Updated News Around the World

Inverse design method used to improve porous surface texture of 3D printed objects

Inverse design method used to improve porous surface texture of 3D printed objects
A 3D mesosurface inspired by the cheetah. By optimizing the porosity distribution and the size of triangular unit cells, the circular markings on the body of cheetah can be well reproduced. Credit: Prof. Yihui Zhang (Tsinghua University)

A multi-institutional team of mechanical engineers and materials scientists has developed an inverse design method to improve the texture of porous surfaces on 3D printed structures. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes developing micrometer-sized triangles and ribbons to create a lattice upon which to build surface structures.

In the natural world, the arrangement of cells allows for the creation of unique porous surface structures—leaves, flowers and human skin all have a remarkable degree of surface variability with unique visible features and specific characteristics, such as repelling water. Recreating such features using technology as simple as a 3D printer has been impossible.






3D twisting mesosurfaces resembling G. jasminoides Ellis flowers with programmable chirality were designed based on the discreteness-mediated deformation of microlattice films. Credit: Prof. Yihui Zhang (Tsinghua University)

In this new effort, the research team has come a step closer to mimicking nature by developing a new way to represent such structures in a reproducible way.

The researchers sought to replicate the way cells are arranged by creating digital lattices composed of tiny triangles and ribbons. They came to these shapes using an inverse design method (curved beam deformation theory). They then developed an application to generate desired shapes using their digital lattices.

  • Inverse design method used to improve porous surface texture of 3D printed objects
    A 3D mesosurface inspired by the ant. The entire ant-like microlattice structure consisting of 4034 microtriangles and 7826 microribbons accurately reproduces the design target. Credit: Prof. Yihui Zhang (Tsinghua University)
  • Inverse design method used to improve porous surface texture of 3D printed objects
    Infrared image of the breathable 3D cardiac electronic device after green LED array lighting for ten minutes. Credit: Prof. Yihui Zhang (Tsinghua University)

The application was then taught how to create such shapes using a machine-learning algorithm. The finished product was then sent to a 2D printer, which printed out a pattern onto a base that could be folded into 3D shapes. The system allowed for creating a wide variety of structures with highly porous surfaces.

The team demonstrated their system by first creating simple textured objects such as spheres. They then progressed to creating more complicated objects, such as a bell pepper, an ant and an octopus. They also note that the objects that are created can be made using a variety of materials, such as single crystal silicon, metals, chitosan and laser-honed graphene.

The group finished by creating a scaffold shaped like a contact lens that was embedded with sensors. Once printed, they used the structure to study the electrical properties of neurons in the back of the eye.

  • Inverse design method used to improve porous surface texture of 3D printed objects
    A spherical cap-shaped mesosurface based on the microlattice design was isolated from the substrate and placed upside down on the PDMS base for cell culture. Credit: Prof. Yihui Zhang (Tsinghua University)
  • Inverse design method used to improve porous surface texture of 3D printed objects
    FEA result of a 3D electronic cell scaffold: A 3D assembled electronic cell scaffold based on the microlattice design. Credit: Prof. Yihui Zhang (Tsinghua University)
  • Inverse design method used to improve porous surface texture of 3D printed objects
    Optical images of a 3D electronic cell scaffold: Isolated 3D electronic cell scaffold consisting five pairs of electrodes was placed upside down on the PDMS base for RPE cell culture. Credit: Prof. Yihui Zhang (Tsinghua University)

More information:
Xu Cheng et al, Programming 3D curved mesosurfaces using microlattice designs, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adf3824

© 2023 Science X Network

Citation:
Inverse design method used to improve porous surface texture of 3D printed objects (2023, March 29)
retrieved 29 March 2023
from https://techxplore.com/news/2023-03-inverse-method-porous-surface-texture.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

For all the latest Technology News Click Here 

 For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News

Read original article here

Denial of responsibility! NewsUpdate is an automatic aggregator around the global media. All the content are available free on Internet. We have just arranged it in one platform for educational purpose only. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials on our website, please contact us by email – [email protected]. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.