3D Printing Hot Stuff

We've been reading a post from BFB in which they've offered another christmas 3D model free for download as part of their Advent Calendar program. It's a tea light holder. The item holds one of those standard-sized metal candle holders, which of course, you ignite and enjoy.

 

But this got us thinking. Should 3D prints be subjected to heat? Forged in heat themselves, applying heat could have some slightly negative effects: 

 

• Plastic objects may distort under heat
• Portions of the object may be destroyed
• Some plastics may actually ignite if exposed to sufficient heat (+416C for ABS)

 

And there's another possible issue: some plastics, like the ABS commonly used in 3D printers, may in fact be toxic. Heat may release some nasty compounds. 

 

Back to the candle holder. Safe or not? We say safe, as the heat of the candle is somewhat distant from the plastic, insulated by wax and metal. 

 

Our advice? Be very careful with any 3D prints exposed to heat, especially ABS. 

 

Via BitsFromBytes

3D Printed Roboworm

New Scientist reports that Engineer Jordan Boyle from the University of Leeds has developed a "Roboworm" that can be used to burrow into small spaces. Such a device would be invaluable for earthquake rescues, where victims might be trapped under tons of rubble. 

 

While there are existing devices that can probe rubble piles, the Roboworm is unique as it is designed from a living creature: the Nematode. Boyle studied this simple bioform and replicated its locomotion technique, which turns out to be a straightforward use of "stretch sensors" along the sides of the worm. This enables it to deftly navigate around corners, as you'll see in the video. 

 

The worm itself was 3D printed in segments on a commercial 3D printer - in nylon, making it much less expensive than metal equivalents, yet still retaining strength. The prototype Roboworm was three meters long, but operational Roboworms would necessarily be much smaller. 

 

Via New Scientist

Health and Safety of Fabs

The UK government's Health and Safety Executive has issued a brief report on "Rapid Manufacturing", in which they predict there could be 100,000 rapid manufacturing devices in use by 2010.

In the longer term, the development of equipment and materials enabling the fabrication of products in the home via desktop “fabbers”3 and ultimately perhaps, Molecular Manufacturing technologies based on the use of nanoscale machines to produce complex articles by the direct manipulation of matter on a molecular scale are foreseen.

They also believe that desktop fabs may provide health and safety benefits:

There is no suggestion as yet that any of the RM technologies presents a serious cause for concern and indeed the fact that the equipment tends to be self-contained could offer health & safety benefits.

You can find the relevant Health and Safety Executive page here, and the PDF report is here.