired metal or ceramic properties.” A 2008 paper by Bartolo and Gaspar describes recipes and methods for using stereolithography to make metal parts.  We’re not sure if it is this technology and UV curable inks and resins have come a long way over the last 25 years. The team will have issues with part deformation and warping during the build as well as further problems with sintering however and will get variable results at different wall thicknesses, geometries, and part sizes if this is the path that they chose.

Light-based metal printing solutions are also being attempted by Photocentric and BASF is working on trying to make metal and ceramic UV curables as well. 3D Systems also has the venerable multi-step Keltool process in place and this 3D Systems patent details a more direct curable paste method. There is also a  MIM industry that is injection molding polymer/metal combos as well and they have yet to fully control the sintering stuff either. One can also go directly from the photopolymer to lost wax casting as well which is being done for millions of 3D printed dental and jewelry models, this process usually requires manual finishing and a strong manual labor component but it remains to be seen how Zero Barrier Labs’ technology will outperform this,

“I’ve been really blessed in my life,” Wolfenden said. “I’ve had a world-class education at a world-class university. I have all these things available to me. So I feel like I have an obligation to do the best I can, so that I can give back to others, and build a foundation for others to follow in.”

While they currently have a workshop at the UW-Madison Makerspace at the Engineering Building, Wolfenden and his team of three other engineers plan to refine their 3D printer further and move into a facility of their own in Madison. Their company is also currently a finalist in the Governor’s Business Plan Competition, a contest that encourages technologically-based startups.

“My future customers are going to be the smaller guys,” says Wolfenden. “Students, researchers, people working out of their garage.”

3D printing in metal is no longer the wave of the future, but is a manufacturing many businesses—from smaller to those leading in industry—are relying on to provide parts that can be easily customized and then printed in low volume or mass production, whether they are making history with voluminous 3D printed gear wheels for automated processes, more efficient heat exchangers, or satellite antennas.  Find out more about Zero Barrier and their plans for 3D printing with metal 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.

[Source / Images: The Cap Times]

Tel Aviv University: Researchers 3D Print Cardiac Patches & Cellularized Hearts

Researchers at Tel Aviv University continue to try to meet the ongoing challenges in cardiac tissue engineering. In ‘3D Printing of Personalized Thick and Perfusable Cardiac Patches and Hearts,’ authors Nadav Noor, Assaf Shapira, Reuven Edri, Idan Gal, Lior Wertheim, and Tal Dvir outline the steps they took to match technology with tissue.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of patients in the US, and organ donor and transplantation processes can still mean a long wait for those suffering from heart failure. Here, the authors demonstrate the need for alternative ways to treat the infarcted (usually referring to clogging of one of more arteries) heart. And while tissue engineering has pointed the way to freeing many patients from terrible physical suffering and organ donor waiting lists, creating the necessary scaffolds with true biocompatibility has presented obstacles.

The authors have created an engineered cardiac patch meant to be transplanted directly onto the patient’s heart, integrating into the ‘host,’ with excess biomaterials degrading over time. This leaves the cardiac patch, full of live, healthy tissue, regenerating a previously defective heart. Because there is always the threat of rejection when implanting anything into the body though, the authors emphasize the need for appropriate materials:

“Most ideally, the biomaterial should possess biochemical, mechanical, and topographical properties similar to those of native tissues,” state the researchers. “Decellularized tissue‐based scaffolds from different sources meet most of these requirements. However, to ensure minimal response of the immune system, completely autologous materials are preferred.”

The researchers were able to create patient-specific cardiac patches in their recent study, extracting fatty tissue from cardiac patients—and then separating cellular and a-cellular materials.

“While the cells were reprogrammed to become pluripotent stem cells, the extra‐cellular matrix (ECM) was processed into a personalized hydrogel,” stated the researchers.  “Following mixture of the cells and the hydrogel, the cells were efficiently differentiated to cardiac cells to create patient‐specific, immunocompatible cardiac patches.”

In using the patient-specific hydrogel as bioink, the researchers were able to create patches, but ultimately, they were also able to 3D print comprehensive tissue structures that include whole hearts.

An omentum tissue is extracted from the patient and while the cells are separated from the matrix, the latter is processed into a personalized thermoresponsive hydrogel. The cells are reprogrammed to become pluripotent and are then differentiated to cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells, followed by encapsulation within the hydrogel to generate the bioinks used for printing. The bioinks are then printed to engineer vascularized patches and complex cellularized structures. The resulting autologous engineered tissue can be transplanted back into the patient, to repair or replace injured/diseased organs with low risk of rejection.

The authors used two different models in their study, with one serving as proof-of-concept, with pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)‐derived cardiomyocytes (CMs) and endothelial cells (ECs). The other model relied on:

  • Rat neonatal CMs
  • Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)
  • Lumen‐supporting fibroblasts

One bioink, laden with cardiac cells, printed parenchymal tissue, while the other extruded cells for forming blood vessels. The researchers were successful in 3D printing the patient-specific cardiac patches but found when a higher degree of complexity was necessary for fabrication of organs or other tissues, the hydrogels were not strong enough. They created a new process for organs and more complex tissues where they could print in a free-form manner and cure structures at varying temperatures; they were able to overcome previous challenges and 3D print accurate, personalized structures.

Bioinks characterization. A human omentum a) before and b) after decellularization. c) A personalized hydrogel at room temperature (left) and after gelation at 37 °C (right). d) A SEM image of the personalized hydrogel ultrastructural morphology, and e) a histogram of the fibers diameter. f) Rheology measurements of 1% w/v and 2.5% w/v omentum hydrogels, showing the gelation process upon incubation at 37 °C. g) Stromal cells originated from human omental tissues were reprogrammed to become pluripotent stem cells (red: OCT4, green: Ki67 and blue: nuclei). h) Differentiation to ECs as determined by CD31 (green) and vimentin staining (red). Differentiation to cardiac lineage: i) staining for sarcomeric actinin (red), j) staining for NKX2‐5 (red), and TNNT2 (green). Scale bars: (e) = 10 µm, (g,i,j) = 50 µm, (h) = 25 µm.

This study carries substantial weight, considering the researchers were able to create cellularized hearts with ‘natural architectures.’ This furthers the potential for cardiac transplants after heart failure, along with encouraging the process for drug screening. The authors point out that more long-terms studies and research with animal models are necessary.

“Although 3D printing is considered a promising approach for engineering whole organs, several challenges still remain,” conclude the researchers. “These include efficient expansion of iPSCs to obtain the high cell number required for engineering a large, functioning organ. Additionally, new bioengineering approaches are needed to provide long‐term cultivation of the organs and efficient mass transfer, while supplying biochemical and physical cues for maturation.”

“The printed blood vessel network demonstrated in this study is still limited. To address this challenge, strategies to image the entire blood vessels of the heart and to incorporate them in the blueprint of the organ are required. Finally, advanced technologies to precisely print these small‐diameter blood vessels within thick structures should be developed.”

Imaging of the heart and patch modeling. CT image of a) a human heart and b) left ventricle coronary arteries. c) A model of oxygen concentration profile in an engineered patch. d) Replanning of the model showed better oxygen diffusion, sufficient to support cell viability.

Without good heart health, it is very difficult to survive. Responsible for transporting nutrients, oxygen, and more to cells populating the human body, the heart also removes waste like carbon dioxide and more. 3D printing is assisting scientists and doctors in researching and treating a variety of different diseases and conditions, whether they are using 3D printed metamaterials for fabricating heart valves, creating better cardiac catheters, or experimenting with new types of phantoms.

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.

Printing thick vascularized tissues. a) A top view of a lumen entrance (CD31; green) in a thick cardiac tissue (actinin; pink). b) A model of a tripod blood vessel within a thick engineered cardiac tissue (coordinates in mm), and c) the corresponding lumens in each indicated section of the printed structure. d) Tissue perfusion visualized from dual viewpoints. e–k) A printed small‐scaled, cellularized, human heart. e) The human heart CAD model. f,g) A printed heart within a support bath. h) After extraction, the left and right ventricles were injected with red and blue dyes, respectively, in order to demonstrate hollow chambers and the septum in‐between them. i) 3D confocal image of the printed heart (CMs in pink, ECs in orange). j,k) Cross‐sections of the heart immunostained against sarcomeric actinin (green). Scale bars: (a,c,h, i,j) = 1 mm, (g) = 0.5 cm, (k) = 50 µm.

[Source / Images: 3D Printing of Personalized Thick and Perfusable Cardiac Patches and Hearts]

Cryolithography Device Bioprints Organs Faster

With all the advances in bioprinting, there are distinct limitations most researchers are facing. Even with advanced organ recreations like a 3D printed miniature heart, there is still the issue of producing faster and in high volumes. UC Berkeley researchers may have found a possible solution in multi-layer cryolithography. With a new device, they employ […]

The post Cryolithography Device Bioprints Organs Faster appeared first on 3D Printing.

Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printing in India – Challenges & Solutions

The world has always viewed India as a mystical, enigmatic land through stereotypes of snake charmers, cows on roads, abject poverty and what not. While some of it might have been true decades ago, the picture on the ground is rapidly changing. With respect to Additive Manufacturing (AM) however, much of the mystery remains. Apart from the one or two minor updates we keep reading about, there isn’t anything big or glamorous coming out of India. Let us take a look at what might be going on behind the curtains and the reason behind this lack of updates.

Primarily, one of the most significant factors for this “dead zone” of activity as such, is because the rate of adoption of (any) technology is a bit slow in India. If you were to refer to Everett Rogers’ ‘Diffusion of Innovation’ curve, you would find India on one of the highest points of the ‘Late Majority’ section. Many people are working towards eliminating this inertia by conducting 3D Printing workshops and classes for school/college students.

People exposed to technology at an early age are usually much better at utilizing it fully. As AM is pretty much in its nascent stage (as far as manufacturing technologies go), there still is enough time for India not just to catch up, but lead the world by focusing on developing the next generation of leaders.

The other reason is a governmental push, or the lack thereof. The current government has taken some commendable steps in pushing for manufacturing with projects such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet project ‘Make in India’, and the country has seen significant improvements in its ‘Ease of Doing Business’ rankings.

However, bureaucratic procedures are still a big obstacle to faster adoption & implementation. There are a few incentives such as R&D tax rebates (up to nearly 100% if used for ‘x’ number of years); however, the tax man is waiting right around the corner with a heavy club, dare you make a single mistake. Obviously, this needs to be eased up by reducing the red tape and creating an enabling tax system, rather than a punishing one.

Another commendable measure is the capping of prices in the medical sector for generic drugs and items such as cardiac stents, along with Ayushman Bharat (aka ModiCare), a healthcare scheme for over 100 million poor & vulnerable families. However, no medical insurance for AM implants/tools/guides, etc. means doctors are unwilling to transfer the high costs to the patients, most of whom were unable to afford even regular practices. The hope is that schemes such as Ayushman Bharat will in the future cover this technology as well.

One fact which is well known about India is that it is a price sensitive market. Higher pricing structures for machines/materials in India makes the entry point more expensive than others. Speaking from a service bureau point of view, when you have systems from companies which are close looped, you are forced to price your services at a premium. Although the offering might be unique to the market, because the price is higher than the next best offering, customers would prefer the second option and try to achieve the desired result with manual post processing. This might seem complicated & expensive, but what the reader should take note of, is that manual labour is very cheap in India, as it is in most Asian countries. While the prices might be justifiable in Western countries due to lack of cheap human resources, keeping the same prices will not work in India.

Moving on to people who are already in the industry or are on the verge of entering – the novelty, agility, and flexibility of the technology has left people wondering where this fits in their company/system. A lot of people try to use the technology as a solution for all their problems, only to discover that a square peg does not fit into a round hole. It is then back to the drawing board for them. Additionally, a sudden rise of experts all around has confused the fence-sitters as each new person they speak to has strong but different opinions of their own.

India’s most prominent companies have taken note of AM and have started doing their own research into this sector. However, most of them are only doing a reconnaissance for now and are not keen on starting anything immediately. As the world’s largest democracy faces its general elections, everyone is waiting for the dust to settle before making any big announcements.

Among the people who have entered as service bureaus or have the technology in their R&D departments, some have had the rather unfortunate experience of dealing with systems they do not understand, leading them to purchase expensive printers, which later on turn out to be utterly useless or costly for them. They slowly stop using these services, leading to a decline in the promulgation of the technology. Some have also had the misfortune of doing business with someone who is more interested in selling his machine/material, than catering to the actual needs of the client. This leads the client to believe that there is something wrong with the technology and that the whole thing is a sham.

Another somewhat contrasting point is that there is a dearth of skilled labour. While manpower is readily available, getting experienced designers, engineers, etc. is a challenge. Alternatively, there is an excellent opportunity for educational organizations to start their business in India, offering training on designing, coding, machine operation/optimization, etc. An initiative by the Govt. of India for this problem is “Skill India” which aims to train over 400 million people in India in different skills by 2022. This workforce can then also be hired by Western countries which would help them reduce their costs.

And lastly, for a technology like AM to work in its full capacity, an ecosystem needs to be developed, which currently has not yet been nurtured. The ecosystem exists, but is fragmented and needs to be brought together.

To summarize, advancements are being carried out in AM in India, although they are not always published. Aerospace, automotive, medical, dental, tooling, will be the key sectors changing the manufacturing scenario here and the next 5 years are the most crucial for the growth of AM in India. A strong support system from the big players in the Indian corporate team and the government will ensure India, which has lost out on the previous industrial revolutions, will move from the ‘late adopters’ to the ‘leaders’ category within the next decade.

Sumedh Habbu is a technophile and a budding writer. He is a passionate believer in the power of Additive Manufacturing and an active member of the Indian AM industry. Sumedh is a Business Development Manager in the 3D Printing Division at Reliance Industries Ltd. The views expressed in the article are the author’s personal views.

Civil Engineering Applications: Researchers 3D Print Packaging for Fiber Optic Sensors

In a bustling world full of ever-expanding technology, there is much going on behind the scenes, in the air, and underground, that we don’t even think about. Fiber optics are a great example of this, delivering information, entertainment, monitoring systems, and much more. Researchers from the UK and India are interested in how 3D printing can further the performance of fiber optics, outlining their findings in ‘Encapsulation of Fiber Optic Sensors in 3D Printed Packages for Use in Civil Engineering Applications: A Preliminary Study.’

Authored by Richard Scott, Miodrag Vidakovic, Sanjay Chikermane, Brett McKinley, Tong Sun, Pradipta Banerji, and Kenneth Grattan, the recently published paper gives us further insight into the progression of fiber optic technology in relation to the ongoing need for being able to install sensors in materials like concrete—a material which poses challenges (for rigorous sensor installation) due to its high alkalinity.

Commercial optical fiber sensor.

Sensor installations today can be complex and cost-prohibitive (in some cases, one sensor may cost as much as $300), leaving the industry wide open for alternatives—and motivating the authors to develop packaging for fiber sensors that is not only exponentially more affordable but also sturdy and reliable. They went into this research project seeking to create packaging with the following features:

  • High quality
  • Repeatable measurements
  • Ease in surface mounting
  • Durability for withstanding harsh environments

Before designing their new product, the researchers examined the current benefits of Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors, which have been very popular among civil engineers. They discovered that current issues with FBGs are one, that they are extremely delicate—and two, they must be ‘encapsulated’ in packaging that can ward off not only environmental rigors, but also heavy usage.

The researchers used SolidWorks for 3D design of the new sensor packages, and then 3D printed them on a Formlabs 1+ 3D printer. What makes these devices even more unique and attractive for industrial applications is that they can be highly customized, in comparison to traditional materials.

“Since packaged ersgs are specifically designed for both surface mounting and embedment in concrete structures (without the need for bolted connections), it seemed sensible, for this exercise, to manufacture the new FBG-based sensor package to have similar dimensions and surface characteristics for easy comparisons to be made. This shows the versatility of the approach used. However, in other applications the sensor package could be designed to be completely different from that where esrgs are used and be lighter and more compact or contain a larger number of sensors,” state the researchers.

“Over the last few years there have been considerable advances in the use of 3D printing techniques with both the hardware and software becoming much more affordable and this forms the basis of the low-cost sensor discussed.”

In-field testing of the packaged sensors was positive, although sensitivity of packaged FBG-based sensors was deemed significantly lower that that of those left bare. The authors found this encouraging still as it means that their 3D printed packaged sensors could be used for ‘all but the most sensitive of measurements desired.’

Test rig used in this work for assessment of the packaged sensors developed.

During their research, however, the authors did realize that rather than using materials like resin, polyether ether ketone (PEEK) or ceramic could prove more suitable for sensor packing, although the affordability and ease in production offered by 3D printing (out of standard resin) are hard to beat. Width of the packaging was slightly problematic too, leaving the researchers to consider how to reduce thickness. Ultimately, they were happy with the results of their research, although waiting to test their products further in more realistic civil engineering applications.

Packaged sensors: ersg top, FBG bottom.

The sensors used have been ‘effectively packaged (encapsulated)’ with the chosen materials, are affordable, and effective, leaving the researchers to conclude:

“Proof-of-concept laboratory testing has demonstrated the potential of the packaged sensors for strain measurement in civil engineering applications.”

Decades ago, 3D printing was created by an engineer, for engineers. And while infinite numbers of and other types of users can benefit from the technology, this is an extremely useful tool for creating prototypes and functional devices in fields like civil engineering where so many new structural applications are evolving, with exciting strides being made in residential home construction, different types of infrastructure like bridges, and even road paving.

Detail of sensor layout on steel beam.

[Source / Images: Encapsulation of Fiber Optic Sensors in 3D Printed Packages for Use in Civil Engineering Applications: A Preliminary Study]

stronghero3D seeks 3D printer material resellers in Europe and the U.S.

stronghero3D is a material producer headquartered in Shenzhen, the tech capital of China. Specializing in the creation of vibrant and rainbow-gradient filaments, the company was founded by Tommy Wu in 2014. In an interview with Wu, 3D Printing Industry learns more about stronghero3D’s plans for global expansion, and how the company aims to humbly stand out […]