Category: 3D Printer

In a groundbreaking stride towards architectural innovation, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia proudly unveils the world’s inaugural 3D-printed mosque, nestled within the Al-Jawhara suburb of Jeddah. Spanning an impressive 5,600 square meters, this architectural marvel serves as a tribute to the late equestrian Abdulaziz Abdullah Sharbatly and stands as a testament to the kingdom’s embrace of cutting-edge technology. Spearheaded by Forsan Real Estate and employing state-of-the-art 3D printing technology from Guanli, the mosque’s construction was completed in a mere six months, under the visionary leadership of Wajnat Abdulwahed, the spouse of the esteemed Abdulaziz Abdullah Sharbatly.

Designed to foster tranquility amongst worshippers while seamlessly integrating natural light, the mosque boasts distinctive minarets, elevating it to the status of a neighborhood landmark. Its inauguration heralds Saudi Arabia’s ascent as a global technological hub, outpacing even the United Arab Emirates in a similar endeavor. While Dubai had previously announced plans for the world’s first 3D-printed mosque last May, Saudi Arabia has now taken the lead, demonstrating the boundless possibilities of this emerging construction technique.

Continue reading… “Pioneering the Future: Saudi Arabia Unveils World’s First 3D-Printed Mosque”

At Stanford University, researchers have unlocked a transformative advancement in 3D printing technology, enabling the rapid production of highly detailed microscopic particles with a wide array of applications. These particles, smaller than visible dust, find utility in drug delivery, microelectronics, microfluidics, and precision manufacturing. However, the intricate coordination required between light delivery, stage movement, and resin properties has historically hindered scalable fabrication of such custom microscale particles.

In a groundbreaking study published in Nature, Jason Kronenfeld, a PhD candidate in the DeSimone lab at Stanford, unveils a novel processing technique capable of printing up to 1 million intricately detailed microscale particles per day. This achievement represents a significant leap forward in particle fabrication, offering unprecedented speed and complexity in production.

Continue reading… “Revolutionizing Manufacturing: Stanford’s Breakthrough in 3D Printing Microscale Particles”

Texas-based ICON has made waves at SXSW with the debut of Phoenix, a groundbreaking robotic-arm-mounted 3D printer designed to construct fully-enclosed, multi-storey buildings using a low-carbon mixture.

Revolutionizing Construction at SXSW During a presentation at SXSW in Austin, ICON showcased Phoenix, a demountable crane-based 3D printer set to redefine construction possibilities. This innovative technology enables the creation of multi-storey dwellings with enclosed systems, ushering in a new era of sustainable and efficient building practices. Currently, ICON is constructing a prototype outside its headquarters in Austin, featuring a dome-like enclosed roof and towering at 70 feet tall.

Continue reading… “ICON Unveils Phoenix: A Robotic 3D Printer for Multi-Storey Structures”

In a groundbreaking development, researchers have achieved a remarkable feat by directly printing multi-layered, living skin onto significant injuries in rats, promising scar-free skin repair. This innovative approach, previously confined to the realms of science fiction, involves the genuine 3D printing of skin, potentially including hair, directly into damaged areas.

The importance of the skin, particularly on the head and face, extends beyond mere protection to encompass aspects of identity. However, full-thickness skin damage resulting from traumatic injury or extensive surgery in these areas poses significant challenges. Traditional methods such as skin grafts often lead to scarring, permanent hair loss, and graft failure, affecting individuals’ confidence and self-esteem.

Continue reading… “Revolutionary Advancement: 3D Printing Living Skin with Hair for Scar-Free Reconstruction”

Protein Engineering and 3D Printing

Over two decades ago, a groundbreaking achievement led by David Baker at the University of Washington marked the inception of de novo protein design. While ‘Top7,’ an early creation, initially lacked biological functionality, today, the field has evolved into a powerful tool for tailor-made enzymes and proteins. Neil King, collaborating with Baker’s team, emphasizes the transformative nature of this progress, citing the ability to accomplish tasks that were deemed impossible just a year and a half ago. The success owes much to extensive datasets linking protein sequences to structures and the indispensable role of deep learning in unraveling the hidden grammar of protein architecture.

Deep Learning for Protein Design

The utilization of large language models (LLMs), such as those powering ChatGPT, has paved the way for ‘sequence-based’ strategies in protein design. Noelia Ferruz and her team at the Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona developed ProtGPT2, an algorithm consistently producing synthetic proteins with stable folding. Meanwhile, ‘structure-based’ approaches, fueled by diffusion models akin to those in image-generating tools like DALL-E, demonstrated notable progress in bespoke protein-design algorithms in 2023. RFdiffusion software and the Chroma tool exemplify the power of these approaches in engineering novel proteins.

Continue reading… “Advancements and Challenges: Seven Key Technological Frontiers Explored”

A groundbreaking advancement in 3D printing within the human body has been achieved by a collaborative team of researchers from Duke University and Harvard Medical School. Their innovative approach involves utilizing ultrasound waves to solidify an injectable biocompatible ink, as detailed in a recent paper published in the journal Science.

Building upon a previously developed photo-sensitive ink that hardens when exposed to light, the researchers sought to overcome the limitation of light penetration, which extends only a few millimeters into the patient’s tissue. The new technique, termed “deep-penetrating acoustic volumetric printing” (DVAP), leverages the sono-thermal effect, where soundwaves are absorbed, increasing the temperature and subsequently solidifying the ink.

Continue reading… “Revolutionizing Biomedical 3D Printing: Duke University and Harvard Researchers Introduce Deep-Penetrating Acoustic Volumetric Printing”

In a groundbreaking development, the application of advanced laser scanning technology has reshaped the way museums engage in the research and conservation of paintings, meticulously mapping their textures, colors, and dimensions. Now, an Austrian printmaking company, Lito Masters, is harnessing this technology to provide art enthusiasts with a unique opportunity to “live with a masterpiece.”

Established in 2022, Lito Masters has collaborated with major museums, conducting detailed scans of iconic paintings by artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse, and Wassily Kandinsky. Utilizing 3D-printing technology, the company produces textured, stroke-for-stroke reproductions on canvas or paper, faithfully replicating the originals’ cracks, ridges, and imperfections.

Continue reading… “Revolutionizing Art Reproduction: Lito Masters Brings Masterpieces to Life with 3D Printing”

Holcim, in collaboration with the Block Research Group at ETH Zurich, Zaha Hadid Architects Computation and Design Group, and Incremental3D, introduces the groundbreaking Phoenix project. An evolution of the previously unveiled Striatus bridge, Phoenix stands as a testament to sustainable engineering and 3D printing technology.

Cutting-Edge Construction

Phoenix boasts a maximum height of 2.6 meters (8.5 feet) and a longest span of 17 meters (55 feet). The bridge’s innovative construction process involves the use of a 3D printer to create building blocks. The printer extrudes a cement-based mixture layer by layer, meticulously following a computer-generated plan. Notably, the cement mixture incorporates 10 tons of recycled materials, including elements from the original Striatus bridge, aligning with the project’s commitment to sustainability.

Continue reading… “Phoenix Project: Holcim’s Innovative 3D-Printed Bridge Redefining Sustainability”

Elegoo, renowned for its reliable 3D printers, has embarked on a Kickstarter venture that pushes the boundaries of printing capabilities with the introduction of the OrangeStorm Giga. This printer, bearing the epic name “Giga,” boasts an expansive build area measuring a staggering 800 by 800 by 1,000mm or 2.6 by 2.6 by 3.2 feet.

Primarily designed for the commercial market, the OrangeStorm Giga presents an alluring proposition for small businesses and hobbyists alike. The colossal build size opens up exciting possibilities, allowing users to print life-sized components such as Iron Man chest pieces or prototypes for various projects. The 1-meter tall build space facilitates the creation of large vases, full-size busts, and artwork for walls.

Continue reading… “Elegoo Unleashes Kaiju-Sized 3D Printing Power with OrangeStorm Giga on Kickstarter”

For over 20 years, astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have heavily relied on Earth-shipped materials for their scientific endeavors and daily necessities, with water being the sole exception, recycled from station wastewater. However, a shift is underway as scientists explore the potential of manufacturing supplies in space, fueled by the burgeoning commercial space industry and global interest in extended missions beyond the ISS.

The latest frontier in this quest involves studying the application of 3D printing in microgravity. Traditionally, 3D printing involves layering chosen materials like molten plastic, glass, or metal, a process heavily influenced by gravity. The investigation aims to unravel how 3D printing behaves in space, envisioning a future where astronauts can fabricate resources on-demand, ranging from space station components to nanosatellites, and even full-scale satellites using materials sourced from asteroids. This advancement could potentially lead to the 3D printing of habitats on the moon and other planets, thereby reducing the reliance on cargo resupply missions.

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A groundbreaking achievement in construction has taken place in Guatemala as a team harnessed 3D printing technology to erect an earthquake-resistant house in a mere 26 hours. While 3D-printed houses are not entirely novel, this project represents a significant leap in designing structures capable of withstanding seismic forces.

The project entailed creating organic-shaped walls using 3D printing technology, combined with traditional construction methods typical of the region, including a roof crafted from palm leaves. The 49 square-meter dwelling was brought to life through a collaboration between COBOD International, a renowned 3D printer supplier, and the Danish architecture firm 3DCP Group, which oversaw the printing process in partnership with Progreso, a cement company. The house, characterized by 3-meter-high walls, was assembled within 26 printing hours spanning seven days.

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The flush toilet, a groundbreaking invention from the late 16th century, only gained widespread use in the 1850s. Since then, this everyday marvel has saved countless lives by preventing diseases such as cholera, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid, and polio. Despite its crucial role in public health, we often take toilets for granted, except for the unpleasant task of cleaning them. However, a recent breakthrough in toilet design may change our perception of this essential fixture.

Chinese researchers have developed a 3D-printed toilet surface with exceptional slipperiness, preventing virtually anything from adhering to it, even after heavy use. While this innovation has the potential to drastically reduce water consumption in flushing, its most notable contribution may be rendering traditional toilet brushes obsolete.

Continue reading… “Revolutionary 3D-Printed Toilet Surface May Revolutionize Hygiene and Water Conservation”