3D Printed Medical Models
3D printed medical models have come a long way in helping doctors in their approach to specific surgical procedures. If there is one area where 3D printing excels and that is the best demonstration of unique complex geometry and high value, it is probably medical applications. Every person has a unique body composition and therefore custom solutions and treatments must be tailored to different individuals. A patient of the Jacobs institute was diagnosed with a life-threatening cerebral aneurysm in her brain. With the help of 3D printing, surgical teams now have an advanced tool to help them find the right method to isolate the patient’s blood vessel, helping reduce risks associated with delays and potential complications with various surgical approaches. While there are several options for treatment, no two aneurysms are identical and it’s necessary to have deep knowledge of a patient’s vascular anatomy. In this case, doctors were able to derive a tangible 3D model of the aneurysm based on patient CT scans. The 3D model, printed using flexible TangoPlus photopolymer, gave the doctors the opportunity to not only inspect a life-sized replica of the aneurysm, but also conduct a series of pre-surgical tests against several treatment options. The model enabled the [...]
Inspect Freeform Surfaces
There are various types of dial indicators and other manual gauges that can be used to inspect freeform surfaces and determine if they are within tolerance. However, inspecting surface profile tolerances can be quite challenging when you are measuring freeform surfaces. One solution for this scenario is utilizing Verisurf software along with the CMM Master. In Verisurf, you can define the Geometric Characteristic, the Tolerance Zone Size, and add the Datum References called out on the manufacturing drawing. Next, add a surface grid of points on that freeform surface. The probe will scan and analyze each one of these points as it sweeps across the surface. You can control the density of the scan points, as well as the path direction the probe will take. Once you finish programming the probe path, use the CMM Master to inspect it. The probe then follows the automated repeatable path created in the Verisurf software, and quickly scans and collects the data from each grid point. Once this process is done, you can easily produce a First Article Inspection report per AS9102 REV B standard, or output a PDF with the tolerance information. As you can see, inspecting a freeform 3D surface just got whole lot [...]
3D Printing Lets Young Designers Reimagine Product Concepts
Design 2020 student project – creating the ultimate bicycle bottle with the help of 3D printing. Today’s design students will be tomorrow’s engineers, and to help prepare them for their future challenges, Silicon Valley-based Innodesign, Stratasys and Dassault Systèmes recently partnered on the Design 2020 program. Design 2020 offered 20 Korean designers in their 20s a chance to become fully proficient in 3D design. Covering everything from industrial design and CAD rendering to 3D printing, the program gave 20 university students and local designers the opportunity to learn theory and gain first-hand experience with the goal of conceptualizing their designs and exhibiting them publicly. Students at Design 2020 experiencing Stratasys 3D Printing. Experts from Stratasys Korea were on hand to guide the young designers through building their work on both FDM and PolyJet-based 3D printers. “Our role is to hold and mentor the students throughout the project to help them really understand what 3D printing can deliver for them,” said Daniel Thomson, General Manager of Stratasys Korea. Innodesign and Stratasys 3D Printing: Turning the Conventional to Unconventional One of the world’s top design firms, Innodesign was founded in 1986 by Kim Young-se (the current CEO). Innodesign is known for [...]
Makerbot Replicator+ 3D Printer Overview
MakerBot is an influential brand in the 3D Printing industry, acknowledged by many as a standard in consumer desktop printers and with the release of the Replicator +, they have descended deeper into the prosumer market through a highly refined printing platform. This platform can be used in product development, providing convenient access to prototypes and concept models early on in the design process. In this article, we will discuss some of the new features of this machine. The Replicator+ has a similar design to its predecessor and includes the standard features of LCD display, on-board camera to remotely monitor prints, USB, wifi, and Ethernet connectivity. However, the build plate has been redesigned, featuring the new Grip Surface allowing for better part adherence and a reduction in warping. Prints are also easier to remove with the bendable Flex Build Plate and the machine is much quieter than the last release. Where the Replicator + really excels is in its speed and build volume. The Replicator + prints 30% faster than the original and offers a 25% larger build volume. It is also more reliable due to its redesigned gantry and z-stage. This boost in speed is made possible by the Smart Extruder +. All printers [...]
Stratasys 3D Printing Creates Racing Motorcycle Parts Fast and Economically
Buckeye Current, from Ohio State University (OSU), is one of the fastest collegiate electric motorcycle teams in the world. A big part of their success is the ability to design and produce one-off motorcycle components to their exacting specifications – quickly and cost-effectively. That’s where Stratasys 3D Printing comes in. The OSU team’s intent was to design and build a custom motorcycle that could then be raced at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the second-oldest motorsport event in North America, and the result was the RW-3x motorcycle. To meet the tough requirements of this grueling race, the team needed complex, one-off, custom-designed parts to house some of the most important components of the motorcycle. Here are Buckeye Current’s accomplishments in recent years… A large part of the RW-3x is its main electronic attachment, located on the bottom of the vehicle, under the battery pack. This 18x12x6 inch component is by far the largest 3D printed piece that the Buckeye Current has ever used. It wouldn’t have been possible without the large build tray on the Stratasys Fortus 900mc Production 3D Printer. This component was 3D printed in the resolution and tight precision needed for such a critical part, and it functions to [...]
SolidWorks 2017 Wrap onto Freeform Surfaces
There is a significant enhancement with the Wrap function in SolidWorks 2017. In the past, SolidWorks has been able to Wrap a 2D sketch onto a CAD model, but it had to be either a cylindrical or cone-shaped face. In addition, you could only Wrap to a single face; multiple faces were not supported, but now in SolidWorks 2017, these limitations have been removed. In the example below, the goal is to emboss the Cimquest logo on to the top face of the complex egg carton shaped CAD model. To achieve this, we can now use the newly enhanced Wrap function by initiating the Wrap command. The Wrap Type options did not change, but now you do have a Wrap Method option that has been added. The traditional Analytical Surface option wraps around cones and cylinders. In contrast, the newly added Spline Surface option can project to freeform faces. For this model, we will select Spline Surface and with the sketch already preselected, all we need to do is specify the thickness and select the face. SolidWorks will do the rest. As shown in the CAD model example below, the Wrap command even supports projecting to multiple faces in the same command. As you [...]