Use of 3D virtual models and physical replicas to enhance user experience within heritage applications

Museums are dedicated to preserving the legacy of the past and educating their visitors, both practices at odds with each other. The rise of multisensory experiences in museology has emphasized the use of touch as a pedagogical tool, but this risks destruction of precious museum objects. The art of3D printing has the potential to overcome this conservational barrier, but such applications are typically ad-hoc, with little design consideration. Furthermore, there is a lack of research into developing best practices for the creation of tangible 3D printed replicas. This thesis employed user experience (UX) methods from consumer industries with pragmatic mixed-methods in order to explore this issue. The research questions addressed a number of issues: 1) The perceptions of museum visitors in regard to 3D printed replicas; 2) The design considerations for replicas in order to provide positive UX for audiences; 3) How they can benefit museum audiences; 4) How they can benefit blind and partially-sighted (BPS) individuals; 5) How replication impacts wider museum practice; 6) How effective UX methods are in understanding museum audiences. Over the course of four studies, a number of key findings were elucidated: •Museum visitors expressed positivity towards the concept of tangible 3D printed replicas but had a limited understanding of it. •Preference was strongly dependant on verisimilitude, a one-dimensional requirement, while print quality was a must-be requirement. •BPS perception was reliant on multisensory interpretation. Object and material judgements were interrelated, highlighting the complex design problems in 3D printing for BPS audiences. •Replicating an object can result in unexpected insights, resulting in novel research opportunities. A set of best design practices were created and a number of emergent research topics highlighted that were unable to be fully explored. These included the preferences of younger visitors, empirical assessment of the impact of3D printed replicas and how print properties truly influence BPS perception

Study of medical image data transformation techniques and compatibility analysis for 3D printing

Various applications exist for additive manufacturing (AM) and reverse engineering (RE) within the medical sector. One of the significant challenges identified in the literature is the accuracy of 3D printed medical models compared to their original CAD models. Some studies have reported that 3D printed models are accurate, while others claim the opposite. This thesis aims to highlight the medical applications of AM and RE, study medical image reconstruction techniques into a 3D printable file format, and the deviations of a 3D printed model using RE. A case study on a human femur bone was conducted through medical imaging, 3D printing, and RE for comparative deviation analysis. In addition, another medical application of RE has been presented, which is for solid modelling. Segmentation was done using opensource software for trial and training purposes, while the experiment was done using commercial software. The femur model was 3D printed using an industrial FDM printer. Three different non-contact 3D scanners were investigated for the RE process. Post-processing of the point cloud was done in the VX Elements software environment, while mesh analysis was conducted in MeshLab. The scanning performance was measured using the VX Inspect environment and MeshLab. Both relative and absolute metrics were used to determine the deviation of the scanned models from the reference mesh. The scanners' range of deviations was approximately from -0.375 mm to 0.388 mm (range of about 0.763mm) with an average RMS of about 0.22 mm. The results showed that the mean deviation of the 3D printed model (based on 3D scanning) has an average range of about 0.46mm, with an average mean value of about 0.16 mm

New Trends in 3D Printing

A quarter century period of the 3D printing technology development affords ground for speaking about new realities or the formation of a new technological system of digital manufacture and partnership. The up-to-date 3D printing is at the top of its own overrated expectations. So the development of scalable, high-speed methods of the material 3D printing aimed to increase the productivity and operating volume of the 3D printing machines requires new original decisions. It is necessary to study the 3D printing applicability for manufacturing of the materials with multilevel hierarchical functionality on nano-, micro- and meso-scales that can find applications for medical, aerospace and/or automotive industries. Some of the above-mentioned problems and new trends are considered in this book

AM Envelope

This dissertation shows the potential of Additive Manufacturing (AM) for the development of building envelopes: AM will change the way of designing facades, how we engineer and produce them. To achieve today’s demands from those future envelopes, we have to find new solutions. New technologies offer one possible way to do so. They open new approaches in designing, producing and processing building construction and facades. Finding the one capable of having big impact is difficult – Additive Manufacturing is one possible answer. The term ‘AM Envelope’ (Additive Manufacturing Envelope) describes the transfer of this technology to the building envelope. Additive Fabrication is a building block that aids in developing the building envelope from a mere space enclosure to a dynamic building envelope. First beginnings of AM facade construction show up when dealing with relevant aspects like material consumption, mounting or part’s performance. From those starting points several parts of an existing post-and-beam façade system were optimized, aiming toward the implementation of AM into the production chain. Enhancements on all different levels of production were achieved: storing, producing, mounting and performance. AM offers the opportunity to manufacture facades ‘just in time’. It is no longer necessary to store or produce large numbers of parts in advance. Initial investment for tooling can be avoided, as design improvements can be realized within the dataset of the AM part. AM is based on ‘tool-less’ production, all parts can be further developed with every new generation. Producing tool-less also allows for new shapes and functional parts in small batch sizes – down to batch size one. The parts performance can be re-interpreted based on the demands within the system, not based on the limitations of conventional manufacturing. AM offers new ways of materializing the physical part around its function. It leads toward customized and enhanced performance. Advancements can for example be achieved in the semi-finished goods: more effective glueing of window frames can be supported by Snap-On fittings. Solving the most critical part of a free-form structure and allowing for a smart combination with the approved standards has a great potential, as well. Next to those product oriented approaches toward future envelopes, this thesis provides the basic knowledge about AM technologies and AM materials. The basic principle of AM opens a fascinating new world of engineering, no matter what applications can be found: to ‘design for function’ rather to ‘design for production’ turns our way of engineering of the last century upside down. A collection of AM applications therefore offers the outlook to our (built) future in combination with the acquired knowledge. AM will never replace established production processes but rather complement them where this seems practical. AM is not the proverbial Swiss-army knife that can resolve all of today’s façade issues! But it is a tool that might be able to close another link in the ‘file-to-factory chain’. AM allows us a better, more precise and safer realization of today’s predominantly free designs that are based on the algorithms of the available software. With such extraordinary building projects, the digital production of neuralgic system components will become reality in the near future – today, an AM Envelope is close at hand. Still, ‘printing’ entire buildings lies in the far future; for a long time human skill and craftsmanship will be needed on the construction site combined with high-tech tools to translate the designers’ visions into reality. AM Envelope is one possible result of this

Digital Workflows and Material Sciences in Dental Medicine

The trend of digitalization is an omnipresent phenomenon nowadays – in social life and in the dental community. Advancement in digital technology has fostered research into new dental materials for the use of these workflows, particularly in the field of prosthodontics and oral implantology.CAD/CAM-technology has been the game changer for the production of tooth-borne and implant-supported (monolithic) reconstructions: from optical scanning, to on-screen designing, and rapid prototyping using milling or 3D-printing. In this context, the continuous development and speedy progress in digital workflows and dental materials ensure new opportunities in dentistry.The objective of this Special Issue is to provide an update on the current knowledge with state-of-the-art theory and practical information on digital workflows to determine the uptake of technological innovations in dental materials science. In addition, emphasis is placed on identifying future research needs to manage the continuous increase in digitalization in combination with dental materials and to accomplish their clinical translation.This Special Issue welcomes all types of studies and reviews considering the perspectives of the various stakeholders with regard to digital dentistry and dental materials

AM Envelope:

This dissertation shows the potential of Additive Manufacturing (AM) for the development of building envelopes: AM will change the way of designing facades, how we engineer and produce them. To achieve today’s demands from those future envelopes, we have to find new solutions. New technologies offer one possible way to do so. They open new approaches in designing, producing and processing building construction and facades. Finding the one capable of having big impact is difficult – Additive Manufacturing is one possible answer. The term ‘AM Envelope’ (Additive Manufacturing Envelope) describes the transfer of this technology to the building envelope. Additive Fabrication is a building block that aids in developing the building envelope from a mere space enclosure to a dynamic building envelope. First beginnings of AM facade construction show up when dealing with relevant aspects like material consumption, mounting or part’s performance. From those starting points several parts of an existing post-and-beam façade system were optimized, aiming toward the implementation of AM into the production chain. Enhancements on all different levels of production were achieved: storing, producing, mounting and performance. AM offers the opportunity to manufacture facades ‘just in time’. It is no longer necessary to store or produce large numbers of parts in advance. Initial investment for tooling can be avoided, as design improvements can be realized within the dataset of the AM part. AM is based on ‘tool-less’ production, all parts can be further developed with every new generation. Producing tool-less also allows for new shapes and functional parts in small batch sizes – down to batch size one. The parts performance can be re-interpreted based on the demands within the system, not based on the limitations of conventional manufacturing. AM offers new ways of materializing the physical part around its function. It leads toward customized and enhanced performance. Advancements can for example be achieved in the semi-finished goods: more effective glueing of window frames can be supported by Snap-On fittings. Solving the most critical part of a free-form structure and allowing for a smart combination with the approved standards has a great potential, as well. Next to those product oriented approaches toward future envelopes, this thesis provides the basic knowledge about AM technologies and AM materials. The basic principle of AM opens a fascinating new world of engineering, no matter what applications can be found: to ‘design for function’ rather to ‘design for production’ turns our way of engineering of the last century upside down. A collection of AM applications therefore offers the outlook to our (built) future in combination with the acquired knowledge. AM will never replace established production processes but rather complement them where this seems practical. AM is not the proverbial Swiss-army knife that can resolve all of today’s façade issues! But it is a tool that might be able to close another link in the ‘file-to-factory chain’. AM allows us a better, more precise and safer realization of today’s predominantly free designs that are based on the algorithms of the available software. With such extraordinary building projects, the digital production of neuralgic system components will become reality in the near future – today, an AM Envelope is close at hand. Still, ‘printing’ entire buildings lies in the far future; for a long time human skill and craftsmanship will be needed on the construction site combined with high-tech tools to translate the designers’ visions into reality. AM Envelope is one possible result of this

A Guide to Additive Manufacturing

This open access book gives both a theoretical and practical overview of several important aspects of additive manufacturing (AM). It is written in an educative style to enable the reader to understand and apply the material. It begins with an introduction to AM technologies and the general workflow, as well as an overview of the current standards within AM. In the following chapter, a more in-depth description is given of design optimization and simulation for AM in polymers and metals, including practical guidelines for topology optimization and the use of lattice structures. Special attention is also given to the economics of AM and when the technology offers a benefit compared to conventional manufacturing processes. This is followed by a chapter with practical insights into how AM materials and processing parameters are developed for both material extrusion and powder bed fusion. The final chapter describes functionally graded AM in various materials and technologies. Throughout the book, a large number of industrial applications are described to exemplify the benefits of AM

Advanced Applications of Rapid Prototyping Technology in Modern Engineering

Rapid prototyping (RP) technology has been widely known and appreciated due to its flexible and customized manufacturing capabilities. The widely studied RP techniques include stereolithography apparatus (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS), three-dimensional printing (3DP), fused deposition modeling (FDM), 3D plotting, solid ground curing (SGC), multiphase jet solidification (MJS), laminated object manufacturing (LOM). Different techniques are associated with different materials and/or processing principles and thus are devoted to specific applications. RP technology has no longer been only for prototype building rather has been extended for real industrial manufacturing solutions. Today, the RP technology has contributed to almost all engineering areas that include mechanical, materials, industrial, aerospace, electrical and most recently biomedical engineering. This book aims to present the advanced development of RP technologies in various engineering areas as the solutions to the real world engineering problems

A Guide to Additive Manufacturing

This open access book gives both a theoretical and practical overview of several important aspects of additive manufacturing (AM). It is written in an educative style to enable the reader to understand and apply the material. It begins with an introduction to AM technologies and the general workflow, as well as an overview of the current standards within AM. In the following chapter, a more in-depth description is given of design optimization and simulation for AM in polymers and metals, including practical guidelines for topology optimization and the use of lattice structures. Special attention is also given to the economics of AM and when the technology offers a benefit compared to conventional manufacturing processes. This is followed by a chapter with practical insights into how AM materials and processing parameters are developed for both material extrusion and powder bed fusion. The final chapter describes functionally graded AM in various materials and technologies. Throughout the book, a large number of industrial applications are described to exemplify the benefits of AM