CAD Culture » 3D Printing Integration

How 3D Printing is Changing the Medical Industry

Cad Culture — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 09:02:02 +0000

Customised 3D is transforming healthcare, with a number of new uses and discoveries being made with this technology. 3D printers allow scientists to take into account each individual patient, tailoring cures and treatments in a way that would be otherwise impossible. Throughout the world, there are reports of 3D printers providing quick and relatively simple cures and solutions to serious medical conditions.

Organs

The company Organovo have announced a commercial launch of 3D printed liver cells that can function for over 40 days. They’re currently being used in pharmaceutical trials; however the company predicts that within the next 10 years, we could see 3D printed livers, hearts and kidneys. When you think of the thousands of people worldwide who are waiting for a new organ, it’s easy to see why this technology is starting to be seen as essential in the healthcare industry.

Bone growth

Scientists at Washington State University modified a 3D printer in 2011 to bind chemicals to a ceramic powder, making intricate scaffolds that enabled bone growth in any shape. They are now working to implant the printed bone scaffold with growth factors in a way that will allow it to become dissolved by natural bone, even bones that bear weight.

Prosthetics

Prosthetics have traditionally been very time-consuming and expensive to make, and don’t easily allow for modifications for those who use them. 3D printing has been used in Canada to create low cost, quick to make prosthetic sockets that can be easily customised to a number of different uses.

Drugs

The University of Glasgow have designed a prototype 3D printer that can assemble chemical compounds at a molecular level. The aim is that one day, patients would go online with a digital prescription, buy the chemical ink and blueprint, and then print their drug at home. Louisiana Technical University has already achieved biodegradable, biocompatible devices for delivering bone cancer medicines.

Tissues containing blood vessels

Harvard University are currently in the progress of printing blood vessels, which is seen as a crucial step in printing bodily tissues with a blood supply. A custom built 3D printer and dissolving ink are used to create a swatch of tissue containing interwoven skin cells and structural materials that have the potential to be used as blood vessels.

Cartilage

At Cornell University, 3D photos of human ears have been used to create ear moulds. By filling these moulds with a gel of bovine cartilage cells and collagen, the ears held their shape. The same team has gone on to 3D intervertebral discs for use in spinal complications.

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Tips and Advice for 3D Printing Beginners

Cad Culture — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 10:07:41 +0000

If you’ve just bought your first 3D printer, you’ll quickly have become aware of the multitude of challenges you face when you’re trying to produce accurate and reliable results. At CAD Culture, we specialise in 3D printing and know just how fun and exciting it can be. We want to share some of our tips and advice so you can have just as much fun with it at home.

1. Make sure your 3D printer wasn’t damaged in transit

This is often overlooked, but before you use your printer, it’s a good idea to make sure it wasn’t damaged in transit. When rods are bent, extruders out of alignment or glass build plates are cracked; you won’t be able to correctly print. If you find you have a broken piece in your printer, report it to the manufacturer straight away.

2. Spend time getting to know your 3D printer

Once you’ve set up your printer, don’t be afraid to get to know it. Try printing out different objects using a range of different settings, so you have a better idea of what your printer is like. The one thing you may want to avoid until you’re more confident with your printer is using different materials. Similarly, don’t be afraid to take it apart when you need to, as this is a great way to get to know exactly how your printer works.

You can also join 3D print communities as a way to gain a deeper knowledge of 3D printing in general, and you may get some great tips on how to use your printer.

3. Accept your 3D printer isn’t magic

3D printers are getting close to being magic- they’re amazing feats of technology, but you will need to put a lot of thought into your design to print your desired results. A lot of printers can’t print from thin air, so if your model has a large overhang, it’ll print a lot better if you reorient it to lie down on the print bed, or divided into separate pieces that don’t need support.

4. It’s fine to use hacks and cheats

Somewhat related to point 3, the purpose of your printer is to have a completed object to take from the print bed, not have a magical machine that produces designs without human input. Don’t be afraid to use little cheats, such as pausing the print and super-gluing the first layer so everything stays in place, to produce something you’ll be proud to show off.

5. Learn to use CAD software

Using 3D software can be a bit of a learning curve, but with programmes such as Rhino 3D, you’ll have the ability to design your own models from scratch and before long, utilise the full power of your printer. Whilst starting out with other people’s models to print can be fun, you’ll soon come up with a better idea and CAD will help you make it a reality.

The post Tips and Advice for 3D Printing Beginners appeared first on CAD Culture.

Training Courses in 3D Cad Modelling

Cad Culture — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 12:24:30 +0000

CadCulture specialises in 3D printing, training and reselling of 3d modelling software. With over 13 years of industry experience with Rhino 3D, we are proud to offer our customers the support and knowledge that they require. Our Rhino3D certified training can be applied in jewellery and product design, architecture, engineering and marine design.

The following courses are currently offered:

Rhino 3D Level 1
Rhino 3D Level 2
Jewellery with Rhino 3D – Beginners
Jewellery with Rhino 3D- Advanced

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