Category: 3D Printer

A groundbreaking advancement in 3D printing technology is set to revolutionize medical applications, including the creation of custom implants and heart bandages. Researchers at CU Boulder, in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania, have developed a novel 3D printing method that produces materials that are both incredibly strong and flexible, capable of adapting to the body’s unique requirements.

Innovative Material for Medical Applications

Led by Professor Jason Burdick of CU Boulder’s BioFrontiers Institute, the research team has engineered a new material that can withstand the heart’s constant beating, endure joint pressure, and conform to various shapes and sizes. Their findings were published in the August 2 edition of Science.

Engineers at the University of California, San Diego, have developed a groundbreaking 3D printing method that could significantly advance sustainable and environmentally friendly manufacturing. The innovative technique, detailed in Nature Communications, utilizes a polymer ink and a saltwater solution to create solid structures with remarkable simplicity.

The process revolves around a liquid polymer solution known as poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), or PNIPAM. When this ink is extruded through a needle into a calcium chloride salt solution, it immediately solidifies upon contact. This rapid transformation is driven by a phenomenon known as the “salting-out effect,” where the salt ions attract water molecules away from the polymer solution. The removal of water causes the hydrophobic polymer chains in the PNIPAM ink to densely aggregate, forming a solid structure.

Lung diseases claim millions of lives globally each year, with limited treatment options and inadequate animal models for research. Now, researchers have made a significant advancement by developing a mucus-based bioink for 3D printing lung tissue, as detailed in a study published in ACS Applied Bio Materials. This innovation holds promise for better understanding and treating chronic lung conditions.

While lung transplants offer a lifeline to some, the shortage of donor organs limits this option. Medications and treatments can manage symptoms of diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis, but no cure exists. Traditional research methods using rodents often fall short in accurately replicating human pulmonary diseases and predicting drug safety and efficacy. In response, bioengineers are turning to lab-grown lung tissue, aiming to create more precise models or potential implant materials.

Engineers at the University of California, San Diego have developed an innovative 3D printing method that utilizes a polymer ink and a salt water solution to create solid structures, offering a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to materials manufacturing. Published in Nature Communications, this breakthrough process simplifies 3D printing and reduces its environmental impact.

The method employs a liquid polymer solution known as poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), or PNIPAM. When extruded through a needle into a calcium chloride salt solution, the PNIPAM ink instantly solidifies upon contact. This rapid solidification is driven by the salting-out effect, where salt ions attract water molecules from the polymer solution. This attraction causes the hydrophobic polymer chains in the PNIPAM ink to aggregate densely, forming a solid structure.

Scientists at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore have devised a groundbreaking method to separate salt from water using bioinspired 3D-printed solar steam generators (SSGs). This innovation promises a more affordable and less energy-intensive solution for desalinating seawater.

Innovative Design and Materials

The research team, led by Yanbei Hou, utilized a novel metal-organic framework (MOF) derived fusing agent in a multi-jet fusion (MJF) 3D printer. This technique enabled the creation of SSGs with a capillary pore structure, enhancing their performance. Encapsulating iron oxide particles (Fe3O4) in a carbon layer (C@Fe3O4 hybrids), derived from MOF, allowed the SSGs to effectively absorb sunlight and convert it into heat.

In a groundbreaking initiative that marries ancient tradition with cutting-edge technology, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched the trial operation of the world’s first electric abra, a traditional wooden boat manufactured using 3D printing technology.

The 20-passenger vessel was created by Abu Dhabi’s Al Seer Marine, in collaboration with Tasneef Maritime, Japan’s Mitsubishi, and Germany’s Siemens and Torqeedo. According to a recent RTA press release, the abra retains its traditional design while supporting Dubai’s ambitious 3D printing strategy aimed at positioning the UAE as a global hub for 3D printing by 2030. This innovative approach is expected to reduce manufacturing time by 90%, lower costs by 30%, and cut operation and maintenance expenses by 30%.

“Diabetes is a major problem worldwide,” said Chuchu Chen, the study’s first author, highlighting the transformative potential of 3D printing in healthcare. The newly developed one-step 3D printing process utilizes a single-atom catalyst and enzymatic reactions to enhance signal detection of low-level biomarkers.

Unlike blood, sweat provides a non-invasive method for health monitoring. Uric acid levels in sweat can indicate risks for gout, kidney disease, and heart disease, while glucose and lactate levels help monitor diabetes and exercise intensity.

Traditionally, plant phenotyping—the science of accurately recording plant characteristics—has relied on time-consuming, manual measurements. Today, these processes are increasingly automated, supported by advanced sensor technologies and machine learning. These technologies record parameters such as size, fruit quality, leaf shape, and growth rates. Automated systems can often gather complex information about a plant that is difficult for humans to determine on a large scale.

A key aspect of this sensor-based breeding is the availability of precise reference materials. The sensors require data on a “standard plant” that includes all relevant characteristics, including three-dimensional properties such as leaf angle. A physical model offers clear advantages over purely digital or two-dimensional representations. For example, it can be used as a reference and internal control instance in a greenhouse or test field under real plants.

Researchers in Portugal are pioneering the use of gallium–carbon composites for 3D printing sensor-heater-battery systems in wearable electronics. These applications demand flexible, durable materials that maintain their functionality under strain. Gallium-based liquid metals (LMs) are ideal due to their high conductivity and fluidic deformability, but their low viscosity and high surface tension present significant printing challenges.

To address these issues, the team developed a gallium-carbon black-styrene isoprene block copolymer (Ga–CB–SIS) composite. This cost-effective and sustainable material substitutes traditional metals like silver with carbon. The Ga–CB–SIS composite is digitally printable and sinter-free, which eliminates the need for thermal sintering and enables multilayer 3D printing. It also exhibits excellent adhesion to various substrates, including heat-sensitive materials.

Task Force 99, a small U.S. Air Force (USAF) unit based in Qatar, was established as an experimental group in October 2022. Operating under USAF Central (USAFCENT), the Air Force Service component of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Task Force 99 plays a crucial role in the Middle East and parts of Northern Africa and Central Asia.

In March 2024, Task Force 99 conducted a flight assessment of a 3D-printed drone designed using software from Texas-based Titan Dynamics, a company specializing in aerospace battlefield simulation software and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designs. Remarkably, the drone prototype was developed just a month earlier in collaboration with Blue Horizons, an elite Air Force research organization.

3D nano-printing is revolutionizing photonics with the development of a miniaturized photonic lantern, a device merely 100 micrometers in size. This innovation promises to transform the manipulation of light waves, paving the way for future high-speed communication and advanced imaging techniques.

Traditionally, manipulating light waves required bulky equipment, limiting its application to high-end settings. The new 3D-printed photonic lantern offers a dramatic reduction in size and can be directly printed onto fiber optic tips or any solid substrate, seamlessly integrating into existing systems. This compact design opens doors for broader adoption across various technological contexts.

In a warehouse at the University of Maine, a groundbreaking additive manufacturing machine named Factory of the Future 1.0 stands ready to transform the construction industry. This gigantic 3D printer, touted as the largest thermoplastic-polymer printer in the world, has the potential to change the way many things are built.

Ostensibly a 3D printer, Factory of the Future 1.0 features a complex nozzle attached to a maze of wires hanging from a long steel chassis near the warehouse ceiling. This supersized version of additive manufacturing robots can print objects as large as 96 feet long, 32 feet wide, and 18 feet high, producing up to 500 pounds of material per hour. That’s enough to construct a 600-square-foot house in less than four days.