articles+ search results

PHOTOGRAMMETRY, RAPID prototyping, THREE-dimensional printing, ORTHOPEDICS, and LABORATORY animals

Rapid prototyping (RP) is an innovative technology that allows one to obtain a prototype of a mold quickly and accurately from a virtual model. This study aimed to establish the use of photogrammetry and 3D prototyping for the production of bone biomodels of the canine species for training in orthopedic techniques in veterinary medicine. Virtual bio-modelling was performed by the photogrammetry technique with commercial anatomical pieces, and physical biomodelling was performed by 3D printing. Osteotomies were performed on the biomodels that served as platforms for osteosynthesis of the femur and ileum, and the final product was not associated with a risk of biological contamination, was able to support special orthopedic materials, and was used for training and surgical planning. We concluded that the use of photogrammetry and RP for the production of bone biomodels of the canine species enabled techniques for fracture reduction to be performed with the use of special instruments, enabling training in the area of veterinary orthopedics in an economically viable manner with an alternative to experimental animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, ROTATIONAL motion, DETECTORS, DIELECTRIC materials, MICROWAVES, and PROXIMITY detectors

This article presents a novel sensor for detecting and measuring angular rotation and proximity, intended for rapid prototyping machines. The sensor is based on a complementary split-ring resonator (CSRR) driven by a conductor-backed coplanar waveguide (CBCPW). The sensor has a planar topology, which makes it simple and cost-effective to produce and accurate in measuring both physical quantities. The sensor has two components, a rotor and a stator: the first of these (the CSRR) can rotate around its axis and translate along the plane normal to the ground of the CBCPW. A detailed theoretical and numerical analysis, along with a circuit model, of the unique sensor design is presented. The proposed sensor exhibits linear response for measuring angular rotation and proximity in the range of 30°–60° and 0–200 μm, respectively. Another distinctive feature of the rotation and proximity sensor is the wide frequency band of applicability, which is an integral part of its novel design and is implemented through various dielectric material loadings on the CSRR. In the prototype of the proposed device, the stator (CBCPW) is fabricated on a 0.508-mm-thick RF-35 substrate, whereas the CSRR-based rotor is fabricated on TLY-5 and RF-35 substrates. The angular rotation, proximity, operating band selection, and sensitivity are measured using a vector network analyzer and are found to be good matches to the simulated and theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, LASER welding, POLYMERS, DEGREES of freedom, and MICROMACHINING

We report on a novel rapid prototyping approach for the manufacturing of highly individualized lab-on-chip (LoC) cartridges from generic polymer parts by laser micromachining and laser welding. The approach allows an immediate implementation of microfluidic networks, components, and functionalities into an existing LoC platform without the need for an expensive and time-consuming fabrication of production tools like molds or masks. We comprehensively describe the individual process steps of the rapid prototyping procedure including a wet-chemical treatment for an easy and effective surface polishing of laser micromachined polymer parts. For laying out, we introduce a generalized diagrammatic description of microfluidic functional units in order to design application-specific cartridges for molecular diagnostic workflows. We demonstrate the usability of our prototyped cartridges by performing microfluidic experiments within. Due to the use of generic polymer parts, our rapid prototyping approach combines a high degree of freedom with an intrinsic compatibility to an established and highly developed LoC system. By enabling an experimental testing within one day, the rapid prototyping procedure shortens development cycles and boosts the evolution of microfluidic networks as well as the implementation of novel microfluidic components and functionalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, MICROFLUIDIC devices, ULTRA-short pulsed lasers, FLEXIBLE printed circuits, MANUFACTURING processes, LASERS, and LASER ablation

An effective development platform for custom lab-on-a-chip and lab-on-a-foil solutions has been regarded as a missing element for wider adoption of microfluidic technologies in everyday life. We have used a direct laser structuring device combined with CAD-CAM software and have developed an efficient, fast, and precise procedure for rapid prototyping of widely accessible contemporary materials utilized for flexible microfluidics. Utilization of an ultra-short pulsed laser has enabled us to predict and control the laser ablation process on thin low-temperature co-fired ceramics and Kapton foil. We have demonstrated an agreement between the theoretic predictions and experimental data on ablation rates, paving the way to a fully predictive manufacturing process. Our procedure enables an independent control of microfluidic channel shape, depth, and lateral dimensions down to 10 µm, while maintaining an exceptional process quality achieved by a parametrically optimized laser output at single-picosecond pulse durations. Our novel rapid prototyping solution features short turnover times, minimum material waste, no chemical procedures, and a single-step process free of heat-effects. We demonstrate the improvements to the structuring process on a known difficult-to-manufacture herringbone mixer structures inside a micro-mixer chip application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, CHEMICAL engineering, INTEGRATED software, CHEMICAL processes, COMPUTER software, INDUSTRIAL applications, and DYNAMIC simulation

With ongoing digitalization, fast simulation of process dynamics offers new opportunities for model‐based control schemes. This is eased by the availability of high‐level, open‐access, easy‐to‐use software able to simulate and optimize chemical processes, making rapid prototyping possible also for the chemical engineer. In this study, the capabilities of the Python‐based open‐source software package Pyomo towards industrial application is illustrated in modeling and comparing different control schemes for a simple Williams‐Otto process. It is shown how to simulate the process dynamics and how to compute optimal control trajectories for minimizing waste and maximizing yield. Two approaches to setpoint tracking are compared: one based on proportional‐integral feedback control and one based on optimal open‐loop control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PROTEIN synthesis, RAPID prototyping, MICROBIAL cells, ENGINEERING design, BIOSYNTHESIS, and ESCHERICHIA coli

Metabolic engineering of microorganisms to produce sustainable chemicals has emerged as an important part of the global bioeconomy. Unfortunately, efforts to design and engineer microbial cell factories are challenging because design-build-test cycles, iterations of re-engineering organisms to test and optimize new sets of enzymes, are slow. To alleviate this challenge, we demonstrate a cell-free approach termed in vitro Prototyping and Rapid Optimization of Biosynthetic Enzymes (or iPROBE). In iPROBE, a large number of pathway combinations can be rapidly built and optimized. The key idea is to use cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) to manufacture pathway enzymes in separate reactions that are then mixed to modularly assemble multiple, distinct biosynthetic pathways. As a model, we apply our approach to the 9-step heterologous enzyme pathway to limonene in extracts from Escherichia coli. In iterative cycles of design, we studied the impact of 54 enzyme homologs, multiple enzyme levels, and cofactor concentrations on pathway performance. In total, we screened over 150 unique sets of enzymes in 580 unique pathway conditions to increase limonene production in 24 h from 0.2 to 4.5 mM (23–610 mg/L). Finally, to demonstrate the modularity of this pathway, we also synthesized the biofuel precursors pinene and bisabolene. We anticipate that iPROBE will accelerate design-build-test cycles for metabolic engineering, enabling data-driven multiplexed cell-free methods for testing large combinations of biosynthetic enzymes to inform cellular design. Image 1 • Applied the iPROBE framework to build the nine-enzyme pathway to produce limonene. • Assessed the impact of cofactors and 54 enzyme homologs on enzyme performance. • Iteratively optimized cell-free limonene production exploring 580 unique reactions. • Extended pathway to biofuel precursors pinene and bisabolene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

THREE-dimensional printing, MICROFLUIDIC devices, CONTINUOUS casting, CONTINUOUS processing, and COMMERCIALIZATION

Microfluidic technologies have enormous potential to offer breakthrough solutions across a wide range of applications. However, the rate of scale-up and commercialization of these technologies has lagged significantly behind promising breakthrough developments in the lab, due at least in part to the problems presented by transitioning from benchtop fabrication methods to mass-manufacturing. In this work, we develop and validate a method to create functional microfluidic prototype devices using 3D printed masters in an industrial-scale roll-to-roll continuous casting process. There were no significant difference in mixing performance between the roll-to-roll cast devices and the PDMS controls in fluidic mixing tests. Furthermore, the casting process provided information on the suitability of the prototype microfluidic patterns for scale-up. This work represents an important step in the realization of high-volume prototyping and manufacturing of microfluidic patterns for use across a broad range of applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PROTOTYPES, RAPID prototyping, SEMI-structured interviews, MEDICAL equipment, and SET design

Engineering designers frequently use prototypes to gather input from stakeholders. Design guidelines recommend the use of quick and simple prototypes early and often in a design process. However, the type and quality of a prototype can influence how stakeholders perceive a new design concept and can, therefore, impact their responses. Additionally, different levels of experience, expertise, and preparedness for providing input to designers may lead stakeholders from different geographical or cultural settings to provide different responses, making the format of a prototype even more influential. Although design practitioners are known to intentionally align their prototyping approaches with the specific design question to be answered, it is unclear the extent to which prototyping approaches should vary based on the stakeholder, context, and setting of a design project. To investigate how the format and quality of prototypes influence stakeholders' responses, we conducted a field study with various medical professionals in Ghana. We presented prototypes for a medical device in different formats to stakeholders and collected responses to the design through semi-structured interviews. Our findings indicate that professional expertise, prototype format, and question type influenced the types of responses that stakeholders provided. These findings suggest that designers seeking input from stakeholders on new concepts should consider context-specific prototyping strategies, especially when designing at distance and across cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, ANALYTIC hierarchy process, GREY relational analysis, FUZZY numbers, DECISION making, and STRENGTH of materials

A multitude of rapid prototyping (RP) systems and technologies have come up since the introduction of additive process. Owing to the enlarging number of these systems with distinctive efficacy, the problem of selecting an appropriate system for a particular requirement is a cumbersome task. Henceforth, this work comes up with a strategy based on multi-attribute decision making to select a most suitable RP system. The presence of subjectivity in decision making as well as the existence of imprecision from various sources emphasize the methods which must consider uncertainty and vagueness. A decision advisor based on uncertainty theories, including fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) and grey relational analysis (GRA) has been introduced. It provides a comprehensive database comprising thirty nine commercially available RP systems. The evaluation attributes consisting of machine cost, accuracy, layer thickness, machine speed, material cost, net build size volume, machine weight, surface roughness, and material strength were utilized to characterize the different machines. The FAHP based on trapezoidal fuzzy number was implemented to determine the priority weights of various attributes, while the GRA was employed to realize the best RP system and technology. The authors believe that this system has the potential to transform into a fully developed RP selection system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

THERMAL insulation, RAPID prototyping, AERODYNAMIC heating, THERMAL conductivity, FREE convection, and TECHNOLOGY

Nowadays, 3-D printing technology is very often applied in industry due to design cycles shortening and surface quality improvement when comparing to conventional manufacturing technologies. In order to adapt 3-D printed materials as thermal barriers, it is necessary to determine its thermophysical properties. As far as thermal insulation is concerned, the lowest thermal conductivity is required and therefore the crucial parameter of the material is the porosity. This paper presents the results of experimental investigation of effective thermal conductivity of thermal barriers with variable porosity fabricated by the fused filament fabrication technology. Also the numerical study was presented. The commercial code - COMSOL multiphysics was used to model the coupled heat transfer. The model was than validated by comparing the numerical and experimental results. For each sample the density and thermal conductivity were determined experimentally. The influence of the size and shape of the cell on the formation of free convection was investigated in particular. The effect of the conduction and radiation on temperature and velocity profiles within the enclosure has been analyzed. In addition, the dominant heat transfer mechanisms as a function of density have been identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping and PERFORMANCE standards

Managing tasks in a company is a crucial thing to do, considering the number of functions that exist in that company. PT.XYZ does not have a task management application that causes task complexity to occur frequently for each employee so that the employee performance evaluation cannot be objective. One alternative solution proposed is to approve the task management application and objective key results by implementing the prototyping process model at PT. XYZ so that it can produce approval of application requirements, design data, design architectures, and design applications that can support objective employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, THREE-dimensional printing, EYELIDS, MUSCLE weakness, and FACIAL muscles

Blepharoptosis or ptosis is a common and potentially debilitating clinical problem. Long-term surgical treatment for ptosis caused by progressive myopathies can be challenging due to potential recurrence and complications associated with facial muscle weakness. When surgical treatment is no longer effective, an eyelid crutch can be used as an alternative intervention. This report demonstrates how 3D printing was used to rapidly design, prototype, and manufacture new custom-fit eyelid crutches at a low cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, CONCEPTUAL art, METHODOLOGY, ARTS, WORKS of art in art, and TECHNOLOGY

Open prototyping is presented as a conceptual and methodological framework for artistic practice and public participation that bridges the space between technology and society and contributes to city and technology innovation. Such practices can make ideas about the future tangible and realize different configurations of infrastructures, data, situations and people. Many works here are boundary objects, taking place in grey zones between disciplines and sectors. The article may thus deepen understanding at the fault lines between art and innovation and ways in which art can shape the direction of technology development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DESIGN failures, RAPID prototyping, FACTORIAL experiment designs, PROTOTYPES, NEW product development, and SUNK costs

Prototypes have been identified as critical artifacts for generating and developing innovative products and thus stimulating economic growth. However, prototyping is also associated with a large sunk cost including the extensive time and resources required to make physical prototypes. While a wide variety of prototyping methods have been proposed to reduce the cost and time of prototype development and increase the likelihood of final product success, the majority of research to date has explored the impact of these methods using simplistic measures of the technical performance of a design. Just as it is not enough to measure the effectiveness of ideation methods only by the quantity of ideas produced, we argue that it is not enough to measure the effectiveness of prototyping frameworks through technical performance alone. Without this fundamental knowledge, we cannot understand the impact of prototyping methods on final design success or failure. Therefore, the purpose in this work is to explore the effects of a structured prototyping framework on a variety of design attributes, including user satisfaction, perceived value, technical quality, and ease of manufacturability. Specifically, the overarching research question this study seeks to answer is: what attributes of a final design are affected by the implementation of a prototyping framework? A partial factorial experimental design was used to collect data from designs produced by 77 student design teams; designs were analyzed using five robust product metrics derived from the literature. Results indicate that a structured prototyping framework can lead to improved overall design quality and that differences in the implementation of such a prototyping framework can affect the achievement of these design attributes. The findings of this work deepen our understanding of the relationship between prototyping methods and design refinement during the product development process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, SCANNING electron microscopy, GRAIN farming, TENSILE tests, FRACTOGRAPHY, and ALLOYS

Microstructures and mechanical properties of laser rapid prototyping deposited TC4 alloy in the parallel and vertical directions were studied by metallographic microscope， scanning electron microscopy and electronic tensile testing machine. The results showed that the β grains growing in the deposited direction are coarse and columnar， which shows a bright and dark strip structure and is typical Widmanstatten structure. The strength vertical to deposition direction is higher than that parallel with deposition direction， but the plasticity is low. The fracture of the alloy is dimple fracture， and the size of the dimples on the fracture vertical to deposition direction is smaller than that parallel with deposition direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, COMPUTED tomography, VETERINARY anatomy, SKULL, THREE-dimensional printing, and SKULL morphology

This study’s objective was to determine the accuracy of using current computed tomography (CT) scan and software techniques for rapid prototyping by quantifying the margin of error between CT models and laser scans of canine skull specimens. Twenty canine skulls of varying morphology were selected from an anatomy collection at a veterinary school. CT scans (bone and standard algorithms) were performed for each skull, and data segmented (testing two lower threshold settings of 226HU and -650HU) into 3-D CT models. Laser scans were then performed on each skull. The CT models were compared to the corresponding laser scan to determine the error generated from the different types of CT model parameters. This error was then compared between the different types of CT models to determine the most accurate parameters. The mean errors for the 226HU CT models, both bone and standard algorithms, were not significant from zero error (p = 0.1076 and p = 0.0580, respectively). The mean errors for both -650HU CT models were significant from zero error (p < 0.001). Significant differences were detected between CT models for 3 CT model comparisons: Bone (p < 0.0001); Standard (p < 0.0001); and -650HU (p < 0.0001). For 226HU CT models, a significant difference was not detected between CT models (p = 0.2268). Independent of the parameters tested, the 3-D models derived from CT imaging accurately represent the real skull dimensions, with CT models differing less than 0.42 mm from the real skull dimensions. The 226HU threshold was more accurate than the -650HU threshold. For the 226HU CT models, accuracy was not dependent on the CT algorithm. For the -650 CT models, bone was more accurate than standard algorithms. Knowing the inherent error of this procedure is important for use in 3-D printing for surgical planning and medical education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, INVESTMENT casting, ELECTRIC metal-cutting, MANUFACTURING processes, ELECTRODES, FEASIBILITY studies, MACHINING, and FABRICATION (Manufacturing)

This study fabricates a roughing electrode of electrical discharge machining (EDM) using a rapid prototyping (RP) system and investment casting technology, which reduces the overall time that is required for fabrication and the cost of the manufacturing process for a selected electrode. Pro/E (3D CAD) software is used to design the electrode prototype, which has a complex appearance, and to transform the CAD model into stereolithography (STL) format. An RP machine (Zcorp 402 3DP) is used to construct a gypsum-based powder model. After a sealing process using the permeation of resin, the water resistance and strength of the gypsum-based material are increased. The manufacturing process then involves creating a wax model with a gypsum electrode that is strengthened by resin permeation by casting a vulcanized silicone molding. The brass electrode is fabricated using investment casting technology. The results of an EDM test show that the brass electrodes with RP that are manufactured perform well and the total time that is required to machine the EDM electrode using RP is 15.8% less than the time that is required for a CNC machining process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, MONOMERS, MANUFACTURING processes, and SYNTHETIC biology

Bio-based production of industrial chemicals using synthetic biology can provide alternative green routes from renewable resources, allowing for cleaner production processes. To efficiently produce chemicals on-demand through microbial strain engineering, biomanufacturing foundries have developed automated pipelines that are largely compound agnostic in their time to delivery. Here we benchmark the capabilities of a biomanufacturing pipeline to enable rapid prototyping of microbial cell factories for the production of chemically diverse industrially relevant material building blocks. Over 85 days the pipeline was able to produce 17 potential material monomers and key intermediates by combining 160 genetic parts into 115 unique biosynthetic pathways. To explore the scale-up potential of our prototype production strains, we optimized the enantioselective production of mandelic acid and hydroxymandelic acid, achieving gram-scale production in fed-batch fermenters. The high success rate in the rapid design and prototyping of microbially-produced material building blocks reveals the potential role of biofoundries in leading the transition to sustainable materials production. Image 1 • An automated biomanufacturing pipeline is benchmarked for the production of material monomers. • Over 85 days, 160 genes were screened for activity, assembled into 115 unique pathways and tested for in vivo production. • E. coli production strains were successfully constructed to produce 17 target compounds at competitive titers. • Scale-up potential is demonstrated through enantioselective production of mandelic acid targets at gram-scale in bioreactors. • The high success rate demonstrates the capabilities of biofoundries to rapidly prototype microbial production strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CLOUD computing, THREE-dimensional printing, RAPID prototyping, MANUFACTURING processes, and RESEARCH & development

At present, some service platforms for 3D manufacturing encounter problems, including the low level of integration with digital design ability, the single character of cooperative printings, the uneven distribution of 3D printing resources, and the high 3D design requirements of users. To overcome these issues, a cloud service platform for the seamless integration of digital design and rapid prototyping manufacturing was established using ASP.NET, WebGL, WebSocket, and SQL Server in combination with C# language and JavaScript. The goals were to realize a design and rapid prototyping of mechanical equipment parts that are browser based and provide online digital design services, such as the parametric design of key parts, downloading of models, format conversion, and virtual assembly. The client application layer, server processing layer, database layer, and working machine end application layer of this cloud 3D printing platform were set up. The result of the design module could be printed remotely in 3D. Practical application showed that the platform could effectively improve the R&D and design speed of the parts and components of the mechanical equipment and reduce the effort of designers. In particular, this platform would be suitable for users without a 3D design background. The design and rapid prototyping parts of the platform satisfied the dimensional precision required by enterprises, which provides an important basis for the further verification of the design correctness for small- and medium-sized enterprises and has high application value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ACADEMIC libraries, MANUFACTURING processes, LIBRARIANS, and LIBRARIES

Prototyping is an incremental process that facilitates those looking to make changes in products, services, or resources. Originating in industrial fabrication process, prototyping can be adapted by librarians to examine changes made to library services, amenities, and resources. They offer a cost-effective way of trying something new and needed, to ensure that patron needs are met. This article modifies prototyping into a five-step process and reviews five examples where the Lee Library used prototyping to inform library decisions to inform the development of library services, amenities, processes, and resources to better serve its patrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]