So, the US Army Corps of Engineers has been around for more than 2 centuries, starting with the founding and operation of the famed West Point.
Tag Archives: Additive manufacturing
3D Bioprinting
The leading cause of death- still- is cardiovascular disease (CVD). And, when CVD is severe, the treatment of choice is a heart transplant. Not surprisingly, these are not always available- so the wait- assuming one gets on the list- can be 6 months, a year, or even longer. In the US that means that 1/6 of those on the list die before ever moving up to #1 on the list.
Home, sweet home?
I bet you thought I forgot all about 3D printing applications. After all, it’s been about four years since I discussed a new application.
Flink!
Now, here’s a great combination of technology. Biochemical engineering and additive manufacturing. What’s that you say? Too much technical jargon?
Out of this world 3D?
Additive manufacturing. That’s how it started.
Basically, we develop a printer (of sorts) that instead of using ink, using materials as the substrate. Plastic. Cells. Metal. And, while we claim it makes a 3 dimensional object, what it really does is repetitively produce a two dimensional “print” over and over and over again. In so doing, the printer builds up the intended structure to be the three dimensional object desired.
3D Bioprinting
I haven’t written about 3D printing in a while. It’s not because nothing is going on in that arena. After all, HP announced that it will be offering a consumer 3D printer this year. (It is 2015 by now.) It’s because I have been involved in a slew of other projects and have lost touch with the groups continuing to work in this field.
10,9,8,7,6,5,4…
So, we’ve got out toys – 3D printers. And, many companies are using them, as I’ve reported. But, now, the 3D printer has gone into orbit.
3D Update, Part 5…
You know, I spent all this week (so far) talking about 3D printing and its effect on industry and general business. Today, I will focus in on what this one development has and will bring to health care.
3D Update, Part 4
One of the first projects with which I was involved when I moved to Michigan in the early 70s was a water recycling system for the home. (Don’t worry- this had relevance to 3D printing, I promise!) We added a very powerful ultraviolet light (UV) light to disinfect the water. From that UV technology, the ability to “cure” ink on silver aluminum cans was derived. Which greatly increased the demand for – and technology around- UV curing.
A 3D Update, Part 3
So, what do we know, so far. (Remember- this series started on Monday- with a sneak preview last Wednesday!) 3D printing apps are now available on all new PC’s, since there’s an app that is part of Windows 8. 3D printers that work with the app are out, and even more are coming. And, now, we can bet that file-sharing (or file selling) programs will let us obtain the designs we want to print for ourselves.