The Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI), a non-profit arm of safety research specialist Underwriters Laboratories, has found that 3D printing emissions can be damaging to human health, even in small quantities. In a recent CIRI toxicity study, researchers found that exposure to the fumes created when printing ABS or PLA filaments, can “contribute to airway cellular injury and inflammation.” Based on their research, the scientists say that operating extrusion 3D printers from a safe distance, as well as ventilation and filtration mitigation strategies, should be discussed in the safety guidance around these machines. Researchers working at Underwriters Laboratories’ CIRI institute. Photo via Underwriters Laboratories. Getting to the bottom of emissions According to the researchers behind the paper, Dr. Christa Wright, now formerly of Georgia State University, and CIRI graduate student Jennifer Jeon, their study was prompted by concerns over the harmfulness of fumes emitted by certain printers. Specifically, as FFF… read more
Alex
Back in April 2021 we took a look at Chinese printer company Cerambot’s ceramic printer the Eazao, which enabled the printing of ceramics that could be fired inside a standard home microwave oven thanks to their nifty little microwave kiln gizmo. Now the company is back with a bigger offering, with a bunch of new improvements, and it’s available on Kickstarter. Let’s take a look in more detail at the new Cerambot Eazao Matrix. Bigger & Better First up, the new Cerambot Eazao Matrix is significantly bigger than the previous model. The Matrix comes in three different sizes which are the M500, M600, and M700. The largest is the M700 which provides the maximum printing volume at 500 x 500 x 700mm. That’s big enough to print your own bathroom sink or other bathroom ceramics! Imagine printing your own bidet! Mmmmm… custom freshness! The new Matrix is also capable of… read more
The University of Amsterdam (UVA) has agreed to license a hybrid stereolithography (SLA) technology to Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printer manufacturer atum3D. Developed at the university’s Van ‘t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, this hybrid SLA process combines photo and stereolithography to enable the production of parts with high-resolution features at scale. Once commercialized, the UVA says the technology could be used to address medical R&D needs, such as the creation of tissue scaffolds or microfluidic devices with clinical research applications. The University of Amsterdam campus. Photo via the UVA. atum3D’s DLP 3D printing portfolio Based in the city of Gouda in the Netherlands, atum3D specializes in the development of DLP technologies designed to address serial manufacturing applications. The firm’s main offering revolves around the DLP Station 5-405, DLP Station 5-365 EXZ and DLP Station 5-405 EXZ, 3D printers with build volumes up to 192 x 108 x 450… read more
A new hybrid printing process developed by researchers at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is promising to speed up printing of resins at sub-micron levels. The process has been developed by Dr Suhas Nawada, who previously worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the Van ‘t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences at UvA. The method combines elements of both SLA and DLP printing, with the rapid low resolution work being done by the DLP and the slower high resolution aspects being performed by the SLA segment, thus allowing both high speed and high resolution. The technology has been licenced to Gouda-based company atum3D via the Amsterdam Innovation Exchange (IXA), which is UvA’s technology transfer office. Best of Both Worlds The process utilizes composite imaging where large-scale, low-resolution patterns are printed using a DLP projector. Within these low-res layers, pre-defined photomasks enable the realization of micro-features. Switching photomask patterns between layers can… read more
The nuclear industry is raising the quality-bar in terms of additive manufacturing again, this time by installing a 3D printed steel component in a Swedish nuclear power plant. The component in question is an upper tie plate grid, which has been installed on top of an ATRIUM 11 fuel assembly at the Forsmark Nuclear Power Plant, which is operated by Vattenfall, in Sweden. It has been designed by Framatome, who are designers of nuclear equipment. Let’s have a look at the printed component, and then take a look at this fuel assembly in some more detail. Here’s the printed upper tie plate grid. Printed steel nuclear fuel assembly component (Image credit: Framatome) It sits on top of the ATRIUM 11 fuel assembly, which is the most advanced boiling water reactor (BWR) fuel design on the market today. It has been operating in plants worldwide since 2012 as lead fuel assemblies… read more
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