Rapid Prototyping Journal: Volume 21 Issue 5

Design and assessment of a 3D printing vending machine

Nicholas A. Meisel, Christopher B. Williams

The purpose of this study/paper is to present the design and implementation of a novel vending machine concept based on desktop-scale extrusion additive manufacturing (AM). Due to…

Low-cost closed-loop control of a 3D printer gantry

Benjamin Weiss, Duane W. Storti, Mark A. Ganter

The purpose of this paper is to explore the improvements in speed and precision achievable using straightforward closed-loop control for the gantry motion in additive…

+TUO project: low cost 3D printers as helpful tool for small communities with rheumatic diseases

Francesca Ostuzzi, Valentina Rognoli, Jelle Saldien, Marinella Levi

This paper aims to present a pilot study’s aims to identify opportunities and limits deriving from the use of low-cost 3D printing (3DP), fused deposition modelling (FDM)…

Multi-material additive and subtractive prosumer digital fabrication with a free and open-source convertible delta RepRap 3-D printer

Gerald C. Anzalone, Bas Wijnen, Joshua M. Pearce

The purpose of this paper is to present novel modifications to a RepRap design that increase RepRap capabilities well beyond just fused filament fabrication. Open-source RepRap…

Additive manufacturing of mechanochromic polycaprolactone on entry-level systems

Gregory I. Peterson, Mete Yurtoglu, Michael B Larsen, Stephen L. Craig, Mark A. Ganter, Duane W. Storti, Andrew J. Boydston

This paper aims to explore and demonstrate the ability to integrate entry-level additive manufacturing (AM) techniques with responsive polymers capable of mechanical to chemical…

Experimental desktop 3D printing using dual extrusion and water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol

Chelsea Duran, Vignesh Subbian, Matthew T. Giovanetti, Jeffrey R. Simkins, Fred R. Beyette Jr

This paper aims to discuss the use of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a water-soluble support material in desktop three-dimensional (3D) printing. Using a water-soluble material as one…

Impact of additive manufacturing on engineering education – evidence from Italy

Paolo Minetola, Luca Iuliano, Elena Bassoli, Andrea Gatto

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate how the direct access to additive manufacturing (AM) systems impacts on education of future mechanical engineers, within a Master’s…

Direct 3D printing of polymers onto textiles: experimental studies and applications

Eujin Pei, Jinsong Shen, Jennifer Watling

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the adhesion of polymer materials printed directly onto fabrics using entry-level fused deposition modelling (FDM) machines. A series…

What are you printing? Ambivalent emancipation by 3D printing

Camille Bosqué

The purposes of this paper are to study how entry-level 3D printers are currently being used in several shared machine shops (FabLabs, hackerspaces, etc.) and to examine the…

An assessment of implementation of entry-level 3D printers from the perspective of small businesses

Brett P. Conner, Guha P. Manogharan, Kerry L. Meyers

The purpose of this paper is to examine the implementation of entry-level printers in small businesses and education to identify corresponding benefits, implications and…

Multi-disciplinary approach in engineering education: learning with additive manufacturing and reverse engineering

Andrea Gatto, Elena Bassoli, Lucia Denti, Luca Iuliano, Paolo Minetola

The purpose of this paper is to report an interdisciplinary, cooperative-learning project in a second-year course within the “Enzo Ferrari” Master of Science Degree in Mechanical…

The impact of process parameters on mechanical properties of parts fabricated in PLA with an open-source 3-D printer

Antonio Lanzotti, Marzio Grasso, Gabriele Staiano, Massimo Martorelli

This study aims to quantify the ultimate tensile strength and the nominal strain at break (ɛ_f) of printed parts made from polylactic acid (PLA) with a Replicating Rapid prototyper…

Evaluation of dimensional accuracy and material properties of the MakerBot 3D desktop printer

Garrett W. Melenka, Jonathon S. Schofield, Michael R. Dawson, Jason P. Carey

– This paper aims to evaluate the material properties and dimensional accuracy of a MakerBot Replicator 2 desktop 3D printer.

Entry-level additive manufacturing: the next frontier

Eujin Pei