scholarly journals Validation and Development of Discharge Equations for 3D Printed Flumes for Flow Monitoring

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 1921-1928
Author(s):  
Farhana Akhter ◽  
John McMaine ◽  
Alex J. McLemore ◽  
Morghan J. Hurst

HighlightsTwo different configurations of 3D printed flumes of two different materials were tested for accuracy and variability.Discharge equations were developed for 3D printed 0.122 m HS and 0.102 m Palmer-Bowlus flumes.3D flumes are accurate and show no statistical variability between prints, providing a low-cost flow measurement tool.Abstract. Flumes are specially shaped, engineered structures that have been used widely for measuring flow. Flumes are typically fabricated from aluminum or fiberglass; however, these types of flumes can be costly if purchased commercially and may lack machine precision if custom fabricated. This limits availability for widespread monitoring by smaller municipalities, engineering firms, or researchers with limited budgets. Using 3D printing technology (additive manufacturing) to produce flumes is very cost-effective, but variability between flumes and materials has not been tested, and discharge equations have not been developed for 3D printed flumes. In this study, a laboratory-scale setup was used to develop discharge equations for two types of 3D printed flumes (0.122 m HS flume and 0.102 m Palmer-Bowlus flume) made from two 3D printing materials: polylactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene terephthalate glycol modified (PETG). Variability between the same type of flume and between different materials for the same type of flume was analyzed to evaluate the consistency of the discharge equation with flumes of the same type. Eight models were developed to fit each dataset (PLA, PETG, and combined PLA and PETG) for both flume types and evaluated for goodness-of-fit and information criteria (AIC and BIC for model parsimony) to select the discharge equation for each flume type. Discharge equations were consistent for the same type of flume across each print and across different print materials. The discharge equations of 3D printed 0.122 m HS flumes and 0.102 m Palmer-Bowlus flumes are Q = 0.45624 × H2.351 and Q = 0.0001176 + 1.309 × (H - 0.0174625)2.235, respectively. The discharge equations of both flume types had R2adj values greater than 97% for the measured data of each individual flume. Both 3D printed flumes were consistent in measuring flow and are suitable for hydrologic monitoring. Keywords: 3D printing, Additive manufacturing, Discharge equation, Flume, Hydrologic monitoring.

Author(s):  
Frank Celentano ◽  
Nicholas May ◽  
Edward Simoneau ◽  
Richard DiPasquale ◽  
Zahra Shahbazi ◽  
...  

Professional musicians today often invest in obtaining antique or vintage instruments. These pieces can be used as collector items or more practically, as performance instruments to give a unique sound of a past music era. Unfortunately, these relics are rare, fragile, and particularly expensive to obtain for a modern day musician. The opportunity to reproduce the sound of an antique instrument through the use of additive manufacturing (3D printing) can make this desired product significantly more affordable. 3D printing allows for duplication of unique parts in a low cost and environmentally friendly method, due to its minimal material waste. Additionally, it allows complex geometries to be created without the limitations of other manufacturing techniques. This study focuses on the primary differences, particularly sound quality and comfort, between saxophone mouthpieces that have been 3D printed and those produced by more traditional methods. Saxophone mouthpieces are commonly derived from a milled blank of either hard rubber, ebonite or brass. Although 3D printers can produce a design with the same or similar materials, they are typically created in a layered pattern. This can potentially affect the porosity and surface of a mouthpiece, ultimately affecting player comfort and sound quality. To evaluate this, acoustic tests will be performed. This will involve both traditionally manufactured mouthpieces and 3D prints of the same geometry created from x-ray scans obtained using a ZEISS Xradia Versa 510. The scans are two dimensional images which go through processes of reconstruction and segmentation, which is the process of assigning material to voxels. The result is a point cloud model, which can be used for 3D printing. High quality audio recordings of each mouthpiece will be obtained and a sound analysis will be performed. The focus of this analysis is to determine what qualities of the sound are changed by the manufacturing method and how true the sound of a 3D printed mouthpiece is to its milled counterpart. Additive manufacturing can lead to more inconsistent products of the original design due to the accuracy, repeatability and resolution of the printer, as well as the layer thickness. In order for additive manufacturing to be a common practice of mouthpiece manufacturing, the printer quality must be tested for its precision to an original model. The quality of a 3D print can also have effects on the comfort of the player. Lower quality 3D prints have an inherent roughness which can cause discomfort and difficulty for the musician. This research will determine the effects of manufacturing method on the sound quality and overall comfort of a mouthpiece. In addition, we will evaluate the validity of additive manufacturing as a method of producing mouthpieces.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noha Hamada Mohamed ◽  
Hossam Kandil ◽  
Iman Ismail Dakhli

Abstract In dentistry, 3D printing already has diverse applicability, and holds a great deal of promise to make possible many new and exciting treatments and approaches to manufacturing dental restorations. Better availability, shorter processing time, and descending costs have resulted in the increased use of RP. Concomitantly the development of medical applications is expanding. (Zaharia et al., 2017)Many different printing technologies exist, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Unfortunately, a common feature of the more functional and productive equipment is the high cost of the equipment, the materials, maintenance, and repair, often accompanied by a need for messy cleaning, difficult post-processing, and sometimes onerous health and safety concerns (Dawood et al., 2015)Low-cost 3D printers represent a great opportunity in the dental and medical field, as they could allow surgeons to use 3D models at a very low cost and, therefore, democratize the use of these 3D models in various indications. However, efforts should be made to establish a unified validation protocol for low-cost RP 3D printed models, including accuracy, reproducibility, and repeatability tests. Asaumi et al., suggested that dimensional changes may not affect the success of surgical applications if such changes are within a 2% variation .However, the proposed cut-off of 2% should be furthermore discussed, as the same accuracy may be not required for all types of indications. (Silva et al., 2008; Maschio et al., 2016)This aim of the present study is to evaluate the dimensional accuracy of the 3D printed mandibular models fabricated by two different additive manufacturing techniques, using highly precise one as selective laser sintering (SLS) and a low-cost one as fused filament fabrication and whether they are both comparable in terms of precision. In addition to evaluation of dimensional accuracy of linear measurements of the mandible in CBCT scans.7 mandibular models will be recruited. Radio-opaque markers of gutta-percha balls will be applied on the model to act as guide pointsTen linear measurements (5 long distances: Inter-condylar, inter-coronoidal, inter-mandibular notch, length of left ramus, length of right ramus; as well as 5 short distances: Length of the body of the mandible at midline, length of the body of the mandible in the area of last left molar, as well as that of the last right molar, the distance between the tip of right condyle to the tip of the right coronoid, as well as that of their left counterparts) will be obtained using digital calliper, to act as the reference standard later. Scanning of the model by CBCT will be next , 3D printing of the scanned image using SLS and FFF printers will be done. Recording of same linear measurment will be done on printed models. Comparison of the recorded values vs reference standard is the last step


Lab on a Chip ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Wu ◽  
Stephen Beirne ◽  
Joan-Marc Cabot Canyelles ◽  
Brett Paull ◽  
Gordon G. Wallace ◽  
...  

Additive manufacturing (3D printing) offers a flexible approach for the production of bespoke microfluidic structures such as the electroosmotic pump. Here a readily accessible fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing...


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 2518
Author(s):  
Nunzio Cennamo ◽  
Lorena Saitta ◽  
Claudio Tosto ◽  
Francesco Arcadio ◽  
Luigi Zeni ◽  
...  

In this work, a novel approach to realize a plasmonic sensor is presented. The proposed optical sensor device is designed, manufactured, and experimentally tested. Two photo-curable resins are used to 3D print a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor. Both numerical and experimental analyses are presented in the paper. The numerical and experimental results confirm that the 3D printed SPR sensor presents performances, in term of figure of merit (FOM), very similar to other SPR sensors made using plastic optical fibers (POFs). For the 3D printed sensor, the measured FOM is 13.6 versus 13.4 for the SPR-POF configuration. The cost analysis shows that the 3D printed SPR sensor can be manufactured at low cost (∼15 €) that is competitive with traditional sensors. The approach presented here allows to realize an innovative SPR sensor showing low-cost, 3D-printing manufacturing free design and the feasibility to be integrated with other optical devices on the same plastic planar support, thus opening undisclosed future for the optical sensor systems.


Coatings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 422
Author(s):  
Dana Ashkenazi ◽  
Alexandra Inberg ◽  
Yosi Shacham-Diamand ◽  
Adin Stern

Additive manufacturing (AM) revolutionary technologies open new opportunities and challenges. They allow low-cost manufacturing of parts with complex geometries and short time-to-market of products that can be exclusively customized. Additive manufactured parts often need post-printing surface modification. This study aims to review novel environmental-friendly surface finishing process of 3D-printed AlSi10Mg parts by electroless deposition of gold, silver, and gold–silver alloy (e.g., electrum) and to propose a full process methodology suitable for effective metallization. This deposition technique is simple and low cost method, allowing the metallization of both conductive and insulating materials. The AlSi10Mg parts were produced by the additive manufacturing laser powder bed fusion (AM-LPBF) process. Gold, silver, and their alloys were chosen as coatings due to their esthetic appearance, good corrosion resistance, and excellent electrical and thermal conductivity. The metals were deposited on 3D-printed disk-shaped specimens at 80 and 90 °C using a dedicated surface activation method where special functionalization of the printed AlSi10Mg was performed to assure a uniform catalytic surface yielding a good adhesion of the deposited metal to the substrate. Various methods were used to examine the coating quality, including light microscopy, optical profilometry, XRD, X-ray fluorescence, SEM–energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), focused ion beam (FIB)-SEM, and XPS analyses. The results indicate that the developed coatings yield satisfactory quality, and the suggested surface finishing process can be used for many AM products and applications.


Author(s):  
Morteza Vatani ◽  
Faez Alkadi ◽  
Jae-Won Choi

A novel additive manufacturing algorithm was developed to increase the consistency of three-dimensional (3D) printed curvilinear or conformal patterns on freeform surfaces. The algorithm dynamically and locally compensates the nozzle location with respect to the pattern geometry, motion direction, and topology of the substrate to minimize lagging or leading during conformal printing. The printing algorithm was implemented in an existing 3D printing system that consists of an extrusion-based dispensing module and an XYZ-stage. A dispensing head is fixed on a Z-axis and moves vertically, while the substrate is installed on an XY-stage and moves in the x–y plane. The printing algorithm approximates the printed pattern using nonuniform rational B-spline (NURBS) curves translated directly from a 3D model. Results showed that the proposed printing algorithm increases the consistency in the width of the printed patterns. It is envisioned that the proposed algorithm can facilitate nonplanar 3D printing using common and commercially available Cartesian-type 3D printing systems.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasamine Coles-Black ◽  
Damien Bolton ◽  
Jason Chuen

Introduction: 3D printed patient-specific vascular phantoms provide superior anatomical insights for simulating complex endovascular procedures. Currently, lack of exposure to the technology poses a barrier for adoption. We offer an accessible, low-cost guide to producing vascular anatomical models using routine CT angiography, open source software packages and a variety of 3D printing technologies.Methods: Although applicable to all vascular territories, we illustrate our methodology using Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAAs) due to the strong interest in this area. CT aortograms acquired as part of routine care were converted to representative patient-specific 3D models, and then printed using a variety of 3D printing technologies to assess their material suitability as aortic phantoms. Depending on the technology, phantoms cost $20–$1,000 and were produced in 12–48 h. This technique was used to generate hollow 3D printed thoracoabdominal aortas visible under fluoroscopy.Results: 3D printed AAA phantoms were a valuable addition to standard CT angiogram reconstructions in the simulation of complex cases, such as short or very angulated necks, or for positioning fenestrations in juxtarenal aneurysms. Hollow flexible models were particularly useful for device selection and in planning of fenestrated EVAR. In addition, these models have demonstrated utility other settings, such as patient education and engagement, and trainee and anatomical education. Further study is required to establish a material with optimal cost, haptic and fluoroscopic fidelity.Conclusion: We share our experiences and methodology for developing inexpensive 3D printed vascular phantoms which despite material limitations, successfully mimic the procedural challenges encountered during live endovascular surgery. As the technology continues to improve, 3D printed vascular phantoms have the potential to disrupt how endovascular procedures are planned and taught.


Author(s):  
Sourabh Deshpande ◽  
Nithin Rao ◽  
Nitin Pradhan ◽  
John L. Irwin

Utilizing the advantages of additive manufacturing methods, redesigning, building and testing of an existing integral Savonius / Darrieus “Lenz2 Wing” style vertical axis wind turbine is predicted to improve power generation efficiency. The current wind turbine blades and supports made from aluminum plate and sheet are limiting the power generation due to the overall weight. The new design is predicted to increase power generation when compared to the current design due to the lightweight spiral Darrieus shaped hollow blade made possible by 3D printing, along with an internal Savonius blade made from aluminum sheet and traditional manufacturing techniques. The design constraints include 3D printing the turbine blades in a 0.4 × 0.4 × 0.3 m work envelope while using a Stratasys Fortus 400mc and thus the wind turbine blades are split into multiple parts with dovetail joint features, when bonded together result in a 1.2 m tall working prototype. Appropriate allowance in the mating dovetail joints are considered to facilitate the fit and bonding, as well as angle, size and placement of the dovetail to maximize strength. The spiral shape and Darrieus style cross section of the blade that provides the required lift enabling it to rotate from the static condition are oriented laterally for 3D printing to maximize strength. The bonding of the dovetail joints is carried out effectively using an acetone solution dip. The auxiliary components of the wind turbine which include the center support pole, top and bottom support, and center Savonius blades are manufactured using lightweight aluminum. Design features are included in the 3D printed blade parts so that they can be assembled with the aluminum parts in bolted connections. Analysis of the 3D CAD models show that the hybrid aluminum and hollow 3D printed blade construction provides a 50% cost savings over a 3D printed fully solid blade design while minimizing weight and maximizing the strength where necessary. Analysis of the redesign includes a detailed weight comparison, structural strength and the cost of production. Results include linear static finite element analysis for the strength in dovetail joint bonding and the aluminum to 3D printed connections. Additional data reported are the time frame for the design and manufacturing of the system, budget, and an operational analysis of the wind turbine with concern for safety. Results are analyzed to determine the advantages in utilizing a hybrid additive manufacturing and aluminum construction for producing a more efficient vertical axis wind turbine. Techniques used in the production of this type of wind turbine blade are planned to be utilized in similar applications such as a lightweight hovercraft propeller blade design to be tested in future research projects.


History of additive manufacturing started in the 1980s in Japan. Stereolithography was invented first in 1983. After that tens of other techniques were invented under the common name 3D printing. When stereolithography was invented rapid prototyping did not exists. Tree years later new technique was invented: selective laser sintering (SLS). First commercial SLS was in 1990. At the end of 20t century, first bio-printer was developed. Using bio materials, first kidney was 3D printed. Ten years later, first 3D Printer in the kit was launched to the market. Today we have large scale printers that printed large 3D objects such are cars. 3D printing will be used for printing everything everywhere. List of pros and cons questions rising every day.


Proceedings ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (13) ◽  
pp. 783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Kahr ◽  
Wilfried Hortschitz ◽  
Harald Steiner ◽  
Michael Stifter ◽  
Andreas Kainz ◽  
...  

This paper reports a novel 3D printed MEMS magnetometer with optical readout, which demonstrates the advantages of 3D printing technology in terms of rapid prototyping. Low-cost and fast product development cycles favour 3D printing as an effective tool. Sensitivity measurement with such devices indicate high accuracy and good structural performance, considering material and technological uncertainties. This paper is focusing on the novelty of the rapid, 3D-printing prototyping approach and verification of the working principle for printed MEMS magnetometers.


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