Nos últimos anos, a impressão 3D vem se colocando como uma técnica fundamental na produção de novos biomateriais; a estereolitografia, em particular, permite que sejam impressos arcabouços para suporte celular de arquiteturas altamente complexas. Observa-se, todavia, uma oferta pouco significante de resinas passíveis de impressão, uma vez que o mesmo material deve reunir características como biocompatibilidade, biodegradabilidade e, em algumas técnicas de impressão, potencial fotocurável. Este trabalho concentrou-se em sintetizar poliésteres inéditos - derivados de pantenol - biodegradáveis e bioabsorvíveis via policondensação catalisada pela lipase B da Candida antarctica. Além disso, pretendeu-se incluir insaturações de modo a permitir fotorreticulação dos mesmos. Foram produzidos dois tipos de poliésteres insaturados: (1) com insaturações endo (pertencentes à cadeia principal do polímero), a partir de copolímeros produzidos de pantenol e mistura de diésteres saturados (adipato de dietila e sebacato de dietila) e diésteres insaturados (fumarato de dietila e glutaconato de dietila); (2) com insaturações exo (pertencentes às cadeias secundárias do polímero), a partir da acrilação da hidroxila secundária de pantenol de poliésteres saturados do mesmo. A caracterização por cromatografia de permeação em gel mostrou a produção de7 polímeros na faixa de massa molar entre 2000 e 5000 Da. Todas as estruturas foram confirmadas por 1H RMN. A fotocura do material foi testada a partir de soluções dos poliésteres contendo fotoiniciador (BAPO) e correticulantes (NIPAM, NVPM e VIM). Após irradiação com radiação UV em 254 nm por diferentes tempos, foram produzidos filmes que puderam ter sua fração sol/gel determinadas, bem como suas características de intumescimento. Além de serem os primeiros poliésteres de pantenol observados até o momento na literatura, os materiais sintetizados neste trabalho provaram potencial de uso em impressoras 3D, visto que foram produzidos filmes fotorreticulados após cerca de 1 minuto de irradiação. / This work focused on synthesizing unpublished biodegradable and bioabsorbable panthenol-derived polyesters via polycondensation catalyzed by Candida antarctica lipase B. In addition, it was intended to include unsaturations to enable photocrosslinking in the final material. Two types of unsaturated polyesters were synthesized: (1) with unsaturations \"endo\" (belonging to the main polymer chain), from copolymers made of panthenol and mixtures of saturated diesters (adipate, diethyl sebacate and diethyl) and unsaturated diesters (diethyl fumarate and diethyl glutaconate); (2) with \"exo\" unsaturations (not in the main polymer chain), from the acrylation of the secondary panthenol hydroxyl group of the first saturated polyester.9 Characterization by gel permeation chromatography showed the production of polymers in the range of molar mass between 2000 and 5000 Da. All structures were confirmed by 1 H NMR. The photocrosslinking capability of the material was tested from polyester solutions containing photoinitiator (BAPO) and crosslinkers (NIPAM, NVPM, and VIM). After irradiation with UV radiation at 254 nm for different times, films were produced that could have their sol / gel fraction determined, as well as their swelling characteristics. In addition to being the first panthenol polyesters observed so far in the literature, the materials synthesized in this work proved potential use in 3D printers since photocrosslinked films were produced after about 1 minute of irradiation.

This work outlines an Innovation Gap in technology commercialization and presents a novel tool, the Advanced Technology Innovation Mapping (ATIM) tool to address this gap. The tool aims to support technology commercialization in early stages of & prior to the New Product Development Process. The dissertation includes a detailed rationale, description, history, similar and originating methods for this tool based on Value Engineering and Function Maps for Design. This work also demonstrates on several example studies the use of the tool and evaluates via an exploratory study the usefulness of the tool. Research tests the tool in educational and training programs at the University of Texas at Austin and finds that the tool improves user understating of majority of important factors for technology commercialization (customer, technology, development activities). User feedback supports these conclusions. In the future the tool could be further expanded, more standardized and improved. Additionally, the work proposes further ways to study the tool in different settings and with groups of different sizes beyond this early exploratory study. / text

Το θέμα αυτής της διπλωματικής εργασίας είναι ο σχεδιασμός, η παραγωγή, η κατασκευή και ο έλεγχος ενός χειρουργικού ρομποτικού εργαλείου με βελτιωμένα χαρακτηριστικά από το προηγούμενο πρωτότυπο. Το λαπαροσκοπικό εργαλείο αποτελείται από συνδέσμους σε σειρά οι οποίοι ενεργοποιούνται με μορφομνήμονα καλώδια, οι οποίοι λειτουργούν σαν δυαδικοί ενεργοποιητές με δύο πιθανές καταστάσεις. Κάθε σύνδεσμος αποτελείται από τρεις πρισματικούς ενεργοποιητές, οι οποίοι δημιουργούν μια πλατφόρμα Stewart και παρέχουν μια 3 βαθμών ελευθερίας κινητικότητα σε κάθε σύνδεσμο. Τα ηλεκτρονικά είναι ενσωματωμένα στο εσωτερικό των συνδέσμων, σε αρχιτεκτονική Master-Slave. Η επικοινωνία μεταξύ του χειρούργου και του εργαλείου επιτυγχάνεται με I2C δικτυωμένους μικρο-ελεγχτές, Στον τελευταίο σύνδεσμο του εργαλείου, υπάρχει μια στερεοσκοπική κάμερα και μια πλακέτα IMU η οποία προσφέρει πληροφορίες προσανατολισμού. Επιπρόσθετα, ένα σύστημα αντίληψης δύναμης το οποίο είναι ικανό να επικολληθεί στην επόμενη έκδοση του εργαλείου. Εν κατακλείδι, σχεδιαστικές παράμετροι καθώς και η κινηματική του δυαδικού βραχίονα παρουσιάζεται σε προσομοίωση και πειραματικές μελέτες του λαπαροσκοπικού πρωτότυπου εργαλείου. / The subject of this master thesis is the design, the fabrication, the construction and the control of a surgical robotic tool with improved characteristics than previous version. The laparoscopic tool consists of cascaded links which are powered by Shape Memory Alloys wires, acting as binary actuators with two stable states. Each link is composed of three prismatic actuators, creating a Stewart platform and providing a 3-DOF maneuverability for each joint. The electronics are embedded in the inner cavity of the links in, Master-Slave architecture. The communication between the surgeon and the tool is achieved with I2C-networked microcontrollers. In the distal link of the tool, there is a stereoscopic camera and an IMU board that offers orientation information. Moreover, a Force Sensing System, that is able to be attached to the next version of the current tool. Finally, certain design aspects as well as the kinematics of the binary manipulator are presented simulation and experimental studies on the laparoscopic tool prototype.

Square open loop resonator (SOLR) bandpass filters fabricated with additive manufacturing techniques are presented and studied. One filter contains novel 3D capacitive plates used to enhance resonator coupling. The filters are centered at 2.45 GHz and loaded with capacitors for miniaturization as low as 21% that of a conventional SOLR bandpass filter. The pass-band insertion loss of the filters ranges from 3.8 dB to 5.5 dB and the 3 dB bandwidth ranges from 180 MHz to 250 MHz. Also, degradation in the effective conductivity of printed ink as a function of substrate roughness is analyzed. Finally, a study of dielectric and metallic 3D printing processes that are candidates for digital manufacturing of integrated mobile phone client antennas is presented.

Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As part of a growing trend in the medical industry of patient specific solutions, a need arises for means and methods that could grant surgeons the ability to improve their pre-operative planning, and help streamline their intra-operative proceedings relative to each individual patient. A suitable solution has emerged in the form of Additive Fabrication. Most of the traditional layer manufacturing technologies have been considered to be too expensive for medical application, and could not always be justified. However, more cost effective technologies, such as 3D Printing, have recently come to the scene and definitely require a fresh re-consideration for medical applications. In this report the research results are presented that look at the applications of 3D Printing in various fields of reconstructive surgery. Based on a variety of case studies the outcome strongly suggests that 3D Printing might become part of standard protocol in medical practice in the near future. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tans beweeg die mediese veld al hoe meer in die rigting van pasiënt uniekheid. Dit beteken dat behandeling begin weg beweeg van standaard prosedures en soveel moontlik aagepas word om aan te pas by elke unieke pasiënt. As deel hiervan ontstaan die behoefte by chirurge om hul operasies ook beter te beplan spesifiek tot elke individu, en sodoende te verseker dat die prosedures in teater so glad moontlik verloop. Daar is reeds tegnologië in die vorm van Addidatiewe Vervaardiging wat hierdie probleem aanspreek. Tot op hede was die finansiële implikasies vir meeste van die onderskeie tegnologië ‘n struikelblok wanneer dit kom by mediese toepassings. Tog, danksy meer koste effektiewe tegnologie soos 3D Drukwerk, is dit die moeite werd om weer op nuut te kyk na die moontlikhede wat die tegnologie kan bied. In hierdie verslag word daar gekyk na die verskillende toepassings van 3D Drukwerk in die veld van rekonstruktiewe chirurgie. Op grond van die resultate verkry vanaf ‘n wye verskeidenheid gevalle studies word die gevolgtrekking gemaak dat bekostigbare tegnologie soos 3D Drukwerk ‘n baie goeie kans het om in die nabye toekoms deel te word van standaard prosedure in die mediese praktyk.

Flammable solvents contained in liquid electrolytes pose a serious safety risk when used in lithium batteries. Oxide ceramic electrolytes are a safer alternative, but suffer from inadequate mechanical properties and ionic conductivity. Thin electrolyte layers resolve the issue of conductance, but accentuate the detrimental mechanical properties of oxide ceramics. The presented work has investigated oxide ceramic electrolyte reinforcement in composite electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries. Fabricating oxide ceramic electrolytes with engineered microstructure enabled development of a reinforced composite. This approach is based on the formation of 3D- porous ceramics via stereolithography printing of polymer templates from designed cubic, gyroid, diamond and bijel architectures. The microstructural parameters of templates were analysed and modified using computational techniques. Infiltration of the prepared 3D-porous electrolyte with polymeric-fibre reinforcement created the reinforced composite electrolyte. The prepared ceramic composite showed excellent reproduction of the template microstructure, good retention of ionic conductivity and enhanced mechanical properties. The final composite was composed of NASICON-type Li_1.6Al_0.6Ge_1.4(PO₄)₃ oxide ceramic electrolyte and epoxy and aramid fibre reinforcement. The gyroid architecture was computationally determined as having the optimal stress transfer efficiency between two phases. The printed gyroid polymer template gave excellent pore microstructure reproduction in ceramic that had 3D-interconnected porosity, high relative density and the most uniform thickness distribution. The ceramic matrix porosity allowed for complete infiltration of reinforcement by aramid and epoxy forming the fibre-reinforced ceramic matrix composite. The interpenetrating composite microstructure with ceramic and epoxy gave a flexural strength increase of 45.65 MPa compared to the ceramic. Unfortunately, the infiltration procedure of aramid-epoxy reinforcement did not realise the full tensile strength potential of aramid fibres.

Submitted by Paula Lumi Goulart Nishimura (lumi.paula@gmail.com) on 2018-06-04T19:58:13Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Nishimura_Paula_diretrizes_design_cadeirasderodas.pdf: 8095797 bytes, checksum: 1357536835458a473e7ca38e94c32e9f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Lucilene Cordeiro da Silva Messias null (lubiblio@bauru.unesp.br) on 2018-06-05T12:45:18Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 nishimura_plg_me_bauru.pdf: 7973597 bytes, checksum: d53a2fda1c6589b14cd407d952d45b81 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-05T12:45:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 nishimura_plg_me_bauru.pdf: 7973597 bytes, checksum: d53a2fda1c6589b14cd407d952d45b81 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-27 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Muitas das cadeiras de rodas utilizadas por animais domésticos com problemas locomotores são feitas a partir de materiais improvisados, como canos, rodinhas de brinquedos e diversos materiais reciclados, devido, sobretudo, aos seus baixos custos. Porém, esses aparelhos improvisados podem ter desempenho comprometido e não atenderem às necessidades do animal, até mesmo causarem lesões por não serem devidamente adaptados. Uma das finalidades do Design é solucionar problemas de projeto, como também otimizar o produto e o seu processo de produção, podendo, dessa forma, auxiliar no desenvolvimento de equipamentos para cães com problemas locomotores, cuja área ainda carece de estudos. O objetivo da presente pesquisa foi propor as diretrizes necessárias para a construção de cadeiras de rodas eficientes para cães com problemas de locomoção nos membros pélvicos a partir de tecnologias de Prototipagem Rápida, as quais proporcionam a obtenção de peças com exatidão geométrica ou discrepância desprezível, assegurando maior conforto e melhor funcionalidade, com menores tempo de produção e custos. Esta pesquisa foi dividida em duas fases: (i) pesquisa teórica bibliográfica e (ii) pesquisa prática experimental. Na teórica, foram feitas revisões bibliográficas a respeito dos problemas locomotores em cães e sobre as tecnologias de Prototipagem Rápida, suas aplicações e estado da arte. Já na fase experimental, uma metodologia projetual adaptada de Munari (1981) foi utilizada para confecção e análise de aparelhos existentes, os quais contribuíram para a proposta de um modelo que suprisse as necessidades dos modelos analisados. A cadeira de rodas projetada, embora tenha atendido às principais expectativas, necessitou de alguns ajustes e alterações estruturais, podendo ser considerada um primeiro passo para o desenvolvimento de modelos futuros. Em vista disso, através das informações obtidas na produção desse aparelho, como também os dados coletados a partir dos outros testes e análises, foi possível elencar as diretrizes fundamentais para a produção de cadeiras de rodas eficientes, com peças impressas em 3D, para cães com problemas locomotores nos membros pélvicos. / Many wheelchairs used by domestic animals with locomotion problems are made from improvised materials such as pipes, toy wheels and many recycled materials, due to their low costs. However, these improvised devices can compromise performance and may not attend the needs of the animal, even causing injuries for not being properly adapted. One of Design's purposes is to solve problems within projects, as well as to optimize the product and its production process, and, in this way, to aid in the development of this kind of equipment for dogs with locomotive problems, whose area is still lacking in studies. The present research objective was to propose the necessary guidelines for the construction of efficient wheelchairs for dogs with locomotion problems in the pelvic area using Rapid Prototyping technologies, which provide pieces with geometric accuracy or negligible discrepancy, ensuring greater comfort and better functionality to the dog, with shorter production time and lower costs. This research was divided into two phases: (i) theoretical bibliographic research and (ii) experimental practical research. In the theoretical phase, bibliographical reviews were made regarding the locomotion problems in dogs and about Rapid Prototyping technologies, their applications, and state of the art. In the experimental phase, a design methodology adapted from Munari (1981) was used for the confection and analysis of existing devices, which contributed to the proposal of a model that would attend the needs of the models analyzed. The designed wheelchair, although had met the main expectations, required some adjustments and structural changes, and could be considered a first step for the development of future models. Consequently, through the information obtained in the production of this device, as well as the data collected from the other tests and analyzes, it was possible to list the fundamental guidelines for the production of efficient wheelchairs with 3D printed parts for dogs with locomotion problems in the pelvic area.

This two-part thesis focuses on biointerfaces of two different biological systems. It specifically examines the interplay of structure and functionality in these biointerfaces. Part one studies photo-bio-electrochemically active bacteria and the strong dependence of their electrical current generation on electrode structure and pigment organisation. Part two uncovers surprising design principles of photonic structures on flower petals and presents research tools to study disordered optical systems. Biophotovoltaics (BPV) is a newly described biophysical effect in which a biofilm of photosynthetic microorganisms associated with an anode produces electrical current that can be harvested and passed through an external circuit. In this thesis-part, an experimental set-up is presented to quantitatively measure photo-electric activity of cyanobacteria in BPVs. Using this set-up, a systematic study of anode morphologies reveals that large electrode surface areas enhance photocurrents by two orders of magnitude, identifying structuration as key design criterion for bioelectrochemical interfaces. Electrodes with micrometer-sized pores allow enhanced direct contact area with bacteria, but with tested cyanobacteria this did not result in a photocurrent increase, disproving recent speculations in the literature. Furthermore, a theoretic-mathematical framework is presented to estimate light-energy utilisation in biofilms. It is detailed how pigment concentration and distribution affects the light-level dependent saturation of electron harvesting biofilms. This study brings the theory together with experiments, such as genetic modification and photo-current measurements. Part two of this thesis approaches the interaction of light and biointerface structuration from a different angle. In a significant extension of the candidate’s MPhil project, it was discovered that the disorder in natural photonic structures can be an advantage rather than a limitation in biology. With biological image analysis, optics simulations and nano-manufacturing a new photonic effect is uncovered which is iridescent but surprisingly constant in chroma. In collaboration with plant scientists, it is shown that many flowers have co-evolved disordered surface structuration that generates this bee visible colouration.

Palm oil production create a number of solid biomass waste products, in particular empty fruit bunches and mesocarp fiber; two cellulosic plant materials that are under-utilized and a source of environmental pollution today. Their fibred structure are interesting from an industrial design perspective as similar waste products from industrialized crops are used to create composite materials. This bachelor thesis is based on an initial research phase of the palm oil industry in Thailand, where literary studies, case-studies and interviews were used to gain understanding of how the palm oil industry in Thailand operates. This laid the foundation to a material driven design process; an exploratory phase where samples of waste products collected during the research phase were tinkered with, to create composite materials of natural fibers and starch-based plastics. The materials created were characterized by their technical properties, and evaluated through a focus group of Thai students to define their experiential characteristics. The insights learned from the evaluation were used to create a demonstrative concept of how the material can be put to future use. The experiential characterization showed that the material have valuable sensorial, performative, emotional and interpretive properties, such as strength, flexibility and translucency, while being perceived as elegant, amusing, strange and natural. This leads to the conclusion that there is possible added value in the waste products that are seen as a nuisance today. Parallel to the material driven design process, samples of empty fruit bunches and mesocarp fiber were used to develop a 3D-printing filament. While only simple test prints have been tried at the time of writing, it provides proof of concept.

A sinterização a laser (SL), uma das tecnologias de manufatura aditiva (MA), se mostra de grande interesse devido a uma série de características, mas, principalmente, devido a sua capacidade de processar uma ampla gama de materiais em pó, a qual amplia possibilidades de pesquisa e desenvolvimento no campo do Design. Neste trabalho, sob o prisma da MA, tem-se por objetivo realizar a sinterização a laser em um equipamento de gravação e corte a laser convencional, sem pré-aquecimento do material. No desenvolvimento do estudo, foi utilizado um equipamento galvanométrico a laser para a realização de experimentos de sinterização de poliestireno em pó (PS 200). Os ensaios de caracterização desse material polimérico amorfo, constataram o diâmetro médio dos grãos de 54,3 μm em formato irregular. Para viabilizar o processo proposto, investigaram-se os parâmetros de processo para a SL, valendo-se de um dispositivo de controle da altura da mesa de trabalho. A melhor amostra (geometria circular) foi construída com potência 20 W, velocidade de varredura de 200 m/min e distância entre linhas de varredura do feixe laser de 0,1 mm. Esse último parâmetro, é relacionado ao diâmetro do foco do feixe laser, o qual foi estimado pelos ensaios em 0,3 mm. Com isso, foi calculada a densidade de energia transferida para o material, conhecida como Número de Andrew (An), em 0,06 J/mm² Análises visuais, macroscópicas e microscópicas, antes e depois da sinterização de uma camada (2D) e de camadas empilhadas (3D), além de sua digitalização tridimensional, foram realizadas. As amostras apresentaram deformação no plano x-y (elipticidade), no eixo z (empenamento) e grande porosidade. Nos ensaios de empilhamento de camadas foi determinada, para os parâmetros utilizados, a espessura de camada de 0,15 mm. Posteriormente, foi construído um modelo 3D com 100 camadas, o qual apresentou um acabamento liso na maior parte de sua lateral, porém, foram observadas estrias verticais ao longo da sua altura, as quais foram consideradas como característica do processo (devido à inércia dos espelhos galvanométricos). Por fim, esses parâmetros foram validados em um ensaio valendo-se de uma forma orgânica (face humana) em escala 1:4. O fator crítico foi o empenamento, o qual prejudica a distribuição de novas camadas de pó, mas pôde ser contornado com espessuras de camada de alturas superiores a esse empenamento. Assim, considera-se que para a viabilização prática do processo de sinterização proposto, em equipamentos de corte e gravação a laser convencionais, torna-se importante o desenvolvimento de um dispositivo de distribuição de pó automatizado, o qual permitiria a construção de modelos 3D de maior tamanho e complexidade. / Laser sintering (SL), one of the additive manufacturing (MA) technologies, is of great interest due to a number of characteristics, but mainly due to its ability to process a wide range of powder materials, which offers possibilities for research and development in the Design’s field. In this work, under the prism of the MA, the goal is to perform laser sintering in a conventional laser engraving and cutting equipment, without preheating the material. In the development of the study, a galvanometric laser equipment was used to perform powder polystyrene (PS 200) sintering experiments. The characterization tests of this amorphous polymer material showed the average grain diameter of 54.3 μm in irregular shape. In order to make the proposed process feasible, the process parameters for the SL were investigated, using a device to control the height of the workbench. The best sample (circular geometry) was built with 20 W power, laser scan speed of 200 m/min and distance between scanned lines of 0.1 mm. This last parameter is related to the diameter of the laser beam waist, which was estimated by the tests in 0.3 mm Thus, the energy density transferred to the material, known as Andrew's Number (An), was calculated at 0.06 J/mm². Macroscopic and microscopic visual analysis, before and after the sintering of a two-dimensional layer (2D) and of stacked layers (3D), in addition to its 3D scanning, were performed. The samples displayed deformation in the x-y plane (ellipticity), at the z-axis (warpage) and high porosity. In the layer stacking tests, the layer thickness of 0.15 mm was determined for the parameters used. Next, a 3D model with 100 layers was sintered, which presented a smooth finish in most of its lateral, however, vertical streaks were observed along its height, which were considered as characteristic of the process (due to the inertia of the galvanometric mirrors). Finally, these parameters were validated in an assay using an organic form (human face) in a 1: 4 scale. The critical factor was the warpage, which impairs the distribution of new layers of powder, but could be worked around with layer thicknesses of heights higher than this warpage. Thus, it is considered that for the practical feasibility of the proposed sintering process in conventional laser cutting and engraving machine, it is important to develop an automated powder distribution device, which would allow the construction of greater size and complexity 3D models.