Week 2: So how do we make something into 3D?
Sumin S -
Hello! Welcome back to my Senior Project blog for the second week!
Last week, I was introduced to the role I will take for the next ten weeks in Dr. Sun’s lab at the University of Texas at San Antonio. My ultimate task is to design and build a brand-new laboratory spinner that can capture the result of the sample right after it is centrifugated. So far, I have deconstructed the provided spinner to explore more about the mechanism within the machine.
On Monday of this week, I had to make a choice whether I would make the spinner from scratch or build a camera on top of the given original laboratory spinner. At first, just incorporating a microscope camera into the spinner sounded simpler and easier to approach. In fact, I thought I could just put two different parts together with some wires and metal pieces. However, when I tried to attach the camera to the spinner, it was not only too heavy to withstand but also very inefficient in handling the spinner. So, I decided to make everything, except for the motor that was already in the spinner, from scratch.
To do so, Gabe, Dr. Sun’s Ph.D. student, recommended me to use the 3D printing method. 3D printing is a technology that creates physical objects by building them layer by layer. Unlike traditional methods, which involve cutting or carving from a solid material, 3D printing adds material bit by bit. This makes it less wasteful and more efficient. It is used in many fields, such as healthcare, engineering, and even art, because it can easily create complex and custom shapes (Gibson et al., 2021). In biomedical engineering, for example, 3D printing is used to make artificial limbs, dental implants, and even models of organs, helping doctors plan surgeries more accurately (Murphy & Atala, 2014).
The 3D printing process starts with designing a digital model on a computer using special software called Computer-Aided Design (CAD). This design is then sliced into thin layers, creating a guide for the printer. During printing, the machine adds material, such as plastic, resin, or even metal, one layer at a time until the full object is formed. Different types of 3D printers use different techniques. For example, some printers melt and squeeze out plastic in thin lines, while others use lasers to harden liquid material into a solid shape (Gibson et al., 2021). This step-by-step layering makes it possible to create detailed and complex objects that would be hard to make with regular manufacturing.
Until now, I never had an experience with 3D printing. Everything was new to me, including the designing software as well. The CAD software called Onshape is the one that Gabe suggested to me to use for this project. He gave me a full lesson on how to utilize the software itself and some basic tricks. His lesson started with making a simple cube-shaped design which ended up looking like a laundry machine. Through this wonderful design, he taught me to make 2D shapes into 3D, assemble two different parts into one, and utilize the tool called “extrude.”
After the lesson was over, I wanted to take my learning one step further by practicing my design skills in Onshape, a 3D printing design software. To challenge myself, I decided to create a detailed model of a laundry machine, making it as realistic as possible. I carefully designed the main body, adding all the necessary details, such as buttons, a display screen, and even a textured drum inside. One of the trickier parts of the design was creating the machine’s door. I wanted it to open and close smoothly, just like a real laundry machine, which required precise measurements and careful alignment. The most challenging part was designing the hinge mechanism that would allow the door to rotate properly while staying attached to the machine. It took several attempts to get it right, but this experience taught me a lot about functional design and problem-solving in 3D modeling.
This week has been a great introduction to 3D printing and design, especially in utilizing the software called Onshape! Moving forward, I’m excited to apply these new skills to designing the laboratory spinner. I can’t wait to see how the final product takes shape in the coming weeks!
See you next week!
References:
Gibson, I., Rosen, D. W., & Stucker, B. (2021). Additive manufacturing technologies: 3D printing, rapid prototyping, and direct digital manufacturing (2nd ed.). Springer. http://repo.darmajaya. ac.id/3831/1/Additive%20Manufacturing%20Technologies _%203D%20Printing%2C%20Rapid%20Prototyping%2C%20and%20Direct%20Digital%20Manufacturing%20%28%20PDFDrive%20%29.pdf
Murphy, S. V., & Atala, A. (2014). 3D bioprinting of tissues and organs. Nature Biotechnology, 32(8), 773-785. https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt.2958
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