Rational positioning of 3D-printed voxels to realize high-fidelity multifunctional soft-hard interfaces

Living organisms use functional gradients (FGs) to interface hard and soft materials (e.g., bone and tendon), a strategy with engineering potential. Past attempts involving hard (or soft) phase ratio variation have led to mechanical property inaccuracies because of microscale-material macroscale-property nonlinearity. This study examines 3D-printed voxels from either hard or soft phase to decode this relationship. Combining micro/macroscale experiments and finite element simulations, a power law model emerges, linking voxel arrangement to composite properties. This model guides the creation of voxel-level FG structures, resulting in two biomimetic constructs mimicking specific bone-soft tissue interfaces with superior mechanical properties. Additionally, the model studies the FG influence on murine preosteoblast and human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell (hBMSC) morphology and protein expression, driving rational design of soft-hard interfaces in biomedical applications.</p

New digital aesthetics of AM metallic products as visually perceived by participants

In the infancy of industrial metallic products obtained with additive processes, functional requirements (i.e. mechanical, thermal, tribological, biomedical functions) or quality specifications (i.e. tolerances, roughness, porosity, hardness) seem predominant in respect to formal and aesthetic aspects. However, this dichotomy is artificial and it prevents the exploitation of all possibilities given by these new processes. The freedom of designing complex 3D features, thin walls, intricate lattice or low density structures and the peculiar surface texture together with the variability given by the different metallic alloys as well as by different range of process parameters gives birth to a new aesthetic in terms of shape, surface and materials. The aim of the paper is to investigate how the users perceive this new aesthetic when they interact with a provocative icon, representative of the design freedom and new shapes enabled throughout Selective Laser Melting process. In particular, a basic shape was chosen as icon, namely the egg. The egg shape was selected because it is axial-symmetric, it avoids personal judgement and it is a self- supporting structure. Twelve variations of the primitive egg shape were designed and SLM printed in maraging steel. These twelve variations enable to experimentally test how the new shapes are perceived by the users who took part to a qualitative and participatory survey. The survey was preliminary designed and then refined after two large pilots that involved two different populations: expert of processes and application of metals (at the international BI.MU fair) and high students and family (at the MeetMeTonight event, researchers’ night). The analysis of the user’s answers puts in evidence that few adjectives synthetize the character of the new aesthetics because a strong correlation between the attributes is present. Moreover, lattice structures together with complex and technological shapes are the characteristics that best represent the potentiality of this new technology

Advancing Design for Additive Manufacturing Education: A Focus on Computational Skills and Competencies

The summer school is realized as a joint teaching project between several partner universities under the auspices of the IDEA League alliance. The school trains students and young researchers on exploring and applying the potential of computational-based strategies in design for additive manufacturing, while engaging in dedicated team working activities. The aim of this work is to report on and discuss the success of the summer school in terms of the learning goals achievement. The work is based on the results of a one-day workshop with the summer school alumni showing how the acquired knowledge, skills and competences impacted their studies, research, and professional careers in a long-term after the course is finished, and outlining possible course content improvements to plan the summer school in 2023 that will take place with physical presence.ISSN:2624-7984ISSN:2624-799