The Virtual Foundry’s Post

🚀 Check out our latest publication in Advanced Intelligent Systems! We've developed a straightforward method, the #InfoamMethod, for fabricating sensorized foam-like soft actuators. 🔧 Our approach utilizes a homemade screw extruder FDM printer for 3D printing super soft thermoplastic elastomers. However, any FDM 3D printer can be used with the liquid rope coiling technique described in our paper. 📈 Similar to other piezoresistive sensors, these sensor-integrated actuators exhibit nonlinearities and hysteresis in their resistance change. My PhD student, Nick Willemstein, has demonstrated a novel solution using system identification. By employing identified Wiener–Hammerstein (WH) models, we can effectively estimate strain from resistance changes. https://lnkd.in/eCi3hSHq #SoftRobotics #3DPrinting #SoftActuators #AdvancedIntelligentSystems

Milimetre-wave antenna prototyping meets additive manufacturing In our recently published paper in the IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation - OJAP, my professors, colleagues and I detail the design, fabrication, and characterization of a Ka-band coaxial horn antenna. The prototype was fabricated using metal additive manufacturing and 3D polymer printing. We also performed a sensitivity analysis with full-wave electromagnetic simulations to assess how fabrication and assembly inaccuracies might impact the coaxial horn's performance. Here are some performance highlights of the prototype: ➡ Measured -10-dB impedance bandwidth of above 79.36% (19–44 GHz) ➡ Maximum measured realized gain of 11.53 dBi at 40 GHz ➡ Maximum measured radiation efficiency of 89.83% at 33 GHz 💡These results showcase the potential of additive manufacturing for fabricating specialized antennas for milimetre-wave applications. Check out the full open-access article here: https://lnkd.in/dSFQAhCa

#biomaterials #3Dprinting #implants #porosity Additional porosity of the entire implant structure is achieved through 3D printing technology. The microscopic photo shows the layers of such printing. In recent histopathological studies, we have information about colonization of the space between the layers by preosteoblast cells. More information soon. 

Through the evaluation of polarization characteristics using a 940nm LED, it was discovered that the Asahi Kasei Wire Grid Polarizer Film (WGF) can effectively assess polarization in the NIR spectrum. By incorporating a bayer color sensor and NIR sensor in model C3, printing inspection with color images and tablet inspection with WGF (NIR) is made feasible. This advancement allows for clearer imaging and accurate detection of printing on tablets. #NIR #PolarizationFilter

ITA · Instituto Tecnológico de Aragón team is set to virtually participate in the 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗠𝗔𝗧𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰) from October 28-30, presenting our common work on how micro-defects impact the mechanical properties of printed components! A common work of ITA · Instituto Tecnológico de Aragón, BioG3D and us, derived from #iclimabuilt! Title: Development of a digital engineering tool for estimating the impact of micro-defects on the mechanical response of 3D-printed filaments! 👏 Thank you all! Authors: Gabriel Beltrán Lostal, @Franscisco Lahuerta, Dr. Belén Hernández Gascón, Vaia Tsiokou, Alexandra Papatheodorou, Anna Karatza, Vanessa Thalassinou-Lislevand, José Manuel Bielsa Gimeno #MAT2024 #fusedfilamentfabrication #computervision #AI #plastics #ComputationalResearch #filament #partquality #iclimabuilt

I'm excited to share my latest research on "Enhanced Phase Change Heat Transfer with Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) Printed Pit and Pillar (Pi2) Arrays." Through this study, I explored innovative ways to improve heat transfer efficiency, which has crucial applications in electronics cooling, energy systems, and additive manufacturing. In my research, I utilized FDM 3D printing to create unique pit and pillar (Pi2) array structures designed to enhance heat transfer. These arrays offer significant benefits by increasing surface area and optimizing phase change behavior, potentially improving thermal management solutions for various high-tech applications. #MechanicalEngineering##Manufacturing#

Through the evaluation of polarization characteristics using a 940nm LED, it was discovered that the Asahi Kasei Wire Grid Polarizer Film (WGF) can effectively assess polarization in the NIR spectrum. By incorporating a bayer color sensor and NIR sensor in model C3, printing inspection with color images and tablet inspection with WGF (NIR) is made feasible. This advancement allows for clearer imaging and accurate detection of printing on tablets. #NIR #PolarizationFilter

Frequently used for radar and communication systems, the Vivaldi antenna can work across a wide range of frequencies. Despite the Vivaldi's versatility, these antennas aren't always a favorite: they're bulky, expensive, and hard to build using traditional methods. To make the Vivaldi antenna lighter and cheaper to produce, Air Force researchers created a model that applies the power of 3D metal printing. Interested in licensing for commercial development? Learn more: https://hubs.la/Q032h60T0 #radar #telecom #3Dprinting

Screen Printing as additive manufacturing method offers fascinating opportunities. One application example are high-frequency filters for satellite communication. Due to increasing frequencies, RF components are becoming smaller and traditional manufacturing processes are becoming uneconomical. Together with our project partners European Space Agency (ESA) and Kiel University, we presented our results at the International Microwave Symposium in Washington and published them here: https://lnkd.in/eHtC_J9H We were able to prove that the component quality is comparable to milled parts. However, screen printing is significantly more flexible and cost-efficient for large quantities. #AdditiveManufacturing, #ifAMthenIFAM, #3DPrinting Isabel Olaya León Enrico Massoni, Ph.D., M.B.A. Patrick Boe Thomas Studnitzky Robert Teuber Niklas Herzer Jonas Bonk Fraunhofer IFAM Dresden

First, congratulations to Kay Reuter and the team on the great results. I would like to add some remarks regarding the importance of the work. The demand of parts for higher and higher frequencies is rising. Milling of such parts become more and more difficult and expensive with shrinking size. Additionally inner structures can only be realized with joing of at least two parts, which is - you might guess it - also getting more complicated with decreasing size. So there is a need for new approaches in manfacturing HF-parts. The presented results using 3D Screen Printing is the first AM technology with electronic properties comparable milling. As Kay Reuter mentionted, 3D Screen Printing is a technology capable of mass production with millions of parts per year combined with better cost-effiency.