On this weekend’s 3D Printing Information Briefs, we’re beginning with medical information from 3D Programs, after which transferring on to analysis about glass nanostructures and artificial lichen. Then, 3D printing is getting used to make out of date components for tractor restoration. Lastly, adidas has revealed a lace-up model of its 3D printed CLIMACOOL slip-on sneaker.
3D Programs & TISSIUM Collaboration Leads to FDA Approval for Nerve Restore
For a number of years, 3D Programs has partnered with French medtech firm TISSIUM to develop a bespoke 3D printing answer to restore broken peripheral nerves. Just lately, 3D Programs introduced that their mixed efforts and applied sciences have enabled FDA approval for regenerative restore of peripheral nerve harm. For practically a decade, the corporate has held a place of management in bioprinting, and its biomedical engineers use bioprinting, biocompatible 3D printing supplies, and a variety of cell sorts to assemble patient-specific dwelling tissues. TISSIUM developed proprietary biomorphic programmable polymers for tissue reconstruction, so the 2 are well-matched. By pairing TISSIUM’s biomorphic polymers with 3D Programs’ regenerative drugs applied sciences, they had been capable of develop a novel, 3D printed polymeric answer for peripheral nerve harm restore: a totally bioabsorbable, atraumatic, sutureless medical system referred to as COAPTIUM ® CONNECT with TISSIUM Mild. As TISSIUM defined, this answer “preserves nerve integrity and simplifies the coaptation course of.”
“Over the previous a number of years, now we have made phenomenal progress constructing upon Chuck Hull’s invention of 3D printing, and pushing its capabilities into new frontiers. Whether or not in our medical system enterprise via the manufacturing of patient-specific implants and surgical options, or via the work our regenerative drugs staff is doing, 3D Programs is making a profound affect not solely on how healthcare is delivered, however on the standard of sufferers’ lives, and continues to solidify what I consider is an unparalleled position we play in advancing drugs with additive manufacturing functions,” mentioned Dr. Jeffrey Graves, President and CEO of 3D Programs. “This newest accomplishment by TISSIUM, enabled by our distinctive 3D printing know-how, is yet one more instance of how 3D Programs is reworking affected person take care of a greater future.”
SUTD’s 3D Printed Glass Nanostructures Replicate Practically All Seen Mild
Nanoscale 3D printing of glass.
With its transparency and stability, glass has lengthy been utilized in optical methods, however larger refractive index supplies are higher for manipulating mild on the nanoscale, particularly for high-performance optical gadgets. However a analysis staff led by the Singapore College of Expertise and Design (SUTD) got here up with a brand new methodology for 3D printing glass constructions on the nanoscale which have near-perfect reflectance, which is difficult assumptions in regards to the capabilities low-index supplies, like glass, have in photonics. Their new materials, referred to as Glass-Nano, is a photocurable resin made by mixing light-sensitive natural compounds with silicon-containing molecules. Throughout heating, it cures easily and contracts uniformly to rework into clear, strong glass that displays practically all seen mild. When the Glass-Nano is printed utilizing two-photon lithography, the polymer constructions shrink at 650°C, which achieves nanoscale options as small as 260 nm and preserves type. With their new methodology, the staff overcome the everyday limitations of photonic crystals (PhCs), printing greater than 20 tightly stacked layers to realize a diamond-like crystal that was extremely uniform in construction, with high quality spectral particulars, and displays practically 100% of incident mild with a variety of viewing angles. Now, they’re working to broaden the capabilities of their Glass-Nano platform.
Professor Joel Yang, a professor at SUTD and chief of the analysis staff, mentioned, “With the flexibility to print high-resolution nanostructures in each low- and high-index dielectrics, we’re now turning to functions the place 3D optical elements might scale back transmission losses and allow extra environment friendly photonic methods.”
To study extra, you may learn their analysis paper right here.
TAMU Researchers Growing Artificial Lichen System for Mars Colonization
Microscopic view of the artificial lichen system, by which red-colored fluorescent cells are cyanobacterial cells and the non-fluorescent cells are fungal cells. Courtesy of Dr. Congrui Grace Jin.
Numerous time and sources have been spent making an attempt to give you potential Mars colonization concepts, as a result of it’s not possible to launch building supplies into outer area. One promising concept is a artificial lichen system for autonomous building, at the moment being developed by researchers from the Texas A&M College (TAMU) Division of Engineering with funding from NASA Progressive Superior Ideas (NIAC). Previous analysis into bonding Martian soil all require a steady provide of exterior vitamins or vital human help, which is what makes this autonomous, self-growing know-how so promising. Lichens should not particular person vegetation or fungi, however as a substitute a symbiotic collaboration between not less than two completely different organisms. The TAMU staff’s self-growing materials, which makes use of an artificial group of a number of lichen species, doesn’t want exterior nutrient provides, and secretes biopolymers that bond Martian regolith particles right into a stable construction. The system doesn’t require any human intervention—simply Martian regolith simulant, an inorganic liquid medium, air, and light-weight are have to create building supplies all by itself. The staff printed a paper on their findings, and is now engaged on a regolith ink that can be utilized to 3D print constructions.
“The potential of this self-growing know-how in enabling long-term extraterrestrial exploration and colonization is critical,” defined Dr. Congrui Grace Jin from Texas A&M College, who has spent years working together with her colleagues to excellent the bio-manufacturing of engineered dwelling supplies.
Tractor Restoration Corporations Flip to 3D Printing for Out of date Elements
This Finest Mannequin 30 orchard tractor, usually referred to as the Humpback, was primarily reproduced from the bottom up utilizing 3D printing to recreate most of the components. Picture: Tharran Gaines
You might have recognized that 3D printing can assist restore previous vehicles, however what about previous tractors? If a collector finds a uncommon tractor in ok form to be restored, any alternative components are possible exhausting to search out. Alex Fuselier with Aumann Auctions mentioned that historically, a sample maker creates a picket foundry sample so the half could be forged. However now, a 3D printed half can be utilized as a casting sample. Fuselier additionally employs a tabletop mattress 3D scanner, so he can scan all sides of the half with out transferring it, reserve it to a CAD file, and print it nevertheless many occasions he desires. Ok.R. Hough, the proprietor of full-service tractor restoration firm Traction Engineering in Pendleton, Indiana, used 3D printing to breed a complete Finest Mannequin 30 orchard tractor, usually referred to as the Humpback. His consumer was a collector of pre-1925 tractors inbuilt California, which is the place Hough had the tractor scanned. He constructed a brand new body from water-jet-cut-steel, machined some components with CNC tools, and 3D printed a number of others, together with the tractor seat, engine block, pistons, head, and a part of the unique radiator. Similar to Fuselier, a number of of the components he printed had been despatched to a foundry for casting. It may well nonetheless be exhausting to justify the price of having an element forged with 3D printing, however it’s inexpensive than having a picket sample made.
“I’ve made components that value anyplace from $50 to $4,000. You will have $25 every method to ship the sample to the foundry, so there’s $50 proper there,” mentioned Hough. “Add the price of scanning, casting, and ending, and it will be exhausting to make a single half for lower than $200 until you might have the economic system of scale and wish a number of equivalent components.”
Hough and Fuselier are nonetheless large enough followers of the know-how that they partnered as much as give a presentation on 3D printing on the Powers Tractor Faculty, however hope that the price of metallic 3D printing will ultimately come down, to allow them to eliminate casting the 3D printed patterns.
adidas Reveals CLIMACOOL Laced, 3D Printed in a Single Piece
In 2024, sportswear behemoth adidas revealed the CLIMACOOL, a totally 3D printed sneaker developed with Carbon and its Digital Mild Synthesis (DLP) know-how. With its lattice constructions, the slip-on shoe was designed for breathability, consolation, and efficiency, and is 3D printed in a single piece, which eliminates seams. After a restricted early drop in April, the CLIMACOOL was globally launched in Might of 2025 and retails for lower than $200. The CLIMACOOL vary was initially designed in 2002, present process intensive athlete testing to validate its futuristic cooling applied sciences. Now, adidas has revealed the following step in its CLIMACOOL journey: the brand new CLIMACOOL LACED, which the model calls “the following exploration of a brand new design innovation.”
This new 3D printed sneaker can also be designed and printed as a single piece, mixing each higher and midsole parts with one materials. Similar to its slip-on predecessor, the seamless CLIMACOOL LACED contains a delicate, adaptive, and breathable match for final consolation. It provides 360° airflow, and the fabric breathes because it strikes, which helps maintain the wearer’s toes good and funky. adidas says that with the “distinctive 3D printing course of,” it takes roughly 24 hours to create a CLIMACOOL LACED shoe, together with spinning, baking, and compression with polymer supplies. The preliminary type might be a daring off-white with a black lacing system for a extra adjustable match. Beginning July fifteenth, the 3D printed CLIMACOOL LACED might be obtainable on the adidas web site, in adidas shops, and at chosen retailers.
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