Large volume syringe pump extruder for desktop 3D printers.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Pusch K
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6258044 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Recent advances in Freeform Reversible Embedding of Suspended Hydrogels (FRESH), a technique that is compatible with most open-source desktop 3D printers, has enabled the fabrication of complex 3D structures using a wide range of natural and synthetic hydrogels, whose mechanical properties can be modified by embedding long fibers into printed hydrogels. However, fiber extruders dedicated for this application are not commercially available or previously reported. To address this, we have designed a continuous fiber extruder (CFE) that is compatible with low-cost, open-source desktop 3D printers, and demonstrated its performance using a Flashforge Creator-pro printer with a Replistruder-2.0 print-head. Key characteristics of the CFE include: (1) it is affordable, accessible and user-friendly to the 3D printing community due to its low fabrication cost and compatibility with open-source hardware and software, (2) it can embed user-defined 2D and 3D features using long fibers into different types of hydrogels, (3) it works with fibers of different mechanical properties and sizes, (4) it can modify mechanical properties of FRESH printed hydrogels via long fiber embedding.
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Project description:The rapid expansion of 3D printing technologies has led to increased utilization in various industries and has also become pervasive in the home environment. Although the benefits are well acknowledged, concerns have arisen regarding potential health and safety hazards associated with emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulates during the 3D printing process. The home environment is particularly hazardous given the lack of health and safety awareness of the typical home user. This study aims to assess the safety aspects of 3D printing of PLA and ABS filaments by investigating emissions of VOCs and particulates, characterizing their chemical and physical profiles, and evaluating potential health risks. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed to profile VOC emissions, while a particle analyzer (WIBS) was used to quantify and characterize particulate emissions. Our research highlights that 3D printing processes release a wide range of VOCs, including straight and branched alkanes, benzenes, and aldehydes. Emission profiles depend on filament type but also, importantly, the brand of filament. The size, shape, and fluorescent characteristics of particle emissions were characterized for PLA-based printing emissions and found to vary depending on the filament employed. This is the first 3D printing study employing WIBS for particulate characterization, and distinct sizes and shape profiles that differ from other ambient WIBS studies were observed. The findings emphasize the importance of implementing safety measures in all 3D printing environments, including the home, such as improved ventilation, thermoplastic material, and brand selection. Additionally, our research highlights the need for further regulatory guidelines to ensure the safe use of 3D printing technologies, particularly in the home setting.
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Project description:Recent advances in embedded 3D bioprinting have significantly improved the resolution of individual filaments to below 100 μm; however, printing with such small filaments requires accurate extrusion of nanoliter volumes of bioink. Commercially available bioprinters and extruders are expensive and most utilize pneumatic control, which limits the minimum extrusion volume and prevents retraction (pulling bioink back into the reservoir), which is essential to printing high resolution features and complex internal geometry. Here we present a new generation of our open-source syringe pump designed for extrusion-based 3D bioprinting of soft materials: the Replistruder 4. The Replistruder 4 takes advantage of the geometry customizability and ease of 3D plastic printing while improving performance by integrating mass produced high-precision linear motion components. Simultaneously this new syringe pump remains compact and lightweight enough for several to be utilized on a 3D bioprinter for multimaterial bioprinting. To facilitate multiple use cases the Replistruder 4 is compatible with a range of syringes including disposable BD and Hamilton gastight syringes. In addition, we describe the process of designing clamps for other syringes. We demonstrate the performance of a Replistruder 4 with a 2.5 mL Hamilton gastight syringe by printing collagen type I constructs with individual filaments comprising 3.35 nL and patent channels down to 300 μm in width. With smaller volume Hamilton gastight syringes this performance can be further improved. Thus, the Replistruder 4 provides an open-source solution to print soft materials at the resolution limits of current embedded bioprinting platforms.
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Project description:A cheap, open source 3D printer (Creality Ender 3) is transformed into an Open Hardware, programmable syringe pump set. Only 3 parts need to be purchased outside of the printer kit. All other parts are either in the Ender 3 kit, or can be 3D printed. No prior knowledge in electronics or programming languages is required. The pumps are controlled by the 3D printer firmware and motherboard and programmed in simple G-code text files. The total cost of a three pumps setup is ∼€170. The pumps are capable of reaching stable flows down to 5 µL/min using cheap, disposable 10 mL syringes. Higher flow speeds are also achievable, in the order of mL/min.
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Project description:The technique of additive manufacturing has increasing popularity in food research area as well as other scientific fields. However, 3D food printers are expensive options compared to 3D polymer printers. Scientists, that require laboratory scale production capacities, resemble the syringe-pump systems that available in open source and free hardware designs. Present study aimed to develop an exchangeable syringe-pump mechanism (SPM) to demonstrate transformation of conventional 3D printer from polymer to food extrusion. The SPM can print a variety of materials, including miscellaneous foods, pastes, hydrogels and even biopolymers. The complete mechanism relies mostly on 3D printed parts and costs approximately 72$. Therefore, it allows users to obtain a 3D food printer inexpensively and does not require large amounts of technical labor. The SPM uses big volume (60 ml) luer lock syringe and blunt tip needles for greater versatility and user-friendliness. It could also be extended with cooling mechanism, so that the proposed system gains unique attribute among its counterparts. Finally, a standard polymer-printing 3D-Printer was converted into a laboratory-scale food printer, and edible ink was successfully printed in the desired shape.
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Project description:Little is known about emissions and exposure potential from vat polymerization additive manufacturing, a process that uses light-activated polymerization of a resin to build an object. Five vat polymerization printers (three stereolithography (SLA) and two digital light processing (DLP) were evaluated individually in a 12.85 m3 chamber. Aerosols (number, size) and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) were measured using real-time monitors. Carbonyl vapors and particulate matter were collected for offline analysis using impingers and filters, respectively. During printing, particle emission yields (#/g printed) ranged from 1.3 ± 0.3 to 2.8 ± 2.6 x 108 (SLA printers) and from 3.3 ± 1.5 to 9.2 ± 3.0 x 108 (DLP printers). Yields for number of particles with sizes 5.6 to 560 nm (#/g printed) were 0.8 ± 0.1 to 2.1 ± 0.9 x 1010 and from 1.1 ± 0.3 to 4.0 ± 1.2 x 1010 for SLA and DLP printers, respectively. TVOC yield values (µg/g printed) ranged from 161 ± 47 to 322 ± 229 (SLA printers) and from 1281 ± 313 to 1931 ± 234 (DLP printers). Geometric mean mobility particle sizes were 41.1-45.1 nm for SLA printers and 15.3-28.8 nm for DLP printers. Mean particle and TVOC yields were statistically significantly higher and mean particle sizes were significantly smaller for DLP printers compared with SLA printers (p < 0.05). Energy dispersive X-ray analysis of individual particles qualitatively identified potential occupational carcinogens (chromium, nickel) as well as reactive metals implicated in generation of reactive oxygen species (iron, zinc). Lung deposition modeling indicates that about 15-37% of emitted particles would deposit in the pulmonary region (alveoli). Benzaldehyde (1.0-2.3 ppb) and acetone (0.7-18.0 ppb) were quantified in emissions from four of the printers and 4-oxopentanal (0.07 ppb) was detectable in the emissions from one printer. Vat polymerization printers emitted nanoscale particles that contained potential carcinogens, sensitizers, and reactive metals as well as carbonyl compound vapors. Differences in emissions between SLA and DLP printers indicate that the underlying technology is an important factor when considering exposure reduction strategies such as engineering controls.
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Project description:The operation of microfluidic devices requires precise and constant fluid flow. Microfluidic systems in low-resource settings require a portable, inexpensive, and electricity-free pumping approach due to the rising demand for microfluidics in point-of-care testing (POCT). Open-source alternatives, employing 3D printing and motors, offer affordability. However, using motors require electrical power, which often relies on external sources, hindering the on-site use of open-source pumps. This study introduces a spring-driven, 3D-printed syringe pump, eliminating the need for an external power source. The syringe pump is operated by the flat spiral spring's torque. By manually winding up the mainspring, the syringe pump can be operated without electricity. Various flow rates can be achieved by utilizing different syringe sizes and choosing the right gear combinations. All the parts of the syringe pump can be fabricated by 3D printing, requiring no additional components that require electricity. It operates by winding a mainspring and is user-friendly, allowing flow rate adjustments by assembling gears that modulate syringe plunger pushing velocity. The fabrication cost is $25-30 and can be assembled easily by following the instructions. We expect that the proposed syringe pump will enable the utilization of microfluidic technologies in resource-limited settings, promoting the adoption of microfluidics. Detailed information and results are available in the original research paper (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2024.135289).
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Project description:This article explores a new open-source method for developing and manufacturing high-quality scientific equipment suitable for use in virtually any laboratory. A syringe pump was designed using freely available open-source computer aided design (CAD) software and manufactured using an open-source RepRap 3-D printer and readily available parts. The design, bill of materials and assembly instructions are globally available to anyone wishing to use them. Details are provided covering the use of the CAD software and the RepRap 3-D printer. The use of an open-source Rasberry Pi computer as a wireless control device is also illustrated. Performance of the syringe pump was assessed and the methods used for assessment are detailed. The cost of the entire system, including the controller and web-based control interface, is on the order of 5% or less than one would expect to pay for a commercial syringe pump having similar performance. The design should suit the needs of a given research activity requiring a syringe pump including carefully controlled dosing of reagents, pharmaceuticals, and delivery of viscous 3-D printer media among other applications.
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Project description:Foundation piles that are made by concrete 3D printers constitute a new alternative way of founding buildings constructed using incremental technology. We are currently observing very rapid development of incremental technology for the construction industry. The systems that are used for 3D printing with the application of construction materials make it possible to form permanent formwork for strip foundations, construct load-bearing walls and partition walls, and prefabricate elements, such as stairs, lintels, and ceilings. 3D printing systems do not offer soil reinforcement by making piles. The paper presents the possibility of making concrete foundation piles in laboratory conditions using a concrete 3D printer. The paper shows the tools and procedure for pile pumping. An experiment for measuring pile bearing capacity is described and an example of a pile deployment model under a foundation is described. The results of the tests and analytical calculations have shown that the displacement piles demonstrate less settlement when compared to the analysed shallow foundation. The authors indicate that it is possible to replace the shallow foundation with a series of piles combined with a printed wall without locally widening it. This type of foundation can be used for the foundation of low-rise buildings, such as detached houses. Estimated calculations have shown that the possibility of making foundation piles by a 3D printer will reduce the cost of making foundations by shortening the time of execution of works and reducing the consumption of construction materials.
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