• Question: Did any of you use a 3D printer?

    Asked by MrTomTheNewABomb to S. S., Laura, Kevin, Ellen, Andrea on 4 Mar 2019.
    • Photo: Andrea Pacheco

      Andrea Pacheco answered on 4 Mar 2019:

      Yes I do! In my research I am creating a clinical device to measure oxygen inside the lungs of preterm babies using near infra-red light.
      To do my laboratory experiments I needed to create a thorax of a baby with the real shape of organs like heart, bones, lungs, trachea, muscle, fat and skin. So, I got a CT scan of a neonate (which is like a 3D X-ray) and then I used a software in my computer to extract the 3D shape of the main organs. Then I 3D printed this organs in resin (the printer works with a tank of resin that cures in the place where two lasers focus).
      With the 3D printed peaces I created negative casts to manufacture the thorax of a baby with all main structures inside, keeping the shape of human body and mimicking our tissue optical properties. We call this dolls ‘phantoms’ and when I shine the near infra-red laser on them, the light will travel in a similar way it does inside us.

    • Photo: Kevin OBrien

      Kevin OBrien answered on 4 Mar 2019:

      We regularly use 3D printers to build jigs and fixtures to make building and testing or infusion pumps easier.
      It’s also a great tool to prototype improvements to mechanical designs, or to ensure that the components can all fit together.

    • Photo: Laura Farina

      Laura Farina answered on 4 Mar 2019:

      I have it in my lab… we actually have 2!! but I have never used it myself.

    • Photo: Ellen Simmons

      Ellen Simmons answered on 6 Mar 2019:

      I use them a lot! We have a bunch of them at work, all different kinds, so we can use them for making parts of machines or for making testing rigs. Sometimes people use them to make fun things too! They’re really useful, and you can get them for super cheap now. I recommend you encourage your school to get one, and you can download Autodesk Fusion 360 for free and use CAD to make stuff to print on it…
      https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360/overview
      https://all3dp.com/1/best-cheap-diy-3d-printer-kit/

Comments