scholarly journals Polymer-Based Additive Manufacturing: Process Optimisation for Low-Cost Industrial Robotics Manufacture

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 2809
Author(s):  
Kartikeya Walia ◽  
Ahmed Khan ◽  
Philip Breedon

The robotics design process can be complex with potentially multiple design iterations. The use of 3D printing is ideal for rapid prototyping and has conventionally been utilised in concept development and for exploring different design parameters that are ultimately used to meet an intended application or routine. During the initial stage of a robot development, exploiting 3D printing can provide design freedom, customisation and sustainability and ultimately lead to direct cost benefits. Traditionally, robot specifications are selected on the basis of being able to deliver a specific task. However, a robot that can be specified by design parameters linked to a distinctive task can be developed quickly, inexpensively, and with little overall risk utilising a 3D printing process. Numerous factors are inevitably important for the design of industrial robots using polymer-based additive manufacturing. However, with an extensive range of new polymer-based additive manufacturing techniques and materials, these could provide significant benefits for future robotics design and development.

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 168781402091695
Author(s):  
Asliah Seharing ◽  
Abdul Hadi Azman ◽  
Shahrum Abdullah

This review analyses the design, mechanical behaviors, manufacturability, and application of gradient lattice structures manufactured via metallic additive manufacturing technology. By varying the design parameters such as cell size, strut length, and strut diameter of the unit cells in lattice structures, a gradient property is obtained to achieve different levels of functionalities and optimize strength-to-weight ratio characteristics. Gradient lattice structures offer variable densification and porosities; and can combine more than one type of unit cells with different topologies which results in different performances in mechanical behavior layer-by-layer compared to non-gradient lattice structures. Additive manufacturing techniques are capable of manufacturing complex lightweight parts such as uniform and gradient lattice structures and hence offer design freedom for engineers. Despite these advantages, additive manufacturing has its own unique drawbacks in manufacturing lattice structures. The rules and strategies in overcoming the constraints are discussed and recommendations for future work were proposed.


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


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 3149
Author(s):  
Angelika Zaszczyńska ◽  
Maryla Moczulska-Heljak ◽  
Arkadiusz Gradys ◽  
Paweł Sajkiewicz

Tissue engineering (TE) scaffolds have enormous significance for the possibility of regeneration of complex tissue structures or even whole organs. Three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques allow fabricating TE scaffolds, having an extremely complex structure, in a repeatable and precise manner. Moreover, they enable the easy application of computer-assisted methods to TE scaffold design. The latest additive manufacturing techniques open up opportunities not otherwise available. This study aimed to summarize the state-of-art field of 3D printing techniques in applications for tissue engineering with a focus on the latest advancements. The following topics are discussed: systematics of the available 3D printing techniques applied for TE scaffold fabrication; overview of 3D printable biomaterials and advancements in 3D-printing-assisted tissue engineering.


Author(s):  
Brandon Bethers ◽  
Yang Yang

Abstract Cuttlebone, the internal shell structure of a cuttlefish, presents a unique labyrinthian wall-septa design that promotes high energy absorption, porosity, and damage tolerance. This structure offers us an inspiration for the design of lightweight and strong structures for potential applications in mechanical, aerospace and biomedical engineering. However, the complexity of the cuttlebones structural design makes its fabrication by traditional manufacturing techniques not feasible. The advances in additive manufacturing (3D printing) make highly complex structures like cuttlebone possible to manufacture. In this work, the authors sought to establish comparative data between cuttlebone structures and some common support structures used in additive manufacturing. The structures compared to cuttlebone in this work include the cubic, honeycomb and triangular support structures. This was accomplished by using CAD modeling and simulation software. This study found that the cuttlefish structures had higher average stress values than the others but similar average strain values. This leads to a higher modulus of elasticity for the cuttlebone structures. The data suggests that further research into cuttlebone structures could produce future designs that improve upon the current well-established additive manufacturing support structures. Further study will be performed for the 3D printing of cuttlebone inspired structures by using various types of materials, such as soft and rigid polymers, functional ceramics, composites, and metals.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 2778-2792
Author(s):  
Massimo Bonini

Additive manufacturing techniques (i.e., 3D printing) are rapidly becoming one of the most popular methods for the preparation of materials to be employed in many different fields, including biomedical applications. The main reason is the unique flexibility resulting from both the method itself and the variety of starting materials, requiring the combination of multidisciplinary competencies for the optimization of the process. In particular, this is the case of additive manufacturing processes based on the extrusion or jetting of nanocomposite materials, where the unique properties of nanomaterials are combined with those of a flowing matrix. This contribution focuses on the physico-chemical challenges typically faced in the 3D printing of polymeric nanocomposites and polymeric hydrogels intended for biomedical applications. The strategies to overcome those challenges are outlined, together with the characterization approaches that could help the advance of the field.


Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1946 ◽  
Author(s):  
Héctor García-Martínez ◽  
Ernesto Ávila-Navarro ◽  
Germán Torregrosa-Penalva ◽  
Alberto Rodríguez-Martínez ◽  
Carolina Blanco-Angulo ◽  
...  

This work presents a study on the implementation and manufacturing of low-cost microwave electronic circuits, made with additive manufacturing techniques using fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology. First, the manufacturing process of substrates with different filaments, using various options offered by additive techniques in the manufacture of 3D printing parts, is described. The implemented substrates are structurally analyzed by ultrasound techniques to verify the correct metallization and fabrication of the substrate, and the characterization of the electrical properties in the microwave frequency range of each filament is performed. Finally, standard and novel microwave filters in microstrip and stripline technology are implemented, making use of the possibilities offered by additive techniques in the manufacturing process. The designed devices were manufactured and measured with good results, which demonstrates the possibility of using low-cost 3D printers in the design process of planar microwave circuits.


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.


Mechanik ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-26
Author(s):  
Stanisław Adamczak ◽  
Marcin Graba

Industrial design is an interdisciplinary activity leading to the development of new products that can be successfully launched on the market. Generally, the term industrial design is understood as the design process leading to the determination of various features of the industrial form. For many years, design was practiced using standard techniques such as sketch, presentation drawing, technical drawing, and mockups. However, the development of additive manufacturing techniques meant that an indispensable element in the industrial design is 3D printing, which allows to quickly create a prototype, a model of the designed detail. In this paper, on the example of engineering studies in the field of industrial design, the use of 3D printing in the process of design will be shown.


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