3D Printing Research

Researchers at Duke University have developed a solvent-free polymer for digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing, aimed at enhancing mechanical properties and environmental compatibility, particularly for medical applications.  Published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, this development marks one of the first solvent-free resins suitable for Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printing, eliminating the need for solvent-based dilution in the printing process, according to the researchers. DLP technology uses light to solidify liquid resin into layered structures, commonly used in industrial and dental fields.  However, many polymers suited for DLP printing require a low-viscosity resin, similar to water, to achieve high resolution. To reduce viscosity, traditional methods often use solvents, which can introduce challenges such as up to 30% shrinkage in printed parts and residual stress from solvent evaporation, negatively impacting dimensional accuracy and mechanical strength. “I wanted to create an inherently thin, low-viscosity material for DLP to use for degradable…    read more 

German research organization Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT will showcase its new 3D printing beam shaping technology at Formnext 2024. Working with the Chair of Technology of Optical Systems (TOS) at RWTH Aachen University, the new platform, the Fraunhofer team is developing a test system for investigating complex laser beam profiles.  This platform can create customized beam profiles for laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) 3D printing, enhancing part quality, process stability and productivity, while minimizing material waste.  Fraunhofer ILT’s new system uses Liquid Crystal on Silicon – Spatial Light Modulators (LCoS-SLMs) to selectively bend the phase front of the laser beam during 3D printing. It can reportedly achieve more complex profiles than the basic ring and rectangular shapes achieved in previous research. This will allow researchers to investigate almost any beam profile used in LPBF. The complex profiles can then be matched with specific industrial 3D printing applications to…    read more 

A recent advance in bioprinting from the Collins BioMicrosystems Laboratory at the University of Melbourne could significantly reshape tissue engineering. Researchers at the lab, led by biomedical engineer David Collins, have introduced a new 3D bioprinting approach called Dynamic Interface Printing (DIP). Unlike traditional methods that slowly build tissue layer by layer, DIP employs acoustic waves to guide cells into precise configurations, producing complex human tissues in seconds—a process previously hindered by speed and structural limitations. This breakthrough offers the potential for customized, high-fidelity tissue structures with applications across regenerative medicine and disease modeling. The approach can reportedly achieve 3D printing speeds around 350 times faster than those of traditional bioprinters, reducing the chances of cell damage while maintaining high structural accuracy. Most current bioprinters rely on layer-by-layer construction, which often compromises cell viability due to prolonged exposure times and complex post-processing steps. Once printed, tissue structures typically require delicate…    read more 

Researchers at Swansea University have developed a novel approach to testing biomaterials for bone regeneration, offering both speed and ethical refinement.  Published in Bioactive Materials journal, and led by Dr. Zhidao Xia, a team from Swansea’s Medical School and Faculty of Science and Engineering has introduced a murine tibial periosteal ossification model that eliminates the need for traditional methods involving fractures or critical sized defects.  In doing so, they significantly reduce animal suffering while enabling biomaterial evaluation in as little as 14 days, with cortical bone remodeling completed by 28 days. Dr. Xia explained, “Our invention bridges the gap between synthetic substitutes and donor bone. We’ve shown that it’s possible to create a material that is safe, effective, and scalable to meet global demand. This could end the reliance on donor bone and tackle the ethical and supply issues in bone grafting.” Alongside Swansea, several institutions worldwide contributed to this…    read more 

Researchers at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow have created a fully 3D printed and low cost microscope for histological imaging.  Based on OpenFlexure‘s open-source design, the device incorporates 3D printed mechanical and optical components alongside a Raspberry Pi for control, an LED light source for illumination, and an affordable off-the-shelf camera. Weighing just 3 kg, the microscope can be assembled in three hours at an estimated cost of £50 ($60). This study is published in the bioRvix journal. As reported by New Scientist, Gail McConnell Professor of Biophotonics at the University, highlighted the impact of their work. She stated that her team had earlier devised a technique for 3D printing lenses commonly used in microscopes, a development that played a crucial role in achieving this milestone. Measuring the resolution of a fully 3D printed microscope post-acquisition chromatic correction. Image via University of Strathclyde. Affordability with 3D printed optics Key…    read more