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A research team at the University of Strathclyde has developed a low-cost 3D printed microscope. The device, which can be assembled in under three hours, costs approximately $60 to produce and includes 3D printed clear plastic lenses. According to New Scientist, the team based their design on OpenFlexure‘s open-source microscope platform and incorporates a commercial camera, light source, and Raspberry Pi for control. Image Credit: OpenFlexure The microscope demonstrates cellular-level imaging capabilities, successfully examining blood and mouse kidney samples. This achievement is notable considering traditional lab-grade microscope lenses typically cost thousands of dollars. The complete system weighs approximately 6.6 pounds, making it portable for various applications. The cost reduction represents a significant advancement compared to existing alternatives. Current budget options, such as Gary Croft’s 2022 microscope camera setup, require additional components that push total costs above $390. The Strathclyde team’s version delivers similar functionality at less than a quarter of…    read more 

Last week we took a look at some promising research that utilized processed pineapple leaf fibers for the production of biocomposites. Bioplastics and biocomposite systems are great, and the research of such things should be lauded, especially if they make use of waste matter such as leaves, fruit skins or husks. So this week, let’s see how durian-based biocomposites compare. King of Fruits The durian is known as the King of Fruits. It is renowned for its shape, taste, texture and smell, which many find to be an acquired taste, putting it mildly. It’s very popular in Malaysia, and it is in this South East Asian peninsula where researchers from different institutes have been looking at different approaches for making durian into biocomposites. The durian husk consists 60.45% of cellulose, 13.09% of hemicellulose, and 15.45% of lignin, which are all useful bio-polymers, and so are useful as filler in biocomposites…    read more 

California-based rocket company Relativity Space has announced their new super-sized rocket printing robotic 3D printer system, dubbed the Stargate 4th generation. The new system is capable of printing objects up to 120ft long and 24ft wide at speeds of up to 12x faster than the previous systems. Yes, that means rockets! This one also differs from previous iterations in one notable way – it prints rockets horizontally. You can see the 4th gen Stargate in the image below. Stargate 4th gen. Faster, better, cheaper? (Image credit: Relativity Space) The new printer platform will support the scaled up production of Relativity Space’s Terran-R rocket, which is the company’s first fully reusable, 3D printed rocket, which will be capable of hoisting 20,000 tons into low Earth orbit (LEO). The new robotic printer achieves its higher print speed thanks in part to the new multi-wire print head into which multiple metal feedstock wires…    read more