3D printing news round-up November
In last month’s news round-up, we covered some of the most amazing 3D printing related news stories from around the world, including the first ever 3D printed hotel room, a truly unique musical instrument, and a replacement rib cage made out of titanium (3D printed of course!). This month we have another selection of stories which showcase just how diverse and revolutionary 3D printing technology is.
Highway ready, 3D printed cars
Local Motors is known as the foremost manufacturer of 3D printed vehicles, and the company recently announced that it would be launching a 3D printed dune buggy early next year, known as the LM3D Swim Model.
Although 3D printing has a reputation as an economical manufacturing process, in this case the vehicles will not be cheap, retailing at an estimated $53,000! However, for the novelty of driving a car that was manufactured using a computer and 3D printer, perhaps the steep price will be worth it for certain enthusiasts.
Replacement teeth
We have witnessed the ways in which 3D scanning and 3D printing technology have been used to perform life-saving medical procedures. Now, the field of dentistry is set to follow trend. Theoretically, bespoke 3D printed teeth would be affordable for one-off production cycles, and because 3D scanning technology would allow for a dimensionally accurate tooth to be designed, it would be a perfect fit when it slots into the recipient’s mouth.
A research team at the University of Groningen in Holland have been innovating a process to do just this, with one added benefit - the teeth would be imbued with an antibacterial functionality for oral hygiene benefits. Currently, the team are using antimicrobial quaternary ammonium salts inside existing dental resin polymers in order to destroy bacterial membranes (such as Streptococcus mutans which is responsible for tooth decay). Although the team are still doing tests to prove the plastic material is strong enough to be used as a tooth, initial results show that this process/product could hit the market in the near future.
Musical notations for the visually impaired
In a recent article, we showed how 3D printing was being used to make art more accessible to those with visual impairments. A similar process has been used to make musical notations readable for those with similar afflictions.
Traditionally, braille has been used to help visually impaired musicians read notes, but it is not always a popular methodology. To promote braille, PHD student Yeaji Kim developed a 3D printed universal notation system known as Tactile Stave Notation. The system uses a Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D printer to create raised notes on a ‘sheet’ of music at an incredible high resolution, allowing for immediate comprehension.
Operation “Plastic Fantastic”
The environmental ramifications of 3D printing has been discussed extensively, both positively and negatively. However, for the indigenous population of Milingimbi, an island just off the coast of Australia’s Northern Territory, 3D printing has been an integral part of operation “Plastic Fantastic”, an endeavour to reduce plastic waste on the island. Community members have pulled together to collect plastic waste which is then shredded, melted and extruded into filament which is used in the local school’s 3D printing machine to create new items, such as sunglasses and plastic toys.
This way, the children get to learn valuable insights about a technology which is sure to expand as they get older, and they get to clean up the environment at the same time. That’s definitely a win-win scenario!
Tagged with: vehicles, transport, biotechnology, prosthetics, accessibility
