The Heads on Fire Community

Apparently, the Xylotex board managed to get fried, so at the moment we are corresponding with Kenji to see if there is anything we can do to salvage it. In the meanwhile, I've been doing some research on the various applications of a three-dimensional printer.

Three-dimensional printing varies in terms of the additive process used to create three-dimensional models. One variation consists of an inkjet printing system that bonds layers of fine powder, such as plaster or resins, by selectively ejecting adhesives into the proper designations, coordinated by a CAD system. Another variation ejects photopolymer to form layers, using an ultraviolet flood lamp in the printer head to cure each layer. Fused disposition modeling uses molten polymer to layer on an existing structure. Each of these variations have both advantages and disadvantages, primarily speed, cost of the printed object, cost of the printer itself, range of materials, etc.

The various uses for three-dimensional printers are both wide and varied. They can be used from creating biological organisms to building electronics from scratch.

The biological applications primarily involve tissue engineering, otherwise known as "organ printing." The process begins by extracting the correct cells for use. These cells are often categorized by their source:
Autologous cells are obtained from the same individual to which they will be reimplanted. Allogenic cells come from the body of a donor of the same species. Xenogenic cells are isolated from individuals of another species. Syngenic or isogenic cells are isolated from genetically identical organisms, such as twins or clones. Primary cells are from an organism. Secondary cells are from a cell bank. And stem cells are cells with the ability to divide in culture and mutate into to different forms of specialized cells. These cells are then inserted into structures capable of supporting three-dimensional tissue formations. These structures, or "scaffolds," must be have high porosity and be biodegradable, allowing to the tissue to form within an organism without the need of surgically removing the scaffold. However, one of the continuing problems with tissue engineering is mass transport limitations. Engineered tissues standardly lack initial blood supply, thus making it difficult for any implanted cells to obtain sufficient oxygen and nutrients to survive or function properly. Thus, tissue printing is still considered to be a developing science.