{"id":23995,"date":"2018-05-10T11:14:44","date_gmt":"2018-05-10T15:14:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/?p=23995"},"modified":"2022-03-16T11:59:35","modified_gmt":"2022-03-16T15:59:35","slug":"on-skin-3d-printing-tool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/on-skin-3d-printing-tool\/","title":{"rendered":"Envisioning On-Skin 3D Printing Tool As \u2018Swiss Army Knife\u2019 of the Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

A team of researchers from the University of Minnesota has developed a technology to <\/span>print custom electronics and cells directly onto the skin<\/span><\/a> using a portable and lightweight 3D printer that costs less than $400. <\/span><\/p>\n

The new technology is a potential breakthrough in both 3D printing and wearable electronics, and could be applied in a variety of fields, from the military to medical care.<\/span><\/p>\n

The research is published in the journal <\/span>Advanced Materials<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The technology<\/b><\/h2>\n

Whereas conventional 3D printers can only print onto static, flat surfaces, the new 3D printing technique can print directly electronics and cells with arbitrary shapes onto moving surfaces, said <\/span>Zhijie Zhu, a doctoral candidate at the University of Minnesota and a member of the research team that developed the new technology.<\/span><\/p>\n

The printer tracks movement using temporary markers placed strategically on the surface. The sensors are scanned, providing the computer with a spatial map of the surface. Then, using a computer vision system, the printer tracks any movements on the surface and adjusts to them as it prints.<\/span><\/p>\n

This allows the computer to adjust to the smallest movements of a person\u2019s body. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo matter how hard anyone would try to stay still when using the printer on the skin, a person moves slightly and every hand is different,\u201d <\/span>Michael McAlpine<\/span><\/a>, lead author and the Benjamin Mayhugh Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota, said in a statement.<\/span><\/p>\n

The researchers also had to design a conductive ink that could be applied to human skin without burning it. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMany conductive inks require high temperature processing to become highly conductive,\u201d said Zhu. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the challenges is to design an ink that reaches high conductivity under room temperature.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The researchers resolved the issue by creating a specialized ink made of silver flakes that can cure and conduct at lower temperatures. The ink is also easily removed using tweezers or washed off with water. <\/span><\/p>\n

The new 3D-printing technique can use conventional 3D printing materials, such as PLA plastic, a bioplastic made from renewable plant products.<\/span><\/p>\n