Clinical data registries can be a powerful tool to assess and improve patient care quality in real-time and address some of the issues surrounding treatments available and how different patients respond to them. Today more than ever, every piece of information is valuable to someone, and clinical data registries can fuel ongoing research and development, inform patients and their health care professionals on the best course of treatment, and improve care for patients in the future.

This year, the Radiology Society of North America (RSNA) and the American College of Radiology (ACR) announced they will launch a new medical 3D printing clinical data registry to collect point of care 3D printing data to prove its worth to the radiology community.

William Weadock

“The creation of the joint RSNA-ACR 3D Printing Registry is essential for the advancement of clinical 3D printing. The registry will allow us to collect data in support of the appropriate use of this technology and its value in clinical decision making,” said William Weadock, professor of radiology at the University of Michigan and chair of the RSNA 3D Printing Special Interest Group (SIG).

According to RSNA, the registry data will enable essential analyses to demonstrate the clinical value of 3D printing, which has been challenging to date because of the rich diversity of clinical indications, the different technologies for generating physical models from medical images and the complexity of the models.

RSNA is very involved in advancing the technology within the medical field. Their core belief is that even though 3D printing for patient care crosses all subspecialties of medicine, radiology is always at the intersection, playing an important role in developing medical applications for this technology. The registry is a project of the SIG initiative which intends to help promote 3D printing for medical applications via education, research and collaborations, as well as provide physicians and allied health scientists with optimized education and research programs. SIG specialists also assist in developing quality standards for 3D printing.

To complement the effort, a joint ACR-RSNA committee will govern the registry which will be released in the fall of 2019 and will allow both organizations to analyze clinical decision making and demonstrate the importance of medical 3D printing to the radiology field.

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This announcement follows the recently approved codes by the American Medical Association (AMA) for the use of 3D printing to create anatomic models and anatomic guides. With the benefits of 3D printing in medicine becoming ever more valuable, having access to models based on patients CT and PET imaging makes preparing for medical procedures so much easier and cost-effective. Since July, four new Category III Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes have been released. CPT is the technical name for the medical code set that is used to report medical, surgical, and diagnostic procedures and services to physicians, health insurance companies and accreditation organizations. Medical coding is a major factor in obtaining insurance reimbursement as well as maintaining patient records, allowing the insurance payer to know the illness or injury of the patient and the method of treatment.

Frank Rybicki

“Medical models and surgical guides have been 3D printed for well over a decade, as niche applications —and without CPT codes. For example, craniomaxillofacial care providers generally accept that 3D printing is valuable and integral to patient care,” suggested Frank Rybicki, chair of the ACR Committee on Appropriateness Criteria and founding chair of the RSNA SIG. “However, when applying for CPT codes, it became clear that this ‘general acceptance’ lacked peer-reviewed literature to demonstrate value. This registry will supply data to benchmark the value of this subspecialty.”

The 3D printing registry will be hosted by the ACR’s National Radiology Data Registry (NRDR) system, which is a leading platform for clinical quality registries in imaging. NRDR currently houses six registries with more than 6,500 participant sites and over 150 million cumulative cases.

3D printed models (Images: Phoenix Children’s Hospital)

Formlabs, HP, Materialise and Stratasys will provide critical financial support in the form of unrestricted grants for the initiative, which is focusing on channeling and simplifying the amount of information available today. For anyone interested in participating, the details will be posted to the NRDR website as they become available.

Charles Kahn

According to Charles Kahn, chair of the RSNA Radilogy Informatics Committee, explained that “the RSNA 3D Printing SIG has brought together leaders from radiology practice and from the 3D printing industry to advance the science and applications of this important new technology,” and the new “registry will help us understand the value that 3D printing can bring to clinical practice.”

As the field of customized medicine advances, the utility of real-world data to support the development of improved therapies is becoming increasingly evident. There is an unmet need to render Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) images as 3D printed models capable of providing both tactile feedback and tangible depth information about anatomic and pathologic states. This new venture will most likely provide the necessary feedback for the medical community and their patients. Data collection and post-analysis can encourage and improve the overall quality of patient care. After all, we are all potential patients and should be interested in ways to improve healthcare.

[Images: RSNA, Materialise and Phoenix Children’s Hospital]

Tiertime is announcing a contest to win an X5 3D printer, the manufacturer’s most advanced system to date and a finalist for the TCT Hardware Award in the field of Polymer Systems. Interested parties are encouraged to send an email or fill out a short questionnaire on Tiertime’s website, explaining how they would use an X5. Entries will be accepted from Sept. 1, 2019 through Sept. 30, 2019, and a winner will be selected no later than Oct. 21, 2019.

“We knew a reliable, continuous 3D printing system could serve certain industries particularly well,” says Joseph Guo, International Sales and Marketing Director, Tiertime Corporation. “This contest should help us discover other types of users who can benefit from the X5’s unique strengths.”

Judging will be based on two criteria:

1. Benefit – How will the X5’s continuous 3D printing improve your workflow and/or productivity?

2. Viability – Are the X5’s features well-suited to fulfill your goals?

The winning contestant will receive their X5 shipped from the nearest Tiertime warehouse, free of charge.

A fully enclosed 3D printer with a print bed vault, the X5 is capable of performing a series of print jobs stored in its queue and automatically replacing the print bed each time a job is completed. It expels the finished print job and its bed from the side of the machine, allowing the next print job to begin on a fresh bed after automatic calibration.

“Virtually anyone who needs to print more than one consecutive object in order to complete a task will see vast gains in productivity,” says Guo. “Scale models requiring more than one piece, end-use parts for later assembly, unattended production of duplicates – the X5 excels in these areas while other 3D printers become a print job management burden.”

The X5 is the apex of everything Tiertime has developed over the years, amplified by automated abilities found in no other 3D printer. It comes with multiple print heads – one for high temp materials such as ABS, one for low temp like PLA, and one for flexible. Its large touchscreen allows programming to be updated within the printer’s hardware, affording customers the opportunity to take advantage of future upgrades in printer-to-printer communications and interoperability. It includes the most powerful version yet of Tiertime’s lauded dual air filtration, recycling the build chamber’s air to remove harmful pollutants without reducing temperature.

X5 Key Features:

• – Automatic print bed replacement
• – Automatic print bed calibration
• – Tiertime Print Queue
• – Dual air filtration – HEPA and activated carbon
• – 180 x 230 x 200 mm build volume
• – 7-inch full color touchscreen control panel
• – Three purpose-specific extruders – high temp, low temp and flexible
• – Wi-Fi, Ethernet and USB connectivity
• – Up to 2kg filament spool capacity

Considering the X5’s retail value of $3,699, this contest represents one of the most generous single giveaways in recent industry memory. Attendees of WESTEC will be able to submit entries in person at the Tiertime booth during the show’s duration, Sept. 24-26, 2019, at the Long Beach Convention Center, Calif.

In this edition of 3D Printing News Briefs, we’ve got stories to share about a new material, a case study, and an upcoming symposium. Liqcreate has released a new 3D printing material for dental professionals. FELIXprinters published a case study about its automotive 3D printing work with S-CAN. Finally, ASTM International will soon be hosting an AM symposium in Washington DC.

Liqcreate Releasing New Dental 3D Printing Resin

Manufacturer of professional-grade 3D printing materials Liqcreate has been hard at work on a new 3D printing resin to help dental professionals optimize their digital workflow and scale up their in-house manufacturing. The hard work has paid off, as the company is announcing the release of its newest material, Liqcreate Premium Model – an accurate, low shrinkage resin for fabricating dental and aligner models.

The opaque photopolymer is matte, and the color of skin. Parts 3D printed with Liqcreate Premium Model have low shrinkage and excellent dimensional stability, and its low odor makes it great for office use. Other benefits include high detail and accuracy, and temperature resistant for aligner production. The resin is compatible with the Anycubic Photon, Wanhao D7, and Kudo3D Bean 3D printers, in addition to all open source 385 – 420nm LCD and DLP systems. You can purchase Liqcreate Premium Model through the company’s distributor network starting September 2nd.

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FELIXprinters Publishes Case Study

Dutch 3D printer manufacturer FELIXprinters published a case study about its work with reverse engineering and 3D scanning company S-CAN 3D Ltd, a UK customer which uses FELIX’s AM platforms to manufacture jigs, create casting molds and masters, and prototypes. Founded in 2012, S-CAN also uses FELIX technology to manufacture automotive parts, like the pictured engine block. FELIXprinters offers a range of systems for industrial prototyping and production applications, inlcuding its Pro 3 & Tec 4 series of AM platforms and its new, larger Pro L and XL models.

“We have found FELIXprinters AM platforms to be very easy to use. You can be up and running within a few minutes of getting them out of the box. We run all of our printers through Simplify3D software so you load the profile, pick a material and you are ready to go. In-house we now have the first machine we bought from FELIX back in 2015 (the Pro 1), and a Tec 4.1, a Pro 3 and the new Pro XL. Our first Pro printer has paid for itself 10 times over,” stated James Senior, MD of S-CAN 3D.

“Internally, S-CAN 3D use FELIX 3D printers for prototyping designs. We might do five or more different concept designs of a particular part or component, as it’s much easier to visualise a part when it’s in your hand. We are putting a lot of work through the newly purchased XL printer and it’s opening up things which we wouldn’t have been able to do before (at least to the same quality and size), so things are very encouraging. We have found FELIX machines to be very repeatable which is our most fundamental requirement for any application, and we also haven’t noticed any accuracy degradation over time.”

At the upcoming TCT Show in Birmingham, September 24-26, the two partnering companies will exhibit together at Stand E50 in Hall 3. Visitors will be able to view FELIXprinters’ Pro series of 3D printers, as well as its new advanced, customizable 3D bioprinting platform.

ASTM International’s AM Symposium

Speaking of industry events, ASTM International, which recently announced that it will be hosting its second Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence Workshop in France, will also host a symposium in the Washington DC area. The Fourth ASTM Symposium on Structural Integrity of Additive Manufactured Materials and Parts, held by the ASTM International Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AMCOE) from October 7-10 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, National Harbor, Maryland, is designed to give AM professionals a forum to exchange ideas about the structural integrity of 3D printed components and materials, focusing on quality and certification criteria and the lack of design principles and industry standards.

Paper topics for the symposium include the effect of anomalies, process optimization to improve performance, feedstock and its related effects on mechanical behavior and microstructure, and the applicability of existing test methods. Sessions will be organized by sector-specific applications, such as aviation, consumer, maritime, and spaceflight. Registration for the event will be open until October 2nd, 2019.

Discuss these stories and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the Facebook comments below.

Researchers D.W. Abbot, D.V.V. Kallon, C. Anghel, and P. Dube delve into complex analysis and testing in the ‘Finite Element Analysis of 3D Printed Model via Compression Tests.’ For this study, the researchers used an FEA tool for simulation and testing of 3D printed parts, with a central focus on experimenting with ‘specific imposed conditions’ on the sample models—employing a strategy that allows for much faster, more affordable assessment of parts.

FEA allows researchers (and ultimately, manufacturers) to prove a variety of different prototypes created through other methods—but now a serious focus is being placed on parts printed in numerous different materials, to include ABS, PLA, and more. Square block samples were chosen for the study due to the potential for better accuracy and distribution of stress along surfaces—with the goal of allowing engineers to finally ‘trust’ FEM in terms of 3D printed objects.

Properties of some 3D printing materials.

Compression testing involved labeling 3D printed samples as either isotropic or anisotropic, with a focus on avoiding anisotropy and inter-layer voids. In examining the samples, the researchers were able to see the internal structures of FDM 3D printed parts, along with evaluating densities. Both experimental and computational tests were performed.

(left) 15% quality prototype in ABS (right) 85% quality prototype in ABS

“Results obtained using Autodesk Inventor are compared to the experimental test results. The arrow represents the direction in which the load has been applied to that of the axes experiencing the load. The horizontal axes, the original axis that the objects are printed on, representing an axially distributed load from above, against the grain of the layers, the vertical axis represents an axial load that would be experienced from the side of the test specimen, with the grain of the layers.”

FEA is centered around both the materials and techniques used, along with design—and the researchers point out that this could be different depending on the simulation software used. Both porosity and adhesion are both issues too. The researchers continued to note the ‘large discrepancy’ also between both experimental and simulated results, with test pieces exhibiting 50 percent more solidity than the experimental samples.

(left) before applied load (right) after applied load

On noting that samples ‘behaved poorly’ regarding horizontal/perpendicular loads, the researchers realized the 3D printed block samples were anisotropic. Infill simulated results and experimental results differed greatly too, as the Autodesk design and simulation were viewed as a solid (instead of porous) object; in fact, in some cases, the samples were not similar at all.

Practical test results

In observing samples (or functional parts), it is critical to evaluate:

• Area of application
• Environment of use
• Operational associated stress at specific axis

“The results obtained from this study on different materials at different applied loads across the two different layering axes showed a large variation in compressive strength,” concluded the researchers. “This establishes that the design of 3D parts strongly depends on the application of the part.”

While 3D printing offers a wide range of benefits, the ability to edit designs and create one iteration after another at will is one of the greatest draws in comparison to more conventional methods of production. Researchers today are engaged in many different types of feasibility studies, ways to introduce new workflow features and learn more about cost analyses.

What do you think of this news? Let us know your thoughts! Join the discussion of this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com.

Maximum displacement at 12200N for ABS Plastic using Autodesk Inventor

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Dutch-based Admatec has just announced the release of a monitoring system for advanced industrial ceramic and metal additive manufacturing, offering a bevy of features that should catch the attention of many users engaged in applications for areas like biomedical, aerospace, aesthetics, and more. The launch details new advantages like:

• Full documentation and traceability
• Capabilities geared toward highly demanding industries
• Layer detection
• Foil movement
• Time-lapse videos

Used with the Admatec Admaflex 130 3D printer (and materials to include Alumina, Zirconia, and Fused Silica, and metal such as 316L, 17-4-PH, Inconel 625 and Copper), the monitoring system allows the operator to view the print process and record it on a layer-by-layer process:

“For example, if a build platform would print 180 products with just one failing during the process, the monitoring system will detect this and proceed with the other 179 parts to finalize successfully. Whereas with a more traditional approach like VAT this would mean the full run has instantly failed,” states the Admatec team in their latest press release.

In series production, users are able to ‘upscale’ without tooling and make changes quickly to important features like size, materials, and shape and structure. The integrated DLP light engine offers users the ability to perform large surface printing, with precision and resolution, also manufacturing small, detailed parts. Ceramic materials, known to be ‘superior,’ can still be challenging to work with. In 3D printing, this material acts as the catalyst for designing parts and prototypes that would not have been possible otherwise. This is a common benefit of 3D printing and additive manufacturing, along with offering a route to bring obsolete parts back to life too once they have been scanned.

Commercially launched in 2016, many Admaflex 130 3D printers have been installed around the world, also resulting in valuable customer feedback, allowing Admatec’s research and development group to create stronger products—with a focus on a customized approach. Admatec customers have the luxury of choosing options, creating a tailor-made 3D printer and choosing features to assist in high print quality, speed, and even an add-on for printing in metal, along with the vision-based monitoring system.

“We are constantly working to improve not only with new hardware and material development but also in functionality and productivity. Through software updates that aim at benefiting our existing customer base while improving the efficiency of the technology,” stated Admatec COO, Jaco Saurwalt.

Admatec sees the potential for both ceramic and metal to have enormous impacts on a variety of industries, especially with the ability to cut costs and offer flexibility and the path to upscale production.

“We are witnessing a gradual change in ceramic AM, from being used mostly as a research and development tool to an actual production method, especially for investment casting and aesthetic applications,” says Nadia Yaakoubi, business developer at Admatec.

3D printing in both ceramics and metal is becoming increasingly popular from creating titanium matrix composites to 3D printed robots and even glass ceramics. What do you think of this news? Let us know your thoughts; join the discussion of this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com.

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[Source / Images: Admatec]

3D Perception

We as humans have faulty perception of the physical environment we live in. Although we are able to distinguish 2D items and 3D items, we do not have the ability to measure them in real time with numeric values. We need to use outside devices to assist us. We have discussed at length these topics within our metrology series, but today we will take a look specifically at a subsection of knowledge within this field and computer vision. With computer oriented object recognition, humans are attempting to make the world more precise through the lens of a computer. There are a variety of things that get in the way of precise object recognition.

Object recognition is defined as technology in the field of computer vision for finding and identifying objects in an image or video sequence. Humans have the ability to recognize objects with bare minimal effort, even though an image varies in different viewpoints. The image also varies when it is translated, scaled, and rotated. People are able to recognize images even when they are somewhat incomplete and missing critical information due to an obstruction of view. Humans use the power of gestalt psychology to do such. Gestalt psychology is defined as a German term interpreted in psychology as a “pattern” or “configuration”. 

Gestalt in Practice

Gestalt is based on understanding and perceiving the whole sum of an object rather than its components. This view of psychology was created to go against a belief that scientific understanding is the result of a lack of concern about the basic human details.

The ability for a computer to recognize parts and synthesize them into a larger body object is the main source of error within computer vision and object recognition. This task is extremely challenging for computer vision systems. One must understand that computers have immense capabilities in logically describing constituents or smaller parts, but adding them together consistently to form the basis of a larger item is still difficult. This is personally why I am not too worried about a robot takeover anytime soon. Many approaches to the task have been implemented over multiple decades.

Matlab and object  detection/recognition

For a computer to do sufficient object recognition there needs to be a ton of precision with identifying constituent parts. To do this, a computer relies on a vast amount of point cloud data. A point cloud is defined as a set of data points in space. Point clouds are usually produced by 3D scanners. With this point cloud data, metrology, and 3D builds can be created. An object can be recognized through using point cloud data to create a mesh. For us as humans, we are able to interpret that mesh within our 3D realm. However, computers are not that great at such interpretation. They just give us great and precise data to work with. It is important to note that computers are okay at object detection. This refers to being able to decipher a part or object within a larger scene. But when we place multiple parts into a scene or an item with a complex geometry, things become difficult for a computer to decipher. Hence we only use 3D scanners to grab point cloud data and not process what a 3D object is. 

Currently in terms of object recognition, computers can barely recognize larger scale items within a 2D setting. It will take a long time for computers to have the graphic capabilities to even decipher what an object would be in a 3D environment. For example, MATLAB is a powerful coding software used for large scale data processing, but computers require a large amount of machine learning and deep learning techniques to process 2D images. First these systems need to do this at a rate of 99.9% confidence before one can move on to 3D images. Humans are not necessarily 100% accurate in terms of processing images either, but they are still slightly more consistent than computer vision techniques. Overall I am interested in learning how to develop such technologies, and I wonder who are the people and organizations wrestling with these problems daily.

Headquartered in Finland, miniFactory‘s progression toward offering high-performance FDM materials for users around the world, they are making significant strides toward making it easier to fabricate not just prototypes but also real end-use parts.

Recently, the miniFactory team released technical datasheets corresponding to parts fabricated on the miniFactory Ultra 3D printer, validating materials along with showing the repeatability of the process and real-life applications. As research and development progressed, they realized how critical it is for end-use parts to receive material validation but that should be printer specified, requiring the team to perform mechanical tests for the ultimate optimization for every material produced. The company now has three validated materials that along with the datasheets and corresponding settings should lead to repeatable results and predictable mechanical properties in parts. The company has released these Sabic ULTEM AM1010F filament, Sabic ULTEM AM9085F filament and PEKK-A made by Kimya from Kepstan PEKK by Arkema.

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“To maintain the high repeatability that miniFactory Ultra 3D printer has, miniFactory is using certified materials,” shared the team in a press release sent to 3DPrint.com. “These materials provide full traceability and quality control for the end user.”

“To be able to trust on the 3D printed part to be used in real life applications, it is crucial to know the mechanical properties of the print. This can be done only with repeatable process which is known. To achieve the demanded repeatability, the process needs to be stable. In order to achieve desired results in everyday use, the process needs to meet the validated parameters. These parameters are based on using a specific validated printer, optimized printing profiles and validated materials. By following the process, the customer can achieve the mechanical properties shown in the technical datasheets. By changing any of these three parameters, the process changes and the printed part might not match the technical datasheet.”

Each test for validating materials, parts, and printing profiles along with the resulting mechanical properties can be announced in a technical datasheet—several of which have been released with their press release.

The concept of using technical datasheets with each test is a trend that should be continued as these documents contain critical information that mechanical designers can use as helpful tools for identifying mechanical properties—an area of study that is key for so many users involved in 3D printing today as different hardware and materials may impact mechanical properties or different parameters may be required for specific projects. The datasheets are made according to the relevant ASTM standard and the material and 3D printing profiles that let you have repeatable results was a “long process” according to the firm.

“Until now, this has not been possible since the datasheets on the market are based on injection molded parts, or the datasheets have not been available at all,” stated the miniFactory team in their press release. “Values of injection molding are not valid when the part is created using 3D printing. This fact has had too little attention by the 3D printing industry and miniFactory wants to bring it to the spotlight.”

Their main goal continues to be providing 3D printers with reliable, repeatable processes. The developers at miniFactory are achieving this mission through offering comprehensive traceability of the 3D printing filament with technical datasheets—making certain that end-use parts are fabricated with quality, suitable mechanical properties, and the necessary durability. Find out more about this ongoing process regarding technical datasheets from miniFactory here.

MiniFactory has played a part in the 3D printing industry since 2013 and unveiled their own new 3D printers last year. What do you think of this 3D printing news? Let us know your thoughts! Join the discussion of this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com.

[Source / Images: MiniFactory]

More news for the aerospace sector shows that Morf3D, established in 2015, continues to act as a leader within the industry, offering metal 3D printing and additive manufacturing processes to clients manufacturing complex structures for use in space. The California-headquartered company has just secured another round of funding, this time from Boeing HorizonX Ventures, as they propel Morf3D further ahead in meeting continued and increasing customer demand.

 “Our latest strategic investment in Morf3D extends our commitment to our Industry 4.0 efforts —technologies that can transform aerospace supply chains for future growth and competitiveness,” said Brian Schettler, Senior Managing Director, Boeing HorizonX Ventures. “We continue to work closely with Morf3D to help them bring innovation through additive manufacturing to more aerospace manufacturing partners.”

Just a few of their current aerospace OEM customers include:

• Boeing
• Honeywell
• Collins Aerospace

As their skills are in demand, the Morf3D team has continued to invest in more equipment, expanding their AM ‘footprint,’ along with adding precision machining technology—and a workforce that has doubled to include more engineers and quality assurance and support staff. Their ongoing goal is to create an entirely new level of involvement with their customers, as they encourage them to be more engaged and collaborative regarding projects—offering access to expertise in engineering and continued ways to increase performance and functionality.

“It is amazing to see our strategy come to life! Our vision to become a world-class leader in metals additive manufacturing for the aerospace industry is truly taking form,” said Ivan Madera, Morf3D’s founder and CEO.

“At Morf3D, we don’t sell parts in the traditional sense. We sell a process that evokes certainty,” said Ivan Madera.

Ivan J. Madera

Privately held, the team at Morf3D is AS9100:D and ISO 9001:2008 certified and ITAR registered, offering a full range of services to include:

• Conceptualization
• Parameter optimization
• Metallic 3D printing
• Finishing
• Metallurgical examination
• Certification
• Data analysis

Morf3D also offers advisory services in AM strategy and technology, assisting their clients in becoming more proficient regarding technology like additive engineering and manufacturing, along with providing innovative solutions for the manufacturing of designs which may be complex. Being able to produce more complicated geometries is one of the greatest benefits of both 3D printing and AM processes as users are able to create more lightweight parts that may not have been possible to manufacture previously.

3D printing for aerospace is anything but new; in fact, organizations like NASA have been using the technology behind the scenes for decades. While 3D printing was designed as a rapid prototyping system mainly for engineers in the 80s, interest has exploded in the last few years for users on all levels—meaning that accessibility and affordability have increased exponentially.

Now, developers around the world continue to design innovative parts and prototypes such as engine rocket parts, polymer antennas, and even materials for bioprinting at the ISS. What do you think of this news? Let us know your thoughts! Join the discussion of this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com.

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3D Reconstruction

In our previous article we outlined the basis of most applications within computer vision. It is a vast and large field. It has a lot of intersectionality with 3D technology and the future of 3D printing as well as metrology. The field of 3D imaging in general takes a wide skill set in general and that is exciting. In this article we will talk about a specific realm within 3D metrology and machine vision and computer vision. This realm is known as 3D reconstruction.

3D reconstruction is the process of capturing the shape and appearance of real objects. This process can be accomplished either by active or passive methods. If the model is allowed to change its shape in time, this can be referred to as non-rigid or spatio-temporal reconstruction. Spatio-temporal reconstruction refers to 4D reconstruction as it is adding the 4th element of time into creating an object (x-position, y-position, z-position, and time). 

Spatio-temporal reconstruction of eyelids

2D digital image acquisition is the typical information source of 3D reconstruction. 3D reconstruction is based on multiple images, and it may use only one image in some cases. There are various methods for image acquisition that depend on the occasions and purposes of an application. Visual disparity, illumination, performance of the camera, and the scenario should be considered when attempting to do a 3D reconstruction. 

In terms of metrology, the objects used to measure the 3 dimensional object as a whole include a camera as well as a data interpreter such as a computer. The camera will take 2D images in terms of digital image data. This is referred to as a monocular cue method for data collection. Monocular cues typically include a singular viewport, such as a camera with one lense. Monocular cues methods refer to using one or more images from one viewpoint to create a 3D construction. It makes use of 2D characteristics (e.g. Silhouettes, shading and texture) to measure 3D shape, and that’s why it is also named Shape-From-X, where X can be silhouettes, shading, texture, etc. 3D reconstruction through monocular cues is simple and quick, and usually one digital image so it requires only one camera. Stereo correspondence is a fairly complex problem that this method tries to avoid. 

Correspondence Problem

Stereo correspondence refers to correspondence problem of 3D reconstruction. The correspondence problem refers to the problem of realizing which parts of an image correspond to certain parts of a different image. Differences are due to movement of a camera, time changing, and/or movement of objects in a photo.

When we have two or more images of the same 3D scene, taken from different points of view, the correspondence problem refers to how we find a set of points in one image that are classified as the same points in another image. Points or features in one image are matched with the matching points or features in another image. The images can be taken from a different point of view, at different times, or with objects in the scene in general motion relative to a camera(s). 

This problem of stereo correspondence is most prevalent when multiple devices are used to capture images. If two photographers take an image of a scene, it is nearly impossible to have them sync up their 3D data from the 2D forms that they took. One frame of reference may include an extreme amount of information that does not sync with a frame of reference that may be only a couple meters away. 

A typical application of the correspondence problem is found in panorama creation or image stitching. When two or more images that have a small overlap are stitched into a larger image this problem is apparent. It is necessary to be able to identify a set of corresponding points in a pair of images in order to calculate the transformation of one image to stitch it onto the other image.

In our next article we will be analyzing a particular method within measurement that deals with this problem and the advanced physics behind it.

3D printing company Photocentric is embarking on new ways to introduce their technology to markets all over the world, well on its way to developing new technologies in various applications, including LCD screen-based digital imaging and looking to maximize mass manufacturing with their printers. Most of it is about transformation, making industries more competitive, creating cost-effective functional parts, and introducing their printers in locations where the 3D printing revolution has yet to take off.

Founded back in 2002 in the UK, the chemical manufacturer firm specializes in visible light photopolymerization, develops the Liquid Crystal range of 3D printers and even commercialized the first 3D printer based on an LCD screen three years ago. The latter design uses LCD screens to cure the resin, the material that hardens into the chosen printed shape.

Photocentric’s technology has already garnered over 40 distributors and partners all over the world, bringing their goal closer to breaking the existing manufacturing models and allowing new designs free of tooling constraints.

Lea Vasconcelos, Photocentric

In Latin America, the company is developing a strong relationship with the Brazilian market and is gaining ground in Chile, Uruguay, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, and Paraguay–pretty much every country in the Southern cone. Nevertheless, it is a difficult market altogether to penetrate, many countries in the region currently lack the infrastructure and resources required to further develop their industries, delaying the implementation of a wide range of technologies, particularly 3D printing. But a more competitive climate is gradually spreading as quite a few firms start to adapt to changes and embrace the advantages. In order to understand the complexity of the 3D printing market in Latin America, 3DPrint.com spoke to Lea Vasconcelos Williams, Photocentric Export Sales Manager for the region.

“Latin America represents close to 10 percent of the global population so it is definitely a promising market for any industry, including 3D printing,” suggested Vasconcelos. “Still, there are quite a few challenges considering that the economies of the region are mostly based on traditional sectors, such as agriculture, textiles, minerals, and mining; this means very few countries are running to adopt new technologies, while others are clouded by political and economic uncertainties.”

Photocentric headquarters and distributors worldwide

“But even within a scenario which includes a lack of growth and economic slowdown, I can see that Latin America has been steadily developing new options for using 3D printing in its industries. Of course, this development could have been bigger, faster and better, but given the general [daunting] situation in the region, it is still a breakthrough,” Vasconcelos went on.

According to the specialist, the regional sectors that have incorporated additive manufacturing in their industrial processes and have achieved greater performance are automotive, medical, dental and aerospace industries, with increasing demand and serious advances for sector-specific products within the jewelry, footwear and education segments.

Nonetheless, Vasconcelos considers that “there are also many new developments for the military and maritime industries that could change the sector completely.”

Photocentric LC Magna

“The dental industry is by far the one that receives more investment and is constantly looking for new products, new developments, more and more research and biocompatible materials able to supply an effervescent and multibillion dollar market. 3D technologies will become the main production method for all dental solutions in just few years and LCD printing is already playing a very important role in this transformation,” she said.

The automotive industry is also a big sector for 3D printing, as the world’s vehicle assembly and auto parts production activities have been migrating to countries outside the traditional automotive markets, among them, Latin America’s largest vehicles producers, Brazil and Mexico, with an annual production of approximately 4.3 million vehicles in 2018.

Photocentric’s presence in Brazil gained further acceptability after the company’s machines were exhibited by local distributors 3DProcer and Sethi3D at South America’s largest 3D printing event, Inside 3D Printing Conference and Expo, which took place last June in São Paulo.

“I believe the Brazilian market is getting ready to introduce 3D printing in its manufacturing process. But it’s not without some challenges, the country is still walking slowly compared to other emerging markets, mainly due to the few companies willing or with enough resources to invest in advanced technologies. Additionally, many regional companies are mostly interested in geting a faster return on their investment, and some are afraid to purchase AM technology due to the lack of specialists in the country,” continued Vasconcelos.

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“In the past, the prototyping phase of projects was heavily based on external suppliers or exclusively done by research teams and universities, it used to take weeks, even months to deliver an object. Prices were also very high price and the prototype quality was low, making mass production of the product unfeasible.”

Vasconcelos also highlighted that the current Brazilian government has recently implemented a series of tax exemptions for 3D printers, consumables, and accessories, making the entire importing process less expensive and opening a considerable door for new technologies in 3D printing.

Photocentric believes that building upmarket expertise is the key to a smoother transition from traditional methods to a wider, faster, cheaper, modern and better-controlled process using 3D printing for series applications. Accrediting new distributors, opening up partnerships with specific companies for each sector of the market, offering training sessions, even information in local languages, participation in trade shows (like Inside 3D Printing Brazil) together with local brand ambassadors chosen by the company to replicate the best practices in 3D printing, are just a few of the examples of what the company is currently doing to further increase its participation in the Latin American market, particularly in Brazil.

“Brazil is a giant in many aspects with the capacity to grow even during harsh periods of recession. Along with Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Argentina, it has become one of the main 3D printing markets in Latin America and in a few years it will be comparable to other bigger and older markets in Europe, the United States and Asia.”

As for the LCD printing process created by Photocentric, Vasconcelos announced that it offers unlimited possibilities, with a cost-effective price not only for the hardware but also for the resins, and friendly user experience that could help the industry sector in Brazil, which is looking to modernize its production processes, improve quality and cut costs.

“Adding the Photocentric LCD printing technology is the way to get those results without compromising the company`s budget because the use of screens in 3D printing has reduced significantly the cost of the printers and accessories, making the printing process faster without losing accuracy and quality.”

Photocentric has distributors positioned across the world. In Argentina, Printalot is the only company that commercializes the 3D printers and has enabled authentically original and artistic work from one of the best goldsmiths in the country, Quimbaya Orfebreria. After acquiring Photocentric machines, the company managed to scale up their production by 400%, reduce manufacturing times by 80 percent, and introduce complex designs into their line of jewelry. Quimbaya was even asked to 3D print a collection of Game of Thrones spoons for HBO Spain’s launch of the last season of the famous shown. The spoons were printed with the Daylight Violet Cast on LC Precision 1.5 in silver and then handpainted.  

Game of Thrones spoons especially 3D printed by Quimbaya Orfebreria

While 3D printing is slowly but steadily gaining ground in Latin America, Photocentric could have a major impact on the region, helping industries like engineering, medical, dental, modeling, and even education reduce costs and turn design concepts into tangible prototypes or end-user functional parts. As industry demands increase, needs evolve and new applications come to light, and official distributors become great allies for the firm as they search to evolve and grow into the landscape of 3D applications.

[Images: Photocentric]