3D Printing News
A note of caution to our viewers: many of these products are only available for pre-ordering and have yet to be manufactured. Others are only hopes/dreams. Hyperbole is the language of choice, so be careful!
Additionally, be forewarned that some of the materials you intend to work with, as well as particles and fumes from the printer itself, may be toxic. You may want to read this article for a further discussion of the potential problems. Additionally, here is a later review of some of the known health hazards.
Note: a new report has just been issued about the safety of both filaments and the printers themselves. Here are some conclusions: 1. "toxic effects can be produced even with small levels of exposure"; 2. "It is unwise to touch models with bare hand"; 3. "Even though some resins may come with good cytotoxicity, they may still cause health issues after repeated exposure". Be sure to read the report in its entirety for your own safety..

Another new study has just confirmed that emissions from 3D printers can cause harm to respiratory systems. Scientists from Purdue University and the Chemical Insights Research Institute recorded DNA damage and inflammation, both causative factors in Asthma, allergic rhinitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 10 ways to improve indoor air quality are suggested.

A community south of Austin, Texas, includes 8 single-family 3D printed homes. The residences provide 2,800 to 4,000 square feet and 4 to 5 bathrooms and cost in the "upper 800,000s". Featured are high thermal performance concrete, making them roughly 50% more energy efficient than the usual new home. The builders claim that the wall structures can withstand winds up to 250 mph. LG stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops and freestanding tubs are included.

Nanocellulose is the name given to a new group of materials made from corn husks, wood pulp, and algae. Although energy and water-intensive to create, these materials are said to be more sustainable than other biomaterials. Basically the cellulose is broken down into fibrils. The strengths and weaknesses of these fibrils are described in detail here.

3D printed multicolored trucks are featured using a process called Purgey, where the printer switches between colors and outputs the trucks standing on their heads. The multi-color obects are made by a single-extrusion-head FDM 3D printer. As the printer changes from one color to another. it cleans the extruder by depositing excess plastic into a purge block.

Researchers in Japan are working to create digital replicas of cultural treasures like paintings, pottery, and Buddha sculptures. One company, Toppan, has made more than 60 virtual reality images. Another, Dal Nippon Printing, has created a system which shows the cultural objects on a touch screen. Canon wants to print copies of artworks on Japanese paper called washi.

The University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science has produced a template for the world's first building blocks for human-compatible organs that can be printed on demand. The new process is called DASP (digital assembly of spherical particles) using hydrogel particles. The particles "tweak" the chemical bonds and distribution of single-molecule monomers which link in chains to make networks. Within these particles are real human cells. The researchers state that their hydrogels are less toxic and more biocompatible than other bio-inks. They also designed a multichannel nozzle. In an earlier study, the engineers learned that drop formation and fast detachment from the nozzle are key to repeat the elasticity or stiffness of the human tissue targeted.

A 3D printed skatepark has made its debut at the Paris Olympics. The skatepark features 8 concrete modules, including 2 launchers, an A frame, a volcano, a double volcano, and 3 benches.

Researchers at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have 3D printed a wearable fabric that is flexible but can stiffen on demand. Called RoboFabric, the new material was inspired by the scales of armadillos and pangolins, which interlock to create a protective shell. Currently they have used the RoboFabric as an elbow support and as a wrist support to aid trembling in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Inspired by electric eels, engineers at the University of Cambridge have produced soft, stretchable "jelly batteries" that can be useful in soft robotics and wearable devices, perhaps even as brain implants to treat epilepsy. The self-healing batteries can stretch to more than 10 times their original length without damaging their conductivity. They deliver an electric current activated by changing the salt component of each gel. The gels can mold to match human tissue and are less likely to be rejected since they contain no metals or other rigid parts.

Beginning this year, you may be able to ride the first zero-emission hydrogen train in the U.S. The passenger train is designed to ride for 46 hours without a recharge. Caller FLIRT H2, it is planned to start in Southern California. Initially it will take a 9.6 mile route from San Bernardine to Redlands, California. In an earlier test, the train traveled 1,742 miles on an experimental track in Colorado.

One note of caution: many companies are using high-tech and confusing language to disguise the fact that plastics are part of their product or their process, especially in the food industry. Buyer beware. Demand an easy-to-understand explanation before you eat or buy.

We review many hundreds of articles each month, culling the most significant for you. We also welcome suggestions from our viewers for products and processes that we may have missed.

c.Corinne Whitaker 2024