3D Printing

Medical device company Ortho Solutions has signed a binding agreement to acquire Meshworks, a specialist in custom orthopedic implants. The acquisition aims to strengthen Ortho Solutions’ position in the foot and ankle medical device market. Image Credit: orthospinenews.com Meshworks, previously part of the Alloyed group, develops patient-specific orthopedic implants using additive manufacturing technology. The company combines expertise from multiple disciplines, including orthopedic design, additive manufacturing, software engineering, and metallurgy, with its team operating from facilities connected to Oxford and Imperial College London. The acquisition brings together Meshworks’ custom 3D printing capabilities with Ortho Solutions’ existing foot and ankle care portfolio. Meshworks has established itself as a leading provider of additively manufactured extremity implants in the UK market, offering a streamlined design process for surgeons. Ortho Solutions CEO and Co-Founder Eliot Clare commented on the acquisition: “We are delighted with the opportunity to integrate Meshworks into the Ortho Solutions Group of…    read more 

Design studio Mickus Projects has introduced a new 3D-printed chandelier made entirely from sustainable bioplastic materials. The Hedron Pendant features a honeycomb-shaped lampshade produced using polylactic acid derived from corn and sugar sources, containing no petroleum-based components. The design draws inspiration from Danish midcentury designer Poul Henningsen’s work with glare-free lighting. Image Credit: Mickus Projects The pendant’s distinctive hexagonal pattern wraps around a central stem housing an LED light source. Its structure consists of tapered cell walls specifically angled to create a double-bounce effect from the internal LED, resulting in soft, diffused illumination. The manufacturing process generates zero waste, as the 3D printing method requires no cutting or adhesives. Image Credit: Mickus Projects Ben Mickus, the studio’s founder and trained architect, developed the design following his time in Copenhagen studying Danish modern design. The natural world also influenced the chandelier’s form, incorporating elements reminiscent of honeycomb structures, turtle shells, and…    read more 

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has successfully tested a 3D printed specimen capsule in its High Flux Isotope Reactor. The capsule, known in the industry as a rabbit capsule, was designed and manufactured using a laser powder bed printer with stainless steel materials. This marks the first time an additively manufactured component of this type has been qualified for reactor use. Image Credit: Oak Ridge National Laboratory The specimen capsule underwent nearly a month of testing inside the High Flux Isotope Reactor, where it demonstrated its ability to withstand the reactor’s high neutron flux environment. These capsules play an essential role in nuclear fuels and materials research by containing experiments during irradiation testing. “This is a significant step toward demonstrating that additive manufacturing can be used to develop and qualify specialized components that cannot be conventionally machined,” said Richard Howard, group lead for irradiation engineering at ORNL. The technology offers…    read more 

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