Bioprinting - Mechanics and Logistics

Video: Tasting Edible Bioplastics

Cleo Podrasky

      

Project Board

Siena Jekel

Bio-printer

Siena Jekel and 3 OthersCleo Podrasky
Evan Johnston
Noor Al-Dehaimi
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Cleo:

Plastic items are used every day, from packaging in grocery stores to 3D-printed items made for toys and appliances. This waste can end up in the ocean, where it spreads from continent to continent, polluting water and killing animals in its wake. The Bioprinter is a way to cut down on this waste and destruction, since the filament material dissolves in water, and can be eaten safely by both humans and animals. 

Normal 3D printing uses plastic that is nearly impossible to biodegrade, and while printing, it creates excess material that is seldom used; the Bioprinter extrudes its form of plastic through a syringe head in an efficient manner, and the excess material is nontoxic, making it far less of a hazard than any other plastic. It uses a threaded rod and a motor to push down on the syringe, which is filled with bioplastic in a liquid state. While the syringe pushes down, the bioplastic cools, forming into an extrudable material that can be used for 3D-printed designs and shapes. This item, depending upon the recipe of biofilament used, can be made into food and candy, or it can be used as packaging, as the material itself is versatile and adaptible. This cuts down significantly on waste, and is far better than normal plastic, which is used once and then thrown out.

Noor:

The 3d printer piece is a syringe that uses bio gels to form an object, the bio gels that are extruded use eco-friendly ingredients. The gels are biodegradable.

Bioplastics unlike normal plastic are eco-friendly and use safe ingredients. Bioplastics prevents polluted oceans yet works like normal plastic. The bio-printed plastics are for people who want to better our environment. Bioplastics can be used for packaging and many other things. After the plastic is used it could be thrown into the ocean, and it'll biodegrade or if the bioplastic used is edible it could be eaten. 

The 3d printing process uses a piece that is mechanically controlled and uses a syringe. This set includes an on and off button and a button that controls the speed and direction of how fast the liquid should be extruded.  

Evan:

Bio-Printing is an adaptation of current 3d-printing processes to incorporate bio-manufacturing techniques and cut down on harmful waste. The bio printer features a print head which extrudes a bio-degradable gel that can harden on the printing surface.

The extruder functions by using a threaded rod and a motor to press down on a syringe filled with the bio-plastic. Current 3d printing technology uses plastics that are very difficult or even impossible to bio-degrade and also require heating to extrude, increasing power cost. This is made worse by the excess material most printers produce in support material (removable plastic that is printed to support overhanging layers). This issue is lessened with bio-degradable plastics that can be reused instead of just being thrown out.

Siena:

 Most plastic ends up in the ocean, this includes 3d printed parts, plastic bags, cups, etc. The bio-printer is a 3d printer that prints out of biodegradable plastic in an efficient way, so when the plastic is in contact with water it dissolves. This project contains a 3d printer nozzle piece that can attach to most 3d printers. The bioplastic filament goes through the nozzle in liquid form and sets on the bed. The 3d printer can be used by anyone who wants to help the environment and wants to learn about a new way to 3d print.

          This project exists because there are copious amounts of pollution in the ocean, This pollution is mainly caused by people throwing all types of plastic into the ocean. The Bio-Printer is a project that tries to contain the amount of 3d printed pieces going into the ocean, The 3d printer does this by 3d printing out of biodegradable plastic. The nozzle of the printer is a motor controlled syringe, this way when operating the printer the user can control the speed and the direction of the printer. Because the filament needs to go through something similar to a syringe, it has to go through the nozzle in liquid or gel form, to achieve a clean print. The bioplastic used in this project starts in liquid form and then hardens once it reaches the bed. The user controls the 3d printer with a knob controlling the direction and speed of the printer and a switch turning it on and off.