Page 10 - PWM2024_DECEMBER EBOOK

NEWS PROFILE

A 3Ducation from Mimaki

E ters of 3D printing, with an impressive 5.4% to 11.6% jump
ducational facilities are among the fastest-growing adop-

in the market share between 2011 and 2021 , overtaking
other traditional applications, such as cosmetic models and
jigs and fixtures.
Across the medical, art, design and architectural field, students and
researchers increasingly use this technology to create models and pro-
totypes to assist with their academic endeavours.
In particular, material jetting 3D printing technology is making a
name for itself within the sector, known for producing highly detailed
prototypes, models and figures.

Material Jetting: More Colours, More Detail
While material jetting makes up a small share of 3D printer sales
when compared to easier to use technologies like material extrusion
(FDM) and powder bed fusion (MJF or other laser-based processes), it
isn’t a technology to be overlooked.
Producing incredible accuracy and detail in the final product, mate-
rial jetting has become a go-to solution for prototyping, art, architec-
tural and educational models.
Mimaki’s 3D printers, the 3DUJ-2207 and the 3DUJ-553, both uti-
lise the material jetting method. A piezoelectric printhead travel over
the build platform, depositing hundreds of tiny droplets of photopoly- medical professionals alike.
mer to the desired locations. The printer’s capabilities have also attracted the attention of a team of
The material is then cured by a UV LED light, which allows less doctors and researchers from the University of Florence. Facilitating cost-
material warping and more control for complex designs over tradi- effective solutions and enhancing surgical training and simulation, the
tional UV bulbs. The process repeats until the whole part is complete, technology was also used for a range of anatomical models, reaching a
which is then submerged in water to remove any support material. previously unattainable degree of colour fidelity.
As the only 3D printers with the ability to accurately print in 10 mil- Meanwhile Canadian company, Biologic Models, has carved out a niche
lion colours, including transparent, up to 1200 dpi, the 3DUJ series in creating precise and vibrant 3D models of proteins for research facili-
can create highly detailed prints. All these abilities alongside its office-
friendly size and low noise level have made these machines perfect ties and collectors, using the 3DUJ-553 in conjunction with clinical
high-performing models in the 3D printing market. research and x-ray crystallography protein data.
Taking 3D printing beyond the medical, the University of Auckland’s
The Educated Choice Creative Design and Additive Manufacturing Lab (CDAML) uses the
We have already seen examples of Mimaki’s 3D printers’ accuracy Mimaki 3DUJ-553 for vibrant, accurate colour printing in projects ranging
and colours being used to full effect in universities. The collaboration from cultural preservation to surgical aids.
between Monash University and Erler Zimmer led to the development Initially exploring powder-based printers, the lab shifted to the 3DUJ-
of anatomically accurate 3D printed medical models to address the 553 due to its superior colour reproduction and durability. This printer
limitations of cadavers in education. has helped to transform how students engage with history, engineering,
Initially facing challenges with the fragility and colour reproduction
of medical models, the 3D printing industry saw a significant break- art, and medicine.
through with the Mimaki 3DUJ-553. The Perfect Tool for the Model Student
This printer revolutionised the process by accurately creating realis-
tic models with transparent parts to see internal structures. Reliance Imagine students across the world crafting realistic anatomical models,
on cadavers in universities significantly restricts hands-on, interactive bringing historical artifacts back to their former glory, or architecting the
teaching opportunities, particularly when it comes to rare pathologies. cities of tomorrow—all with cutting-edge 3D printing technology. In the
The ability for universities to produce the desired 3D models as educational field, 3D printing can equip the professionals of today and
needed, opens up significant learning opportunities for students and tomorrow with the tools they need to better enhance their skills.
08 PrintWeek MENA December 2024 www.printweekmena.com