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Matt Murphy | EDSGN 479J | RepRap Wiki Blogs | Fall Semester 2014



Blog #1: 3D-Printed Clothes & Sensor for US Soldiers

http://www.einfolive.com/3d-printing-cloths-sensors/

The article mostly focuses on the current application of 3D printing to the needs of the army. What is really interesting is the ability to 3D print clothing for army needs using precise mixtures of materials to target at a specific application. The article also mentions 3D printing food which is a little mind boggling I would imagine it would be almost similar to how soda fountains work. Where there is a stream of carbonated water and a stream of flavoring that are mixed together. I would think it would be similar with food using some type of protein paste while also extruding a blend of flavoring, into a recognizable food item. Lastly they mention in the article the use of 3D printing using skin cells to heal soldiers on the battlefield, where conventional medicines may not be effective or practical. I would like to do more investigating into biological 3D printing.

Blog #2: NASA is building the World's First 3D-Printed Satellite Camera

http://mashable.com/2014/08/12/3d-printed-cubesat-camera/

This article opens with “NASA is already using 3D printing to make rocket engine parts, a space pizza maker and even physical photos from the Hubble Space Telescope.” A pizza maker? Wow I would like to see how it compares canyon haha. The article mostly emphasizes how convenient it is to use 3D printers to manufacture intricate parts like instruments on space crafts. The 3D printed camera is an assembly of 4 parts, where through conventional methods would have an assembly of nearly 50 parts. The production of this camera was mainly to be able to send it to space to see how it would hold up so in the future, 3D printed parts would be qualified and proven to work in space. This article reconfirm my confidence in the quality and efficiency of using additive manufacturing across of field of applications.

Blog #3: With 3D Printing, Medical Devices are Cool Again

http://techcrunch.com/2014/12/13/medical-devices-are-cool-again/

This article discusses how with the booming use of 3D printing, especially in the medical industry, has brought a lot of attention and interest to the subject. It mentions that recently a University in China was able to successfully print a vertebrae and implant it in a patient. The article also alludes to how in couple years 3D printers will be able to produce full livers! This notion is crazy! The fact no one would have to wait on donor lists any more for organs, and could quickly get new organs when their old ones are failing. 3D printing is also a HUGE advantage for the medical device industry. With the ability to rapid prototype device, manufactures are able to quickly and cheaply evaluate new ideas and continue to make minor tweaks until it is perfected for its use. "These are the right questions to be asking, especially given that the United States is still the leader in medical device manufacturing. The domestic market is projected to reach $133 billion by 2016. This is one area in which jobs are not just secure, but multiplying. We have a natural advantage in devices, right here in our backyard." It seems that I may want to go into the bio-engineering field with job security like that! The potential of the medical field with the increasing use and quality of additive manufacturing is close to unlimited.

Blog #4: Discov3ry Paste Extruder: Afforable Add-on for 3 Printers

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/structur3d/discov3ry-extruder-do-more-than-ever-with-your-3d

It is very surprising that 3D printed icing and chocolate wasn't one of the first applications of 3D printers. This specific start up is for an extruder that you would be able to simply replace the hot tip on your current 3D printer with. Things like icing and chocolate can already be harnessed into a paste like form so I would seem rather effective especially for complicated cake decorations and complex chocolate pieces. This extruder also has the ability to print silicone, latex and wood filler. Im sure there are many uses outside the food industry that paste extrusion could be utilized such as creating casting molds, possible making equipment for physical therapy such as custom bands for stretching and such. This is the first group I have heard of that is offering paste extrusion, and I'm sure if a larger company with more capital put in the time and money, they could really get this technology of the ground. I expect to see this technology utilized at least by cake decorators and chocolate manufactures in the next few years.

Blog #5: Food is the Next Frontier of 3D Printing

http://www.dezeen.com/2013/03/27/food-is-the-next-frontier-of-3d-printing-janne-kytannen/

The slideshow at the beginning of this article immediately caught by attention. There are pasta's being printed in complex shapes, as well as cereals and even burgers with different complexities and variations. Currently the use of this technology is very crude and they are still working on flavoring mechanisms ( I imagine everything tastes pretty bland). Unfortunately this technology may never really get off the ground because of the lack of need and proper business model and pitch. Maybe it has chance with the paste extruder mentioned in Blog #4, so that it could be used more at home. As I read the article more, the images first seen were not actually edible but plastic used as a model for what could be done in the future. I believe its only really chocolate and icings and such that is able to be printed at this time. I would imagine it would be very hard to print an edible burger because of all the different flavors and textures. Its hard to imagine that one machine could simultaneously print the burger patty and lettuce, which are completely different textures, flavors, temperature, color, thickness and which have very very different molecular structures and micro structures unique to itself. I really do hope that this technology continues to grow because I think it could be very fun to see some crazy 3D printed foods.

Blog #6: Nursing Homes in Germany serve 3D-Printed Food

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/nursing-homes-in-germany-serve-3d-printed-food/

Now this slightly contradicts what I wrote about in my previous blog. Apparently a nursing home in Germany is 3D 6 different foods that are indeed edible and are even said to taste good! The company is called smoothfood and the foods are basically just pureed food that is then 3D printed to be shaped in to what the food would actually look like! This is quite a marvel ideas for the elderly who may not be able to properly chew food anymore, but don't want to be spooning mush into their mouth. Im sure this implementation has increased the happiness of the residents as they can feel like they are eating real food again. They uses all fresh ingredients like potatoes, cauliflower, chicken and a couple others. They are being printed into a variety of forms and by some of the pictures with this article, some of it looks pretty tasting. However there are indeed limitations and negatives to this technology. Many homes are reluctant to switch because of the capital investment as well as the time and cost to prepare the food more than just the traditional simple puree. Hopefully this technology can be further invested in and become industrialized so that it can then be implemented into home care as well.

Blog #7: NASA Funding 3D Food Printer Research

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Nasa-3d-printing-food-pizza-mars,news-17053.html

Like some of the previous blog posts, NASA is very interested in 3D printing food, for the accessibility and Im sure the paste preserves well also. This article really proves how wide spread 3D printing has become and its increasing boom in popularity. NASA is working to remove the moisture from the food so that its shelf life could be as long as 30 years, which once again opens the potential for more space exploration. Additive manufacturing is continuing to spread to all aspects of use from everything from food (as we've seen in this article and others) to car manufacturing. The possibilities and uses are truly expanding every day. It is great to see a powerhouse like NASA taking interest in additive manufacturing because that makes me hopeful that the technology will continue to grow and advance.

Blog #8: 3D Printing: Employment Boom or Employment Swoon

http://3dprint.com/3980/3d-printing-jobs-economy/

This was a very interesting article discussing whether or not additive manufacturing would be creating more jobs or costing people their jobs. Additive manufacturing is very efficient and is highly automated so it eliminates much use of manual labor. Just like how traditional manufacturers made the switch to hand made good to machine made products cost many their jobs. However this now a new technology that people must be educated and trained in possible creating new jobs. Another note because of the efficient potential associated with additive manufacturing, processes cost much less for big industries to perform. Therefore, jobs will now become more available in the USA, rather than overseas, because big businesses will now be able to afford it. Thus, I foresee not a decrease in employment, but instead a change in skill sets. It may just be a retraining or re-education process for those already in the manufacturing business in order to use these new skills and technology.

Blog #9: 3D printing in aerospace industry.

http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-how-the-aerospace-industry-is-making-3d-printing-a-multi-billion-dollar-business-2014-9

This article emphasized the final microstructure of 3D-Printed parts, which, obviously is something extremely important to the aerospace industry. Nothing seems more risky than sending a huge metal machine flying through the air transporting hundreds of passengers, and thus material specs must be spot on to achieve honest guarantees of passenger safety. But, it’s good to see that big aerospace companies understand the potential this technology provides. A quote within the article states this very straightforwardly: “We get five times the durability. We have a lighter-weight [part].” It’s also good to see that they aren’t jumping the gun and skipping any important steps when qualifying these 3D-printed materials. Currently additive manufacturing represents $3 billion of overall manufacturing output, and this article predicts that to increase to $10 billion in the coming years. I see a lot of talk about this booming technology and I understand the potential just as many others do, I just hope to see big industries (like aerospace) truly commit to the research and development behind it.

Blog #10: Medical First: 3D Printed Skull Successfully Implanted in Woman

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/medical-first-3-d-printed-skull-successfully-implanted-woman-n65576

I can see 3D printing growing massively in the medical industry in the coming years. This article was specifically about the a skull replacement which is pretty crazy. One of my peers in class gave a presentation about an exo skeleton that was created for a little girl that was born with a defect. This defect did not allow her to use her arms in any way, but with this suit on she was able to. Why 3D printing is so perfect for the medical world is its capability to use a wide variety of materials as well create very complex and intricate designs. Things like recreating a skull were not even feasible or thought of before additive manufacturing, the best you could get would be a steel plate to cover a small area. It is such a huge benefit of additive manufacturing to be able to use light weight, strong, human friendly and many times eco friendly as well to produce its products especially for the medical field. I cannot wait to see further applications of additive manufacturing in the medical industry, I cant even imagine what they will be doing 10 years from now.

Blog #11: Disabled dog runs on 3D printed braces

http://news.discovery.com/tech/gear-and-gadgets/disabled-dog-runs-on-3d-printed-braces-141217.htm

The dog featured in the article was born with malformed limbs and wasnt able to walk correctly. The 3D printed parts are some type of silicon gear looking things which the dogs paw are strapped into. This was very interesting just show the depth that the additive manufacturing industry has penetrated the community. My dog recently tore his ACL and then shortly after hurt his other ACL. I wonder if there is any 3D printing solution for his condition that would be very interesting to research more. It is pretty amazing if you watch the video at the end of the article this dog is able to run at full speed just like any normal dog. Additive manufacturing has become almost like magic in my eyes, if you can dream it additive manufacturing can probably make it happen. It will only be a couple years until every household has a 3D printer and most products you use in day to day lives will be 3D printed as well.

Below is a wiki edit on how to reflash an arduino. My group had to do this since we switched from a thermocouple hot tip to a thermistor hot tip.

Download Marlin

1. Go to [[1]]

2. Click on beta 1 of v1.0.0


3. Click on Marlin


4. Click on Zip file


5. Open Zip File


Download Arduino

1. Go to http://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software#toc2

2. Download Arduino 1.5.8

Open Arduino

1. Open the new software of Arduino that was just downloaded

Access the File

1. Copy the un- zipped folder "Marlin-Marlin" to a new location so it is not zipped

2. Unzip

3. Open marlin.pde in Arduino


Connect to Drive

1. Connect Arduino Board to the computer to upload the firmware to re-flash

Changes to Firmware

1. Change baudrate to 115200

a. will connect to this number on when printer is connected to print

2. Change thermal sensor

a. Change the Temp_Sesnor_0 to # 7 
b. Might need to look up the table in the software to choose the correct sensor for your printer. 7 is just for a specific type of thermistor 

3. Click on the Tools tab

4. Change the Board to "Arduino Mega: 2560 / MEga ADK"

5. Upload

a. This will put the firmware on the drive