Cambridge Medical 3D Visualisation and Printing Group

Many thanks Alex - and welcome to the group!

The following article appeared in 3DPrint.com: "A collaborative research team based at Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) has tested a new method, using 3D technologies, that could be used to make new diagnostic tools capable of measuring the growth and folding patterns of a baby’s brain in the third trimester of pregnancy."

https://3dprint.com/206528/3d-mapping-babies-brains/

Dear All

I run a monthly meetup at Cambridge Makespace called Science Makers, looking at low cost hardware for research, education and citizen science. Our May event (running 12:00-17:00 on Sat 5 May, with talks 12:15-13:30) is on 3D printing for science.

We have a different theme each month and attract around 15-30 people from many different backgrounds for the talks, followed by lunch and a hands-on session in the afternoon. I anticipate this topic will be popular and we currently have around 40 people signed up for this Saturday's 'Multispectral imaging with Raspberry Pi' workshop.

I'd like to ask if any of you would be interested in:

a) Providing a short talk on how you use 3D printing in your research
b) Suggesting and/or organising a practical activity in the afternoon. Previously we've assembled low-cost microfluidic devices, spectrometers, microscopes and electromyographs. (due to the time taken to 3D print anything, this is likely to be design or assembly!)

Talks are geared towards a mixed audience of makers and researchers and are usually given by people who have built scientific equipment or use different experimental techniques in their work that have scope for customization and DIY approaches. It's a great community for bouncing new ideas around and making interdisciplinary connections.

Thank you very much for your time in considering this and I look forward to hearing from you

Jenny

Hi Dan from engineering here,

Are the units you have made for you or purchased from a supplier for the job?
From the resin and 3d printing side of it, the dental resin is designed to be sterilised in an autoclave but I have never tried multiple cycles and don't think it would last long under those conditions. Also the resins can be brittle and easily shatter.

That is what the tough resin tries to overcome, though I haven't tried autoclaving it I don't think it would be up to the job.

The high temp might work (we don't have any to hand) though again they all come with drawbacks, id have to have a look at the datasheet for high temp resin.

Ideally, you would use the dental resin to prototype shape and form. Then find an alternative manufacturer to make them out of traditional plastics, either by machining, injection moulding or another method.

Ill bring along a sample print we have of the dental resin to the meeting tomorrow so we can have a chat.

Best wishes

Danny