On this weekend’s 3D Printing Information Briefs, we’re beginning with medical information from 3D Techniques, after which shifting 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 Then, 3D printing is getting used to make out of date components for tractor restoration.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 Techniques & TISSIUM Collaboration Ends in FDA Approval for Nerve Restore
Picture: TISSIUM
For a number of years, 3D Techniques has partnered with French medtech firm TISSIUM to develop a bespoke 3D printing resolution to restore broken peripheral nerves. Lately, 3D Techniques introduced that their mixed efforts and applied sciences have enabled FDA approval for regenerative restore of peripheral nerve injury. 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 varieties to assemble patient-specific residing tissues. TISSIUM developed proprietary biomorphic programmable polymers for tissue reconstruction, so the 2 are well-matched. By pairing TISSIUM’s biomorphic polymers with 3D Techniques’ regenerative drugs applied sciences, they have been capable of develop a singular, 3D printed polymeric resolution for peripheral nerve injury restore: a totally bioabsorbable, atraumatic, sutureless medical system known as COAPTIUM ® CONNECT with TISSIUM Gentle. As TISSIUM defined, this resolution “preserves nerve integrity and simplifies the coaptation course of.”
“Over the previous a number of years, we’ve got 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 by means of the manufacturing of patient-specific implants and surgical options, or by means of the work our regenerative drugs group is doing, 3D Techniques is making a profound influence not solely on how healthcare is delivered, however on the standard of sufferers’ lives, and continues to solidify what I imagine is an unparalleled position we play in advancing drugs with additive manufacturing purposes,” mentioned Dr. Jeffrey Graves, President and CEO of 3D Techniques. “This newest accomplishment by TISSIUM, enabled by our distinctive 3D printing expertise, is yet another instance of how 3D Techniques is remodeling affected person take care of a greater future.”
SUTD’s 3D Printed Glass Nanostructures Replicate Practically All Seen Gentle
Nanoscale 3D printing of glass.
With its transparency and stability, glass has lengthy been utilized in optical techniques, however greater refractive index supplies are higher for manipulating gentle on the nanoscale, particularly for high-performance optical gadgets. However a analysis group led by the Singapore College of Expertise and Design (SUTD) got here up with a brand new methodology for 3D printing glass buildings on the nanoscale which have near-perfect reflectance, which is difficult assumptions concerning the capabilities low-index supplies, like glass, have in photonics. Their new materials, known 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 gentle. When the Glass-Nano is printed utilizing two-photon lithography, the polymer buildings shrink at 650°C, which achieves nanoscale options as small as 260 nm and preserves kind. With their new methodology, the group overcome the everyday limitations of photonic crystals (PhCs), printing greater than 20 tightly stacked layers to attain a diamond-like crystal that was extremely uniform in construction, with wonderful spectral particulars, and displays practically 100% of incident gentle 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 group, mentioned, “With the power to print high-resolution nanostructures in each low- and high-index dielectrics, we’re now turning to purposes the place 3D optical parts may cut back transmission losses and allow extra environment friendly photonic techniques.”
To be taught extra, you possibly can learn their analysis paper right here.
TAMU Researchers Creating 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.
Loads of time and assets have been spent attempting to provide you with potential Mars colonization concepts, as a result of it’s not possible to launch building supplies into outer house. One promising concept is a artificial lichen system for autonomous building, presently being developed by researchers from the Texas A&M College (TAMU) Division of Engineering with funding from NASA Modern 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 expertise so promising. Lichens will not be particular person vegetation or fungi, however as an alternative a symbiotic collaboration between at the least two completely different organisms. The TAMU group’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 must create building supplies all by itself. The group printed a paper on their findings, and is now engaged on a regolith ink that can be utilized to 3D print buildings.
“The potential of this self-growing expertise in enabling long-term extraterrestrial exploration and colonization is important,” 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 residing supplies.
Tractor Restoration Corporations Flip to 3D Printing for Out of date Components
This Greatest Mannequin 30 orchard tractor, typically known as the Humpback, was basically reproduced from the bottom up utilizing 3D printing to recreate most of the components. Picture: Tharran Gaines
You’ll have identified that 3D printing can assist restore previous automobiles, however what about previous tractors? If a collector finds a uncommon tractor in adequate form to be restored, any substitute components are seemingly exhausting to seek out. Alex Fuselier with Aumann Auctions mentioned that historically, a sample maker creates a wood 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 shifting it, put it aside to a CAD file, and print it nonetheless many instances he needs. Okay.R. Hough, the proprietor of full-service tractor restoration firm Traction Engineering in Pendleton, Indiana, used 3D printing to breed a whole Greatest Mannequin 30 orchard tractor, typically known as the Humpback. His consumer was a collector of pre-1925 tractors in-built 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. Identical to Fuselier, a number of of the components he printed have been despatched to a foundry for casting. It might nonetheless be exhausting to justify the price of having an element forged with 3D printing, however it’s inexpensive than having a wood sample made.
“I’ve made components that price wherever from $50 to $4,000. You’ve gotten $25 every option 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’ve the financial system of scale and want a number of similar components.”
Hough and Fuselier are nonetheless sufficiently big followers of the expertise that they partnered as much as give a presentation on 3D printing on the Powers Tractor College, however hope that the price of metallic 3D printing will finally come down, to allow them to dispose of 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 Gentle Synthesis (DLP) expertise. With its lattice buildings, 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 Could 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 subsequent step in its CLIMACOOL journey: the brand new CLIMACOOL LACED, which the model calls “the subsequent exploration of a brand new design innovation.”
This new 3D printed sneaker can be designed and printed as a single piece, mixing each higher and midsole components with one materials. Identical to its slip-on predecessor, the seamless CLIMACOOL LACED includes a tender, adaptive, and breathable match for final consolation. It affords 360° airflow, and the fabric breathes because it strikes, which helps hold 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 model 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 accessible on the adidas web site, in adidas shops, and at chosen retailers.
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