Innovative Uses of 3d Printing

How Butterflies help us to transform Sewage Sludge into Next-Gen 3D Printing Materials Every year, millions of dry metric tons of sewage sludge, an organic-rich byproduct of wastewater treatment, pose a huge disposal challenge and environmental burden. Traditionally destined for incineration, landfills, or limited agricultural use, this overlooked resource is now getting a second life through innovative material science! We developed a method to harness hydrothermal processing (HTP) to convert wet sewage sludge into hydrochar, carbonaceous solid that can be further activated. Unlike typical biomass, sewage sludge contains unique metallic and metalloid dopants. These impurities lead to surprising outcomes during thermal activation: instead of the expected boost in carbon content and improved graphitic ordering, the process actually decreases carbon ordering, creating a distinct material structure with its own set of properties. When incorporated into 3D printing resins, this hydrochar acts as a sustainable filler. Initially, it may compromise stiffness and hardness due to limited resin-filler adhesion. However, by adopting nature-inspired gyroid geometries, designs reminiscent of butterfly wings and bird feathers, the composite’s toughness and elongation can not only be recovered but enhanced! This integration of bio-inspired architecture overcomes inherent material weaknesses and paves the way for eco-friendly prototypes, packaging, and beyond. 1️⃣ Diverting millions of tons of sludge from landfills and incineration reduces greenhouse gas emissions and pollutant dispersion. 2️⃣ Incorporating waste-derived hydrochar in 3D printing reduces reliance on raw synthetic materials, promoting a circular economy and sustainable manufacturing. 3️⃣ The synergy between material science and bio-inspired design opens new horizons for advanced composites with tailored properties through innovative design. This fusion of waste valorization, unconventional chemistry, and cutting-edge design showcases a transformative path toward sustainable manufacturing. Read more details in the paper (open access): Sabrina Shen, Branden Spitzer, Damian Stefaniuk, Shengfei Zhou, Admir Masic, Markus J. Buehler, Communications Engineering, Vol. 4, 52 (2025), https://lnkd.in/eBeESHJY

Don Ritzen: 🏡 Would you live in this 3D-printed house made with residual wood waste? Forget bricks. This company can 3D-print home with recycled and bio-based materials. Did you know that manufacturing materials like cement, steel and plastic account for 21% of worldwide CO2 emission?! That's why we have to Shift the way we build new houses. 3D printing is a creative way to build faster and help solve housing shortages, but with regular 3D printing methods, building more houses this way would only create more CO2 emissions. That's where BioHome3D from the University of Maine comes into play. All the materials in this house are 100% recycled. It uses local wood fiber and cellulose for insulation. Each house requires approximately 10 tons of wood residuals. That means 100.000 housing units could theoretically be produced every year using just waste from sawmills in Maine.  There are at least 94 sawmills in the state and combined, they have around a million tons of residuals yearly. Sawmills usually burn their wood residual waste for energy or compost it. Now, it can be upcycled and used for construction instead. Do you know more examples of such innovative architecture and construction methods? Let me know in the comments! #sustainability #sustainablehousing #architecture #3Dprint • #3Dprinting • #AdditiveManufacturing • #3Dprinter • #3Dprinted • #tranpham • www.tranpham.com • Like 👍 what you see ► Repost ♻️, or Hit the Bell 🔔 to follow me. 🎥 University of Maine

The Future of Smart Object Manufacturing 🔧 What if your dinner plate could talk to your phone and automatically log your meals? Your coffee mug reminding you to stay hydrated? These ideas exist, of course. But what about things that haven't been invented? It may not be long before you just print a smart object when you need it. This isn't science fiction. We're moving toward a world where anyone can create or download a design file and print fully functional smart objects at home. No assembly required. No electronics to buy separately. Just hit print and get a working device. What's making this possible? Embedded electronics in 3D printing is creating something incredible: 🖱️ Touch-sensitive surfaces printed directly into objects ⚡ Electronics integrated from the ground up, not bolted on 🌍 Digital designs becoming functional devices anywhere in the world Imagine walking into any FedEx shop in a couple of years from now to create a new product based on your own ideas: 📦 Shipping boxes that automatically text you when they're delivered and report if they've been damaged 🏭 Supply chain sensors printed directly into packaging to log temperature, humidity, and location in real-time 📄 Smart documents with embedded chips that verify authenticity and track who's accessed them 🛃 Product authentication tags that let US customs instantly verify what's inside a shipment matches the declared contents This isn't just about making gadgets cheaper. It's about democratizing innovation. The next big thing could come from anywhere: 🚚 A freight forwarder might invent the smart cargo tracker that finally solves last-mile visibility 📋 A customs broker could design the document chip that streamlines border crossings 📦 A 3PL warehouse worker might create the inventory tool that revolutionizes picking accuracy 🚛 A truck driver could develop the fatigue monitor that saves lives on the highway We have no idea what people will invent with this technology, but that's exactly what makes it so exciting. What products would you create if you could embed full electronics into any shape? #Innovation #Manufacturing #3DPrinting #SupplyChain #Logistics #Truckl #SmartObjects

China’s Plan to 3D-Print Bricks on the Moon Using Lunar Soil by 2028 Imagine building homes—not on Earth, but on the Moon—with bricks made from lunar soil. That’s exactly what China is planning with its ambitious Chang’e 8 mission, set to launch in 2028. As part of its roadmap for the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), China is taking a bold step toward in-situ resource utilization—using what’s already available on the Moon rather than transporting materials from Earth. The cost savings and sustainability implications of this approach are enormous. Here’s how it works: • A high-tech system aboard Chang’e 8 will concentrate sunlight via fiber optics to heat lunar soil to 1400–1500°C (2552–2732°F). • This molten soil will then be 3D-printed into bricks—paving the way for future moon infrastructure. If successful, this could redefine how humanity thinks about space exploration, construction, and even habitation beyond Earth. This isn’t just a leap for China—it’s a leap for all of us watching the next chapter of human innovation unfold. What are your thoughts on building with moon dust? #SpaceInnovation #LunarExploration #3DPrinting #ChangE8 #ChinaSpace #InSituResourceUtilization #FutureOfConstruction #MoonBase #TechForTomorrow

San Diego-based Fabric8Labs has developed a new method of 3D printing in metal that borrows heavily from another manufacturing process: electroplating. 🧪The company’s proprietary Electrochemical Additive Manufacturing (ECAM) technique uses DLP-like projection through a water-based bath to cause copper ions in the solution to form metal atoms at specific locations, enabling highly complex and intricate copper structures, like the 80% gyroid infill part pictured here. The fluid feedstock offers a number of distinct advantages to this process. While its precise chemistry is different from the makeup of an electroplating solution, ✔the ingredients are the same and readily accessible. There is ✔no copper powder to contend with, nor any of the handling challenges that come from dealing with powdered metals. And the liquid nature of the feedstock means that it is ✔possible to refill multiple printers from the same common reservoir to keep production running. Finally, the process ✔takes place at room temperature, making a number of ✔different substrates possible — including even printing directly onto silicon. Perhaps ironically, this 3D printing technique that avoids thermal challenges is primarily being applied toward 🌡thermal control applications right now. Temperature management for semiconductors are the primary application for Fabric8Labs’ manufacturing services at the moment. More about the ECAM process and benefits that 3D printed copper devices will bring to data centers and chips in this story: https://bit.ly/3RYU76c #AdditiveManufacturing #3DPrinting #Copper #Electroplating

The best part of disruptive technology is when it let's me help a special patient with a severe problem. This patient had complex superior and posterior glenoid bone loss and had only a small remaining glenoid vault. If you're not a shoulder surgeon, this means that the shoulder would be really tough to reconstruct with standard or augmented shoulder replacement parts. Another option would be a bone graft to augment the bony deformity. The standard and augmented options didn't offer enough correction and bone grafting is time-consuming and may resorb over time. The best option for this patient was using the Blueprint 3D planning software and a Shoulder iD 3D printed custom implant. This system used 3D printing to make a custom implant based on the patient's CT scan. This unique implant will work only for this individual. I love to use a customized approach when indicated! The reconstruction went smoothly, and the shoulder has an excellent prognosis. My opinion: 3D printing for shoulder replacement surgery is a disruptive technology that will facilitate customized surgery for an increasing number of patients in the future. Do you like the customized approach? If yes, please share this with someone else who would want to learn more about 3D-printed implants in the operating room!

'Imagine a portable 3D printer you could hold in the palm of your hand. The tiny device could enable a user to rapidly create customized, low-cost objects on the go, like a fastener to repair a wobbly bicycle wheel or a component for a critical medical operation. Researchers from MIT and the University of Texas at Austin took a major step toward making this idea a reality by demonstrating the first chip-based 3D printer. Their proof-of-concept device consists of a single, millimeter-scale photonic chip that emits reconfigurable beams of light into a well of resin that cures into a solid shape when light strikes it.' https://lnkd.in/gBAKHqic

3D Printed concrete facades. The research focused primarily on the technical feasibility of double-curved facades with filigree infill, a visual language.  Robots were used to 3D Print circular molds of sand, formed into a double-curved bed on which the concrete elements were printed. Value Proposition of 3D Printing: - Allows for fascinating expression, unique patterns and decorations without labor intensive processes and waste. - Avoids the need for wooden scaffolding, plastic or foam-based formwork for pouring concrete. Credit:  Eindhoven University of Technology - Department of Architecture and Engineering, 3DCprint, Neutelings Riedijk Architects. #45ideas  #creativity #innovation #invention  #3dprinting #additivemanufacturing #AM #3dprintingconstruction

We often think about technological advancement in terms of faster devices or smarter apps, but innovative solutions are making a difference well beyond our screens. Take the work of Open Bionics, for example. They’re combining artificial intelligence with advanced manufacturing techniques to build bionic limbs that can improve daily life for individuals who’ve lost an arm. How are they doing it? - Precision Through 3D Printing: Instead of traditional, one-size-fits-all solutions, each prosthetic is custom-built to snugly fit the wearer. By using 3D printers, they can speed up production and bring costs down. - AI-Driven Movement: Equipped with sensors that read muscle activity from the user’s residual limb, these bionic arms move in direct response to the wearer’s intentions. The goal is to make the prosthetic feel more like an extension of the body rather than a piece of equipment. - More Reach, Less Cost: Streamlining processes and using new materials makes these advanced prosthetics more affordable. As a result, more people who need them can gain access to these life-changing devices. This blend of tech and human-centered design shows how AI can play a crucial role in restoring mobility and independence. It’s a reminder that innovation doesn’t just make our gadgets sleeker - it can help people overcome real-world challenges, enhance their quality of life, and broaden what’s possible for everyone. Where else do you see AI-driven approaches helping people navigate physical challenges or improve their daily routines? #innovation #technology #future #management #startups