3D Printing News
A note of caution to our viewers: many of these products are only available for pre-ordering and have yet to be manufactured. Others are only hopes/dreams. Hyperbole is the language of choice, so be careful!
A new study has just confirmed that emissions from 3D printers can cause harm to respiratory systems. Scientists from Purdue University and the Chemical Insights Research Institute recorded DNA damage and inflammation, both causative factors in Asthma, allergic rhinitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 10 ways to improve indoor air quality are suggested.

In the search for healthy materials, a new plastic-free filament has been created using waste seeds from dates. Omani design collective Nawa has named the material RePit. The seeds are smashed, then combined with local clay and palm fibers to imitate a classic water-resistant lime mortar called sarooj. Sarooj itself is used in Oman to build houses. The resultant tiles were designed with wave-like patterns to resemble the shape of local sand dunes, then fired and glazed in traditional ceramic methods. We learn that in 2022, date palms worldwide produced roughly 975,000 tons of seeds, previously treated as waste.

A Japanese firm called Sekisai has been experimenting with the use of color in 3D printing. They use plastics that are recycled and bio-based to minimize any impact on the environment. Sekisai offers a large design selection, all available with custom shapes, textures, patterns and colors. The examples shown are sophisticated and brilliantly executed.

An advanced method of 3D printing is called Xolography which employs 2 different wave lengths of light. Apparently it involves no support structures, no sedimentation, high viscosity and isotropic materials, and is biocompatible. Rather than building structures layer by layer or line by line, it creates objects in one continuous motion. Using a 4K projector, it is said to output very smooth surfaces without needing post-production.

A 3D printed plankton dress combines fashion and climate change concerns. The dress was produced by a partnership between students at Arts University Plymouth and Plymouth Marine Laboratory. It was inspired by tiny plankton called Coccolithophore which are necessary for oxygen production and the carbon cycle. Exhibited fairly widely in the U.K., the dress has been used as an educational tool about the intersection between art, science, and technology.

The FDA in the U.S has just approved a 3D printed sleep apnea device. OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) affects more than 40 million Americans. If untreated it can lead to serious, even fatal, conditions, like stroke, heart disease, and daytime sleepiness. Standard CPAP machines rely on continuous air pressure fed through a mask to stop airway collapse. The new oral devices gently move the lower jaw forward to keep the airway open.

Umami Bioworks plans to make its first entry into the U.K. with cultivated seafood, starting with whitefish. The U.K. government has recently relaxed its regulations of the seafood industry in order to combat climate change, overfishing, and "post-Brexit regulatory chaos". New entries into cultivated seafood have also been announced in India and South Korea. Recent studies indicate that almost 80% of global fisheries are either fully exploited or close to collapsing. In addition, 90% of predatory fish worldwide, like tuna, swordfish, sharks and marlin have already disappeared.

The world's first 3D printed hotel is being built in West Texas, at the site of an existing hotel called El Cosmico. 43 new rooms and 18 houses will be added to El Cosmico in Marfa, Texas. The new 3D printing method allows for curved designs, rather than the boxy look of standard hotel rooms. Marfa appears to be an unusual choice: it sits in a hot, dry Texas desert and boasts a population of 1,700 residents. Yet it appears to be a destination for artists and art lovers, drawing roughly 49,000 visitors in 2019. The new hotel is expected to open in 2026, with rooms priced at $250 - $400 per night.

It is now possible to 3D print using acoustic holograms. Sonochemical reactions in tiny bubbles produce very high temperatures and pressures for a trillionth of a second, but that is long enough for resin to harden into complex patterns. When you embody the technique in acoustic holograms that hold cross-sections of the desired object, rapid polymerization takes place. The hologram stays stationary within the material to retain the fidelity of the design. The printing platform is attached to a robot with a pre-programmed algorithm to print what you want when you want it. According to the researchers, "the precise control of acoustic holograms allows them to store the information of multiple images in a single hologram, meaning that multiple objects can be printed at the same time, at different locations, within the same printing space."

Sneakers called UNOS and made by Sz are designed to grow as the wearer's feet change shape and size over time. The shoes can stretch up to one size in length with their expandable Z-shaped soles. Target will apparently be the retailer selling the sneakers for both adults and children, with over 15 styles to choose from. Target says the shoes will cost less than $50. USD. They have removable laces and sock liners and are machine-washable.

One note of caution: many companies are using high-tech and confusing language to disguise the fact that plastics are part of their product or their process, especially in the food industry. Buyer beware. Demand an easy-to-understand explanation before you eat or buy.

We review many hundreds of articles each month, culling the most significant for you. We also welcome suggestions from our viewers for products and processes that we may have missed.

c.Corinne Whitaker 2024