Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Author(s)
Pusch K, Hinton TJ, Feinberg AW
Citation Title
Large Volume Syringe Pump Extruder for Desktop 3D Printers
Abstract
Syringe pump extruders are required for a wide range of 3D printing applications, including bioprinting, embedded printing, and food printing. However, the mass of the syringe becomes a major challenge for most printing platforms, requiring compromises in speed, resolution and/or volume. To address these issues, we have designed a syringe pump large volume extruder (LVE) that is compatible with low-cost, open source 3D printers, and herein demonstrate its performance on a PrintrBot Simple Metal. Key aspects of the LVE include: (1) it is open source and compatible with open source hardware and software, making it inexpensive and widely accessible to the 3D printing community, (2) it utilizes a standard 60 mL syringe as its ink reservoir, effectively increasing print volume of the average bioprinter, (3) it is capable of retraction and high speed movements, and (4) it can print fluids using nozzle diameters as small as 100 μm, enabling the printing of complex shapes/objects when used in conjunction with the freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels (FRESH) 3D printing method. Printing performance of the LVE is demonstrated by utilizing alginate as a model biomaterial ink to fabricate parametric CAD models and standard calibration objects.
Comments
Migooo
Sun, 2018-06-03 21:26
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Hello, can it be used for any
Hello, can it be used for any desktop printer?
awfeinberg
Fri, 2018-06-22 13:24
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Yes, you should be able to
Yes, you should be able to use it on a wide range of 3D printers. You will of course need to design a custom adapter for the extrusion needle to mount on your specific desktop printer, but all the other parts should work without needing any modification. The LVE does not need to be mounted directly to the printer because the flexible tubing connects the syringe to the needle.
tumorimmunologist
Fri, 2018-12-28 15:29
Permalink
Great job. I will be printing
Great job. I will be printing this with one of my students this semester. It is too bad printrbot went under, so many good open source projects have been designed for the simple metal. Luckily I have one. Have you thought about adding temp control to this, like a water jacket around the syring and/or bowden tube?