Posts

Replique and BASF Forward AM’s food safe 3D printing process for Miele

/in , /by

IDEX technology ensured a fast-tracked, profitable process for this low volume batch production.

German 3D printing platform Replique and BASF Forward AM’s material experts are working together to create parts for home appliances manufacturer Miele, using a food safe 3D printing process for parts in contact with consumable goods.

With 3D printed parts muscling their way into all corners of your home appliances, how do we ensure a reliable food safe 3D printing process? In Germany, Replique and BASF Forward AM have the technique down to a T for their client Miele. After Replique receives the details in its digital platform, BASF Forward AM gets to work manufacturing the products with the help of the IDEX technology in their small farm of BCN3D Epsilon W27 printers. Not only are they saving significant costs on their production process, but their final products are more accurate with a smaller initial investment required. 

The digital set-up at Replique

Replique is the first fully encrypted 3D printing platform that connects you to a global decentralized network of AM professionals. This means OEMs have the chance to provide spare parts, anywhere, anytime, securely, and efficiently, without the need for a physical warehouse. 

With only three steps lying between you and on-demand production, Replique takes the customer through the entire procedure, starting with identifying and qualifying, finding the best materials, integrating Replique at every stage, and encrypting. 

The result is printed parts required by companies across all industries, such as transport, agriculture, construction, and consumer goods. Without this service, they face traditional production which is expensive for the low quantities of parts they require.

Replique

BASF Forward AM spearheads food safe 3D printing processes

For client Miele, the full integration of Replique’s online platform into its online shop of domestic appliances and commercial equipment is what allowed Miele to make the shift into distributed manufacturing. BASF Forward AM, which is part of Replique’s network of experts was enlisted in this case for its expertise and know-how of all things 3D printing. With a focus on 3D printing materials ranging from filaments to resins and powders, BASF Forward AM also offers an array of services like design, simulation, and post-processing.

3D printing was chosen as the best solution for Miele as the low volume batch production of printed accessories could be produced cost-efficiently and with quick entry into the market. With IDEX technology doubling its production, the significant reduction in printing time and costs makes it an attractive feature for customers. This success with such a big name exemplifies the potential for other manufacturers. 

“IDEX technology means that we can use duplication mode to print in half the time, which saves us money and means we stay competitive in the market.”- María Murga, AM Application Engineer at Replique.

BASF Forward AM

The parts on the online market

From a range of parts integrated into Miele’s shop by Replique and BASF Forward AM, we investigated three innovative components designed to make your domestic chores run smoother. All parts are printed with BASF Forward AM’s filament Ultrafuse® PET, for its ease of use and suitability for food contact. 

BASF Forward AM manufactures a vacuum top called the Borehole Cleaning Aid. Originally posted on Thingiverse, Miele realized its potential when it reached the incredible popularity of around 60.000 downloads by users. When drilling holes, this part sticks to the wall independently and takes away any mess made by the process, making it the easiest way for precision and cleanliness.

Borehole cleaning aid

Another vacuum top is also produced, this time a separator in a pointed shape covered in small holes to protect small parts while vacuuming. This part is ideal for cleaning the inside of your car.

Separator

Last but certainly not least, is the coffee clip: a product to keep your coffee beans fresh and dose them when needed. The most important consideration for the manufacture of this part is that it comes into contact with the coffee beans themselves. This means it is vitally important for it to be food-safe and non-toxic. This involves carrying out precise procedures in order to abide by strict quality control guidelines and safety requirements.

Food safe 3D printing

“The production of parts for food contact must meet the highest safety requirements to ensure that no chemicals migrate from the material into the food to protect human health. For this not only the material has to be food compliant but also the manufacturing process.” – Marius Haefele, Operations Manager AM Services and Solutions at BASF Forward AM. 

The combination of accessibility and quality assurance by Replique with the expertise from BASF Forward AM serves as the perfect example for companies interested in dipping their toes into the world of food safe 3D printing, and for those looking for methods to streamline their production lines. It looks like now is the time to spice up your kitchen with some 3D-printed food safe accessories!

Thank you for reading this brilliant study by BCN3D

Dream 3D is proud to be offering the full 3D Printer range by BCN

We also sell a large range of BCN parts and accessories: Accessories, Upgrades & Spare Parts – Dream 3D

And a large range of Raise 3D filaments: BCN3D Filaments – Dream 3D

If you have an queries regarding this article or if you would like to request a bespoke quote, please contact us at info@dream3d.co.uk / 07789266163

Thanks for reading 🙂

3D Printing Enables Advanced Radiation Medical Treatment

/in , /by

The Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences uses a Pro2 Plus dual-extruder professional 3D printer in its laboratory. The team, led by Dr. Jonah Choi, makes use of the Pro2 Plus to manufacture multiple aids for radiation treatment.

A Reliable Source of Treatment Tools

Traditionally fabricated boluses, materials, and technology do not properly fit the patient’s anatomy, resulting in air gaps between the patient and the bolus. These air gaps can reduce of the amount of the radiation absorbed by the patient skin, ultimately reducing the therapy plan’s effectiveness.

The Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences has implemented an application produce a 3D-printed radiation bolus customized to each patient’s anatomy and geometry, resulting in a tight fit between the skin and the bolus, with no air gap between them.

In addition, the lab can print out a replica of the patient’s body part as a treatment planning model. This ability to 3D-print any shape allows the team to create a planning model with a hole-in model to directly treat the interior area. By contrast, regular experimental tools often cannot produce a part in the needed shape. In these cases, Jonah’s team can create and apply designed prototypes quickly and very conveniently.

Dr. Jonah relies on the stable and accurate output of the Pro2 Plus to print large boluses and visual models for precise treatment, in addition to an improved wearing experience of patients. The 60cm-high build volume of the Pro2 Plus can deliver these parts in one piece and saves Jonah’s team a lot of time that would otherwise be used on assembly work.

Faster Mask Material Experiment

Dr. Jonah’s team is researching the effect of radiation on experimental material, in order to ascertain if they can be used to produce radiation masks. However, these materials are expensive to buy and hard to process. Dr. Jonah decided to simulate them by 3D-printing material with the same basic density or mass. The printed sample will be CT-scanned to illustrate its electron density and uniformity. Raise3D Pro2 Plus’ high heating temperature ensures the team can print these items using a wide range of materials.

Capability for Advanced Research

Raise3D’s slicing software, ideaMaker, enables the Pro2 Plus to deliver experimental tools that can simulate many high levels of detail and accuracy. For example, with the option to lock on a partial model, ideaMaker allows users to define infill rate or density in the desired direction of the experimental object for 3D-printing.

The Future

Dr. Jonah Choi’s team is a classic example among radiation medical applications. They have also found even more value in 3D printing due to some material’s expandability. Their next move is to print flexible and metal materials to use in experiments where the items need to expand. Raise3D printer’s material compatibility, including material from the Open Filament Program, will be crucial in supporting their progress.

Thank you for reading this brilliant article shared by Raise3D’s South Korea reseller, BEYONDTECH.

Dream 3D is proud to be offering Raise 3D Printer Range – Raise 3D Printers – Dream 3D

We also sell a large range of Raise 3D parts and accessories: Accessories, Upgrades & Spare Parts – Dream 3D

And a large range of Raise 3D filaments: Raise 3D| Filaments | Dream 3D

If you have an queries regarding this article or if you would like to request a bespoke quote, please contact us at info@dream3d.co.uk / 07789266163

Thanks for reading 🙂