With unmatched precision and adaptability, manipulator robots have become indispensable in numerous industries reliant on automation. This article outlines their design, components, classifications, applications, and the emerging trends influencing their role in the world of robotics.

What are manipulator robots? Understanding their Design, Types, and Applications

<p id="isPasted">However, in a recent <a data-hook="linkViewer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/71510477/admin/#" rel="noopener noreferrer" tabindex="0" target="_blank">TechBlick</a> talk, as shown in slide 1, &nbsp;Dr&nbsp;<a data-hook="linkViewer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/71510477/admin/#" rel="noopener noreferrer" tabindex="0" target="_blank">Aart-Jan Hoeven</a> showed an example in microfluidics where EHD could delvier value. Here, this technology could enable the electrode widths or pitches to be narrowed from 30-40um (possible with industrial inkjet) to perhaps 1-5um using EHD, thus saving space. This will support the miniaturization trend of microfluidics, making possible to even integrate them into the human body<br><br></p><p>In slide 2&nbsp;<a data-hook="linkViewer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/71510477/admin/#" rel="noopener noreferrer" tabindex="0" target="_blank">DoMicro BV</a> &#39;s laboratory-scale nano printer can be seen in more detail. It is able to deposit ultrafine features digitally! This DM50-ENP printer is generating significant interest and was developed as part of E-Nanoprint-Pro project<br><br></p><p><a data-hook="linkViewer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/71510477/admin/#" rel="noopener noreferrer" tabindex="0" target="_blank">Marcel Grooten</a> <a data-hook="linkViewer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/71510477/admin/#" rel="noopener noreferrer" tabindex="0" target="_blank">Lars Wienholts</a>&nbsp;</p><div data-hook="rcv-block7" type="paragraph"><br></div><p><a href="https://www.techblick.com/blog/hashtags/EHDjet" tabindex="0" target="_self"><strong>#EHDjet</strong></a> <a href="https://www.techblick.com/blog/hashtags/microfluidics" tabindex="0" target="_self"><strong>#microfluidics</strong></a> <a href="https://www.techblick.com/blog/hashtags/printedelectronics" tabindex="0" target="_self"><strong>#printedelectronics</strong></a><strong>&nbsp;</strong><br><br><strong><a href="https://www.techblick.com/post/microfluidics-and-electrohydrodynamic-printing-ehd" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" id="isPasted"></a></strong></p><div data-hook="rcv-block8" type="paragraph">Read more at <a href="https://www.techblick.com/post/microfluidics-and-electrohydrodynamic-printing-ehd" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.techblick.com/post/microfluidics-and-electrohydrodynamic-printing-ehd</a></div><div data-hook="rcv-block9" type="empty-line"><br></div><div data-hook="galleryViewer"><div data-key="pro-gallery-inner-container" tabindex="-1"><div data-hook="item-link-wrapper" data-id="37406add-280f-4f68-a1bb-bd2dc022b75b_0" data-idx="0" tabindex="-1"><div data-hash="37406add-280f-4f68-a1bb-bd2dc022b75b_0" data-hook="item-container" data-id="37406add-280f-4f68-a1bb-bd2dc022b75b_0" data-idx="0" tabindex="0"><div data-hook="item-wrapper"><div data-hook="image-item"><img alt="" data-idx="0" src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1666115384724-1666115384724.png" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></div><div data-hook="item-hover-0"><br></div></div></div></div><div data-hook="item-link-wrapper" data-id="9c1fb8d4-c648-4a48-9d8e-997f4a7c6018_1" data-idx="1" tabindex="-1"><div data-hash="9c1fb8d4-c648-4a48-9d8e-997f4a7c6018_1" data-hook="item-container" data-id="9c1fb8d4-c648-4a48-9d8e-997f4a7c6018_1" data-idx="1" tabindex="-1"><div data-hook="item-wrapper"><div data-hook="image-item"><img alt="" data-idx="1" src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1666115384815-1666115384815.png" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></div><div data-hook="item-hover-1"><br></div></div></div></div><div data-hook="item-link-wrapper" data-id="18101a19-61c3-4dd6-8179-f94a7f25b37c_2" data-idx="2" tabindex="-1"><div data-hash="18101a19-61c3-4dd6-8179-f94a7f25b37c_2" data-hook="item-container" data-id="18101a19-61c3-4dd6-8179-f94a7f25b37c_2" data-idx="2" tabindex="-1"><div data-hook="item-wrapper"><div data-hook="image-item"><img alt="" data-idx="2" src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1666115384906-1666115384906.png" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></div></div></div></div></div></div>

 EHD is a promising digital printing technology for going beyond the resolution limits of inkjet. Most examples showcase electronic or display related applications. 



Microfluidics and Electrohydrodynamic printing (EHD)?

<p dir="ltr" id="isPasted"><em>This article is a part of our <a href="http://www.wevolver.com/student-program" target="_blank">University Technology Exposure Program</a>. The program aims to recognize and reward innovation from engineering students and researchers across the globe.</em></p><p dir="ltr">In this article, we present a summary of the&nbsp;<strong>5</strong>&nbsp;submissions we published in&nbsp;<strong>May 2022</strong>&nbsp;as a part of the event.</p><h2 dir="ltr">Submissions from May 2022</h2><p dir="ltr"><strong>#1. <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/how-3d-printing-technology-be-used-to-fabricate-low-cost-microfluids-on-mm-scale" target="_blank">How 3D-printing technology be used to fabricate low-cost microfluids on mm-scale?</a> By </strong><a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/harry.felton" target="_blank"><strong>Harry Felton</strong></a></p><p dir="ltr">The submission relates to innovation in microfluidics. It&rsquo;s a branch of technology that deals with the control and manipulation of fluid in the order of microLitres or nanoLitres with the help of thin channels. The author explains how additive manufacturing can make experimenting with microfluidics accessible for education and scientific research.&nbsp;</p><p dir="ltr">To ensure that the proposed technique is fully democratized, an open-source Autodesk Fusion add-in has also been developed, allowing any user to design and export interconnecting microfluidic channel scaffolds for 3D printing. By making the technology more accessible, the approach inspires the next generation of research in microfluidics.</p><p dir="ltr">Read the complete article by visiting <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/how-3d-printing-technology-be-used-to-fabricate-low-cost-microfluids-on-mm-scale" target="_blank">this link</a>.</p><p dir="ltr"><strong>#2. <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/phormica-a-functional-and-cost-effective-system-for-stigmergic-coordination-in-swarm-robots" target="_blank">Phormica, a functional and cost-effective system for stigmergic coordination in swarm robots&nbsp;</a>by </strong><a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/garzon.ramos.david" target="_blank"><strong>Garzon Ramos David</strong></a></p><p dir="ltr">Swarm robots are a group of robots that operate in a distributed (but collective) way to accomplish a task they individually can not. Their operation is often reminiscent of how social insects like ants work. To coordinate among the other members of the same species, insects change their environment by leaving chemicals (known as pheromone) to pass on some message.</p><p dir="ltr">The author of this article presents the concept of phormica, a system that enables swarm robots to leave artificial pheromones to achieve stigmergic coordination and perform significantly better than the swarms that rely on other collective behaviors to carry out their tasks.</p><p dir="ltr">Find out more about the idea <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/phormica-a-functional-and-cost-effective-system-for-stigmergic-coordination-in-swarm-robots" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p dir="ltr"><strong>#3. <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/bio-inspired-tissue-transportation-system-an-alternative-to-aspiration-based-devices-in-mis" target="_blank">Bio-inspired tissue transportation system, an alternative to aspiration-based devices in MIS</a> by </strong><a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/aimee.sakes" target="_blank"><strong>Aimee Sakes</strong></a></p><p dir="ltr">Minimally invasive surgeries provide surgeons with a means to carry out the operation with small cuts. The key benefits of minimally invasive surgeries are: they cause less pain to the patient; patients can recover quicker, reducing the burden on the hospitals; they are also considered safer.</p><p dir="ltr">The article presents a concept of a tissue transportation system inspired by the egg-laying needle, also known as the ovipositor, of some species of parasitic wasp. As the adoption of minimally invasive surgeries increases, the proposed prototype might fill the need for longer and thinner transportation instruments in the future.</p><p dir="ltr">Continue reading by following <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/bio-inspired-tissue-transportation-system-an-alternative-to-aspiration-based-devices-in-mis" target="_blank">this link</a>.</p><p dir="ltr"><strong>#4. <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/reducing-the-noise-emission-from-an-aircraft-engine-at-its-source/" target="_blank">Reducing the noise emission from an aircraft engine at its source</a> by </strong><a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/christopher.teruna" target="_blank"><strong>Christopher Teruna</strong></a></p><p dir="ltr">Even though modern aircraft have become much quieter than before, the number of flights have significantly increased over the last two decades. This has given rise to a widespread problem of airplane-induced noise pollution, which is most dominant in areas near airports.</p><p dir="ltr">This article presents a detailed review of the sources of noise within the aircraft and proposes some solutions that can fix the problem. Christopher, the author of the article, writes about using porous material for building the tips of aircraft wings to bring down the overall sound power level. The idea seems promising, and hence, more investigations are required to identify the relationship between the physical aspects of a porous material and their impact on sound generation. Once the characteristics of the application are better understood, it would be possible to manufacture tailor-made porous parts for different aircraft components.</p><p dir="ltr">For more details, check out the <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/reducing-the-noise-emission-from-an-aircraft-engine-at-its-source/" target="_blank">complete article</a>.</p><p dir="ltr"><strong>#5. <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/project-march-improving-the-quality-of-life-for-people-with-spinal-cord-injuries/" target="_blank">Project MARCH: Improving the Quality of Life for People with Spinal Cord Injuries</a> by </strong><a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/ianthe.rijpkema" target="_blank"><strong>Ianthe Rijpkema</strong></a></p><p dir="ltr">Spinal cord injuries are considered very serious due to the presence of multiple nerves that carry messages between the brain and other parts of the body. Injuries to the spine can cause paralysis or loss of sensation below the site of injury. Suffering from a spinal cord injury significantly reduces the satisfaction with life.</p><p dir="ltr">To help patients stand up on their feet again, Project MARCH aims to build an exoskeleton that can be used in day-to-day life. The use of an exoskeleton comes with medical benefits and increased user satisfaction. Each year, as a part of Project MARCH, students strive to solve new challenges and improve on the existing state of the technology. The team behind the project, has made the software open-source and is striving to make hardware open-source as well for the greater good.&nbsp;</p><p dir="ltr">To read the article, visit <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/project-march-improving-the-quality-of-life-for-people-with-spinal-cord-injuries/" target="_blank">this link</a>.</p><h2 dir="ltr"><em>About the University Technology Exposure Program 2022</em></h2><p dir="ltr"><em>Wevolver, in partnership with <a href="https://mouser.com/" target="_blank">Mouser Electronics</a> and <a href="https://www.ansys.com/academic" target="_blank">Ansys</a>, is excited to announce the launch of the University Technology Exposure Program 2022. The program aims to recognize and reward innovation from engineering students and researchers across the globe. Learn more about the program <a href="http://www.wevolver.com/student-program" target="_blank">here</a>.</em></p><p><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1655204331399-1655204331399.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></p><p><br></p>

With articles related to Microfluidics, Swarm Robotics, Biomedical Instruments, Aviation, and more, University Technology Exposure Program saw another fantastic month of project showcases by student researchers.

University Technology Exposure Program 2022: May Update

<p>This article was discussed in our <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte&source=gmail&ust=1651619086659000&usg=AOvVaw31M1Y-wsRw4c0h8-at-VxZ" href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Next Byte podcast</a>.&nbsp;</p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/e2238814-9212-4010-afb6-ac48d637140f?dark=false" class="fr-draggable" data-gtm-yt-inspected-1_19="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe></span></p><p>The full article will continue below.</p><hr><p id="isPasted">Watching a bird like an ostrich running reveals a locomotive mechanism far closer to a creature like the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex than the human leg, and few could doubt its efficacy &mdash; leading a team at the Dynamic Locomotion Group of the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) to wonder if current approaches for bipedal robot designs could benefit from being more bird.</p><p>&ldquo;No current bipedal robot can run quickly, untethered, in natural environments over long distances,&rdquo; the researchers explain in a recently-published paper. &ldquo;However, these activities are commonplace for terrestrial animals. Paradoxically, animals vastly outperform current robots despite considerably slower sensing and information transfer rates.&rdquo;</p><h1>Inspired by, and defining, nature</h1><p>Before you can take inspiration from bird locomotion, however, you need to ascertain why it&rsquo;s so effective &mdash; and that&rsquo;s not necessarily an easy task. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not the nervous system, it&rsquo;s not electrical impulses, it&rsquo;s not muscle activity,&rdquo; claims senior author Alexander Badri-Spr&ouml;witz. &quot;We hypothesized a new function of the foot-leg coupling through a network of muscles and tendons that extends across multiple joints.</p><p>&ldquo;These multi-joint muscle-tendon coordinate foot folding in the swing phase. In our robot, we have implemented the coupled mechanics in the leg and foot, which enables energy-efficient and robust robot walking. Our results demonstrating this mechanism in a robot lead us to believe that similar efficiency benefits also hold true for birds.&rdquo;</p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wwH40rYJt9g?&wmode=opaque&rel=0&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://www.wevolver.com" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-gtm-yt-inspected-1_19="true" id="501349169"></iframe></span><br>Dubbed BirdBot, the resulting design is used to prove the team&rsquo;s hypothesis in two directions: firstly that taking inspiration from the leg of a bird can boost the performance of a bipedal robot while simultaneously boosting energy efficiency; and secondly using the resulting robot design to determine the aspects of the leg which contribute most to the efficiency of its living inspiration.</p><p>Each leg of the BirdBot design uses just two actuator motors, with a traditional third replaced by a clever joint system featuring a joint based on intrinsic engaging and disengaging abilities. As the robot&rsquo;s foot touches the ground and experiences load, the joint system tenses and stiffens to support the weight; as it&rsquo;s lifted off and swung, a bi-stable snap-through joint driven by elastically-stored energy unlocks the leg into a slack configuration.</p><h1>Simply better</h1><p>The BirdBot approach comes with a host of improvements over traditional designs, its creators claim. The most immediately obvious: It&rsquo;s electronically simpler, using only two motors and with no need for on-board sensing or complicated control circuitry. Instead, the leg itself handles locking and unlocking automatically &mdash; and can even handle stabilization using a single feed-forward motor command.</p><p>Its biggest enhancement: Efficiency. Compared to the Cheetah-Cub design published back in 2013, BirdBot requires around a quarter of the energy for locomotion &mdash; putting its performance within the range, its creators say, of &ldquo;an animal of equivalent weight.&rdquo;</p><p><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 302px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQ5ODY0MDM4NzU4LWJpcmRib3QzLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A picture of the BirdBot prototype, seen next to a diagram making its major parts including knee and hip motors and the tendons which allow it to engage and disengage a clutch-like leg. Further photographs are given of the robot being tested on a treadmill with tethered guidance."><span class="fr-inner">The 3D-printed BirdBot prototype operates with just two motors per leg, relying on a mechanical &quot;clutch&quot; system inspired by birds&#39; legs for the remainder of its operation.</span></span></span></p><p>&ldquo;Previously, our robots had to work against the spring or with a motor either when standing or when pulling the leg up, to prevent the leg from colliding with the ground during leg swing. This energy input is not necessary in BirdBot&rsquo;s legs,&rdquo; Badri-Spr&ouml;witz, who also led the Cheetah-Cub team, explains.</p><p>Other advantages claimed in the paper detailing BirdBot&rsquo;s design include the ability to stand upright through torque loading, with all actuators unpowered &mdash; &ldquo;reminiscent,&rdquo; say its creators, &ldquo;of a flamingo standing while sleeping&rdquo; &mdash; and of being highly scalable, with one prototype created during the work standing 1.75m (around 5.7 feet) tall and able to hold the weight of a human being.</p><p>&ldquo;On the basis of our analysis and physical demonstrations,&rdquo; the team concludes, &ldquo;we suggest that BirdBot&rsquo;s leg design can become a blueprint for large legged machines.&rdquo;</p><p><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 302px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQ5ODY0MDUyNDkwLWJpcmRib3Q0LmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Photographs showing the small BirdBot prototype next to an unpowered large-scale 1.75m version based on the same principles. A researcher is seen placing his weight on the leg in its standing position, then stepping off to the floor and lifting the leg to its swinging position."><span class="fr-inner">A large-scale version of the leg proved capable of holding the weight of an adult human &mdash; and its creators say it could be scaled up still further.</span></span></span></p><p>That&rsquo;s not to say their work is finished, however. The current motorized BirdBot prototype, which uses off-the-shelf actuators fitted to a 3D-printed trunk and legs, has been tested on a treadmill with tethered guidance.</p><p>To create a version capable of standing freely and moving in three dimensions will require further research to prevent pitching, potentially involving a revised design or a shift to hip-only actuation. While operable without sensor input, the team also suggests that an investigation into how the clutch mechanism could be used alongside direct actuation and sensory feedback control to &ldquo;merge the benefits of both systems.&rdquo;</p><p>The team&rsquo;s work has been published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.abg4055" target="_blank"><cite>Science Robotics</cite></a>, with an open-access version available via author referral <a href="https://is.mpg.de/publications/bb01" target="_blank">on the MPI publication page</a>.</p><h1>References</h1><p>Alexander Badri-Spr&ouml;witz, Alborz Aghamaleki Sarvestani, Metin Sitti, and Monica A. Daley: <cite>BirdBot achieves energy-efficient gait with minimal control using avian-inspired leg clutching, Science Robotics Vol. 7 Iss. 64</cite>. DOI <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/scirobotics.abg4055" target="_blank">10.1126/scirobotics.abg4055</a>.</p><p>Alexander Badri-Spr&ouml;witz (as Alexander Spr&ouml;witz), Alexandre Tuleu, Massimo Vespignani, Mostafa Ajallooeian, Emilie Badri, and Auke Jan Ijspeert: <cite>Towards dynamic trot gait locomotion: Design, control, and experiments with Cheetah-cub, a compliant quadruped robot, The International Journal of Robotics Research Vol. 32 Iss. 8</cite>. DOI <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0278364913489205" target="_blank">10.1177/0278364913489205</a>.</p>

The prototype motorized BirdBot, seen here with legs in the locked position, uses a quarter the energy of its immediate predecessor.

Created by the Dynamic Locomotion Group at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS), BirdBot serves two purposes: Demonstrating a more efficient bipedal robot design, and furthering our understanding of how birds' legs work.

BirdBot, a 3D-printed bipedal robot, offers major efficiency gains through avian biomimicry

<p dir="ltr" id="isPasted"><em>This article is a part of our <a href="http://www.wevolver.com/student-program" target="_blank">University Technology Exposure Program</a>. The program aims to recognize and reward innovation from engineering students and researchers across the globe.&nbsp;</em></p><h2 dir="ltr">About the project</h2><p dir="ltr">Woodpeckers have flexible and extendable tongues that they use to reach their prey through tiny openings in trees and insect burrows (Fig. 1). A robotic manipulator with these capabilities would be advantageous. For example, this kind of manipulator would be able to reach a product on the back of a cluttered shelf (Fig. 2). Such a concept is promising for applications that require picking and handling actions in unstructured environments, but to date only exists in science fiction and fantasy (e.g., Doctor Octopus in Marvel's Spider-Man).</p><p dir="ltr"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dii"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQ1MjA2MTg3OTg5LTE2NDUyMDYxODc5ODkucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" class="fr-fic fr-dii" alt="woodpecker-tongue"><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">Fig. 1: Woodpeckers prey worms through tiny openings in trees by using their surprisingly long tongue</span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dii"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQ1MjA2MTg4NTkyLTE2NDUyMDYxODg1OTIucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" class="fr-fic fr-dii" alt="traditional-robots-soft-robots"><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">Fig.2: Extendable and bendable robotic arm can access hard-to-reach targets while avoiding obstracles</span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr">Continuum robots are those with manipulators that are inspired by the lightweight and flexible structures of animals such as an octopus-arm and elephant trunk. Although some of them can bend and extend their body in any direction (e.g., FESTO-Bionic Handling Assistant), they lack stiffness and restrict their applications, particularly those which require the grabbing and carrying of heavy objects. They also limit the extension distance, only about twice the maximum body length.</p><p dir="ltr"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D7BvPoO5k0g?&amp;ab_channel=AyatoKanada&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;origin=https://www.wevolver.com" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0"></iframe></span><br>To address this problem, we focused on a woodpecker tongue. Woodpeckers have unique anatomical features that manipulate their surprisingly long tongues. Unlike the human and anteater tongues, which are made mainly of muscle, the woodpecker's tongue is rigidly supported by the bones (Fig. 3). To store the long tongue inside a small head, it passes under the base of the jaw and wraps around the back and top of the head.</p><p dir="ltr"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dii" style="width: 756px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQ1MjA2MTg3OTU3LTE2NDUyMDYxODc5NTcucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" class="fr-fic fr-dii" alt="anatomy-woodpecker-tongue"><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">Fig. 3: Anatomy of a woodpecker tongue [1]</span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr">To reproduce these functions, we designed a robot manipulator that can substantially extend its length and bend its shape in 2D space (Fig. 4). This behavior is enabled by a backbone consisting of a chain of rigid joints and two flexible rack gears. The joints increase the payload by structurally supporting the robot. The proposed structure is 4.7 times stronger in vertical bending and 6.2 times stronger in torsion than without rigid links. Feeding the rack gears at the same and different speeds allows the robot to elongate and bend, respectively. Our robot has a long extension distance that depends on the length of the tongue. In addition, the manipulator body can be stored inside a small space (see the attached video).</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dii" style="width: 756px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQ1MjA2MTg4MTQ1LTE2NDUyMDYxODgxNDUucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" class="fr-fic fr-dii" alt="proposed-mechanism-woodpecker-inspired-robotic-arm"><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">Fig. 4: Schematic diagram of the proposed mechanism. (a) Overview. (b) Backbone. (c) Driving unit. [1]</span></span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr">Problems solved by the project</h2><p dir="ltr">To illustrate the importance of this project, one should think of a conventional robot's arms or legs, for instance. Rigid manipulators designed to be stiff to achieve precise and repetitive position control are helpful in well-defined and structured environments, primarily manufacturing factories. However, they struggle to operate in unstructured environments such as homes and open fields. This is a fundamental problem in robotics because of its limited ability to accurately recognize the surrounding environment and contact/deal with objects in the right way, and overcoming it will be a milestone.</p><p dir="ltr">Our project leads to realizing systems that are safer, cheaper, and more adaptable than the level that traditional robots can achieve. In our mechanism, the extending actuation allows robots to select a safe path that serial manipulators cannot follow, as shown in Fig. 2. The inherent compliance of our manipulator is safe to an unexpected impact and provides environmental adaptability. We believe that this technology could be used for search and rescue, agricultural, space, maintenance, cleaning, and other applications.</p><h2 dir="ltr">The present state of the art</h2><p dir="ltr">Soft robots (or continuum robots) have gained a significant amount of traction over a decade to overcome rigid robot problems, but their applications are limited. The main reason for this is that while material softness provides safety and adaptability, it also reduces the stiffness and payload. On the other hand, soft robots without rigid components cannot lift heavy loads regardless of their exertion force. Variable stiffness mechanisms to temporarily stiffen soft materials have attracted much attention in the past few years, but they are not suitable for manipulators because robots cannot operate during hardening.</p><h2 dir="ltr">Team working on the project</h2><p dir="ltr">This research has mainly been conducted by Ryota Matsuda, a master-course student, Ujjal Mavinkurve, a master-course student, and Ayato Kanada, an assistant professor at Kyushu University. Our next step is to extend our manipulator into three dimensions to make it look like a real Doctor Octopus's tentacle.</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dii" style="width: 756px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQ1MjA2MTg3Nzg2LTE2NDUyMDYxODc3ODYucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" class="fr-fic fr-dii" alt="woodpecker-inspired-robotic-arm-condept-3D"><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">Fig. 5: Concept of a robotic arm that can bend and extend in 3D space</span></span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr">Conclusion</h2><p dir="ltr">The unique design and build of the novel robotic arm combine the benefits of both conventional rigid robotics and soft robots. Robotic hands that can operate in unstructured environments can unlock multiple opportunities for application in biomedical instrumentation, manufacturing, space research, agriculture, and numerous other fields of engineering.</p><h2 dir="ltr"><em>About the University Technology Exposure Program 2022</em></h2><p dir="ltr"><em>Wevolver, in partnership with <a href="https://mouser.com/" target="_blank">Mouser Electronics</a> and&nbsp;</em><a href="https://www.ansys.com/academic" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em><em>Ansys</em></em></a><em>&nbsp;is excited to announce the launch of the University Technology Exposure Program 2022. The program aims to recognize and reward innovation from engineering students and researchers across the globe. Learn more about the program <a href="http://www.wevolver.com/student-program" target="_blank">here</a>.</em></p><p dir="ltr"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQ1NTUxOTgxNDIwLUJyb3VnaHQgdG8geW91IGJ5ICgxKS5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" class="fr-fic fr-dii" alt="Wevolver-Mouser-University-Technology-Exposure-Program"></p><h2 dir="ltr">Reference</h2><p dir="ltr">[1] R. Matsuda, U. Mavinkurve, A. Kanada, K. Honda, Y. Nakashima, M. Yamamoto, "A Woodpecker's Tongue-inspired, Bendable and Extendable Robot Manipulator with Structural Stiffness," IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (RA-L), Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 3334-3341.</p>

The robot arm, which is inspired by a woodpecker's tongue, can be extended many times its length, bent into an S-shape, and stored in a small space, like Doctor Octopus from the Spider-Man series.

Design inspiration from woodpeckers could allow robotic arms to be bendable and extendable

<p>FullControl GCode Designer is new open-source and free software for the unconstrained design of additive manufacturing print paths and related aspects of the manufacturing plan.</p><p><strong>Challenge</strong></p><p>The conventional workflow for additive manufacturing is to develop a CAD model, convert it to triangulated STL surface geometry, slice that model into layers, identify the print path for each layer, and output a manufacturing file (GCode). Each stage introduces errors and limitations.</p><p><strong>Solution</strong></p><p>In contrast, FullControl GCode Designer (www.fullcontrolgcode.com) turns this whole process on its head. Rather than creating a CAD model and then determining how to move a print head around to simply fill the required 3D volume, FullControl GCode Designer allows the precise print path to be designed directly. This provides unparalleled design freedom and epitomizes the concept of Design for Additive Manufacturing. It allows the designer to think “What can I produce by moving a nozzle with a controlled extrusion rate?” which can allow dramatically different structures to those seen conventionally.</p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KlxuZ5JnA0k?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 789px; height: 441px;"></iframe></span></p><p><strong>Results</strong></p><p>FullControl allows unlimited exploration of 3D space for printing and of the potential capabilities of 3D printers. It’s been used to print single extrusions 10x wider than the nozzle diameter and other extrusions 10x narrower than the nozzle diameter. That means a 100-fold difference in design resolution of fully dense extrusions is possible from a single system, which is entirely incomparable with conventional additive manufacturing print paths. It’s an example of how FullControl GCode Designer encourages innovative thinking beyond the general design rules, which are actually based on principles of printing with slicer software rather than the true capabilities of 3D printing hardware. Similarly, creating structures with innovative texture and porosity is possible when explicitly designing the 3D movement of the nozzle whilst extruding.</p><table style="width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 50.0000%;"><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 300px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjIwOTgyNjAwOTc0LVN0cmluZyBleGFtcGxlLnBuZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">String Example 10x Narrower</span></span></span><p class="fr-img-space-wrap2">&nbsp;</p></div></td><td style="width: 50.0000%;"><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 300px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjIwOTgyNjIzOTA0LTEweCB3aWR0aCBleGFtcGxlLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="10x Width Example String Structure"><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">10x Width Example String Structure</span></span></span><p class="fr-img-space-wrap2">&nbsp;</p></div></td></tr><tr><td style="width: 50.0000%;"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 300px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjIwOTgyODE3MjQzLVJhbWVuIGV4YW1wbGUuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">Noodle-Like Structure Example</span></span></span><br></td><td style="width: 50.0000%;"><br><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 300px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjIwOTgyOTQwNTg1LVJpcHBsZSB0ZXh0dXJlIGV4YW1wbGUuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">Ripple-Like Texture</span></span></span><p class="fr-img-space-wrap2">&nbsp;</p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sj3Nqtjfw0Q?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 789px; height: 598px;"></iframe></span></p><p>FullControl GCode Designer is applicable for a wide range of designs and applications. It’s been used to print highly controlled simple structures for material characterization as well as complex mathematical forms, in-situ process monitoring, hybrid manufacturing, and production runs &gt;1000. The benefits apply to structures designed and printed at the microscale, such as medical stents, to those at the other end of the spectrum such as large-format polymer and concrete 3D printing. Materials printed with FullControl include thermopolymers, ceramics, silicone, conductive metal inks, biological cell-laden hydrogels, fibre-reinforce polymers and many more materials. Wherever a print path is used, FullControl GCode Designer is relevant because the benefits translate across material systems and size scales.</p><p><br></p><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 300px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjIwOTgyOTkxNjEwLVN0ZW50IGV4YW1wbGUuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">Stent Example</span></span></span><p class="fr-img-space-wrap2"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lWHxT3HQ4Wo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 789px; height: 465px;"></iframe></span>&nbsp;</p></div><p><strong>Major Benefits of the FullControl GCode Designer are</strong></p><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="584"></table><ul><li><strong>Quality</strong> - the ability to optimize all aspects of the printing procedure to maximize quality, reliability and speed, and overcome any challenges associated with a specific material, printing system or part design.</li><li>Design file<strong>&nbsp;efficiency</strong> - the design file for the sinusoidal shoe sole concept in the image below requires about 1KB of data, whilst also allowing full parametric adjustment of the size and shape, whereas an STL file (nonparametric) of a similar model may require 1000000 times more data.</li><li>3D print paths and <strong>previously impossible structures</strong> – the stent in the image above was printed with continuous vertical extrusion (see the video below)</li><li><strong>Hybrid manufacturing</strong> and <strong>multi-tool processes</strong> – FullControl facilitates the use of multiple tools and auxiliary equipment. Explicit design of tool movement paths eliminates the challenges of tool-part collisions during hybrid manufacturing and allows advanced manufacturing activities such as in-situ process monitoring.</li><li>The software is <strong>entirely free</strong> and requires <strong>no installation</strong>. It’s integrated into Excel, which is used as an extremely powerful user interface (enabling Excel’s broad functions to be used in design parameters). No CAD software or software licences are required.</li></ul><p><br></p><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 300px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjIwOTgzMDUxNTQ5LVNob2Vzb2xlLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">Sinusoidal Shoe Sole Example</span></span></span><p class="fr-img-space-wrap2">&nbsp;</p></div><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e68Vc69yAo8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 789px; height: 469px;"></iframe></span><br></p><p>For a detailed demonstration of the design workflow, see the technical introduction video (20 mins)&nbsp;</p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable fr-active" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yGtyw3oLOVQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 791px; height: 437px;"></iframe></span></p><p>More information and other tutorials are available at <a href="//www.fullcontrolgcode.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.fullcontrolgcode.com</a></p><hr><p>CREATE Education would like to thank Andrew Gleadall for taking the time to share his work in research focusing on biomedical polymers and additive manufacturing at Loughborough University.</p><p>To learn more about additive manufacturing solutions and how CREATE Education can help and support your University research visit <a href="https://www.createeducation.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.createeeducation.com</a> or speak to our specialists at <a href="mailto:enquries@createeducation.com" rel="noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">enquries@createeducation.com</a>.</p>

Ripple texture printed using the a simple print-path design, using a parametric FullControl design file.

Andy Gleadall, Lecturer at Loughborough University develops FullControl GCode Designer in the hope to empower people to do the impossible with scripts and slicers.

Open-Source Software for Unconstrained Design in Additive Manufacturing

<p>Julio Aleman, a Bioengineering PhD student at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering is performing research in microphysiological systems.</p><p>Like many researchers, Aleman needed a microwell array system with individual wells that have a specific size, shape and density. In fact, Aleman needed two different microwell arrays that would support the injection moulding of hydrogels and serve as “master moulds” – the original moulds that he could replicate. In turn, these replicate moulds would be used for microwell fabrication.</p><p><br></p><p><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 300px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1605869692139-PittsburghCaseStudy2.png"><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">Hydrogel mould of 484-microwell array</span></span></span></p><p>To produce master moulds like this, photolithography (optical lithography or UV lithography) is often used. The process begins by spin coating a negative photoresist on a wafer to establish mould thickness and microwell depth. Photopatterning is achieved by light exposure through specialised high-resolution masks and finalised by chemical development of the master mould. Then, replicas of the master mould are made by casting pre-polymers over the negative template and polymerising them by thermal curing.</p><p>Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) silicone is the biocompatible polymer that is most often used. Typically, the production of master moulds and masks requires specialised facilities and equipment. Micro-injection moulding can also produce master moulds, but the tooling is expensive and time-consuming to produce.</p><p><br></p><h1><strong>An Alternative to Clean Room Photolithographic and Injection Moulding</strong></h1><p>Projection Micro Stereolithography (PμSL) from Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF) allows for the rapid photo-polymerisation of a layer of resin with a flash of ultraviolet (UV) light at micro-scale resolution. PμSL offers an alternative to photosoft lithography, etching, deposition, micro-injection moulding, and other traditional microfabrication methods.</p><p>PμSL, a form of micro 3D printing, can produce small components with fine features and tight tolerances that are otherwise impossible to create. PμSL is capable of achieving a resolution of 2µm~50µm and a tolerance of +/- 5µm~25µm, thus providing ultra-high-resolution that is mould-free and mask-free for fast prototyping and end-use parts. </p><p><br></p><h1><strong>Project Requirements for Two Master Moulds</strong></h1><p>The University of Pittsburgh project needed master moulds for replicate silicone moulds that, in turn, would be used to make biomaterial-based microwells. Normally, master moulds require a cleanroom and can be challenging to characterise. Researchers can’t perform profilometer measurements until the moulds are baked, and a mould with the wrong dimensions means lost time and money.</p><p>Julio Aleman’s project required fast turnaround times and high-volume production. Accuracy, resolution, and precision were critically important. Several PDMS replicas that were cured at 80° Celsius were needed and the repeated processes on the master mould had to have little to no impact on the dimensions while the master mould was also securely fixed in a substrate. Aleman knew that he would need moulds in two different sizes, and that the silicone moulds should allow for the bottoms of the hydrogel micro-wells to have constant and defined amounts of biomaterial once injected and polymerized onto a glass slide. After some preliminary discussions, he ordered parts from BMF.</p><p>The master moulds that the University of Pittsburgh asked BMF to produce were square with a defined hole–pattern. The first mould was for a 64-microwell array. It had an overall area of 20 mm x 20 mm and a thickness of 1.65 mm. The diameter for each hole and the distance between holes was 600 microns, or 0.6 mm, and the base of each of the microwells had a height of 50 microns from the surface. The second mould was for a 484-microwell array. The overall area was the same as for the first mould (20 mm x 20 mm), but the thickness for the second mould was significantly less at 1 mm. There were also more holes – and the holes were smaller. These wells measured just 150 microns, or 0.15 mm, in diameter with a similar base height of 50 microns.</p><p>3D printed mould for 64-microwell array</p><p><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 300px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1605869775020-PittsburghCaseStudy3.png"><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">3D printed mould for 64-microwell array</span></span></span></p><p><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 300px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1605869800497-PittsburghCaseStudy4.png"><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">3D printed mould for 484-microwell array</span></span></span></p><h1><strong>Expert Advice and Flexible Material Selection</strong></h1><p>BMF’s application team reviewed the designs for the University of Pittsburgh moulds. They recommended increasing the thickness of the second mould to greater than 1 mm. Otherwise, a mould that is too thin may experience part distortion or internal stresses during the printing process. Aleman revised the thickness and BMF then created sample parts using GR resin, a high-performance engineering material that is black in colour, able to withstand temperatures up to 102°C, and that supports sterilising.</p><p>Because the COVID-19 pandemic limited Aleman’s access to university facilities, the graduate researcher limited his mould evaluation to microscopy. In turn, this meant that parts made of a dark resin would be more difficult to inspect. To support microscopic techniques, Aleman needed a resin that would allow more light to pass through so that the features of the resin mould could be more clearly seen. The solution was to use an HLT resin instead. This yellow resin from BMF offers greater transparency but still provides good impact strength, heat resistance, and support for autoclave sterilisation.</p><h1><br></h1><h1><strong>Speed, Accuracy and More</strong></h1><p><strong>&nbsp;</strong>Julio Aleman was pleased with the quick lead time – the moulds were delivered in just two weeks. Instead of waiting months to get a single injection-mould, he could provide a master mould to each member of the research team. The moulds also exhibited dimensional stability and, unlike spin coating in photolithography, did not require multiple fabrication steps. After hard baking some master moulds in an oven overnight, Aleman attached them to a surface with double-sided electrical tape. The moulds experienced only a 10 to 20-micrometre reduction in size, and that may have been caused by pressing the moulds against the surface or the tape while the moulds were still malleable from baking.</p><p>Aleman also reported that after approximately 10 cycles of PDMS moulding, the BMF master moulds did not exhibit any bending or deformation. To prevent sticking, the replicate moulds were salinated with Vapor Phase Deposition (VPD). This treatment, which is also used with the SU8 moulds in photolithography, permitted the easy detachment of the PDMS moulds from the BMF master moulds. Aleman reported that the master mould with the larger features was easily salinated over one hour of exposure while the mould with smaller features required five hours or overnight exposure.</p><p><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 300px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1605869860170-PittsburghCaseStudy5.png"><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">PDMS replica of 64-microwell array</span></span></span></p><p><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 300px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1605869888883-PittsburghCaseStudy6.png"><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">PDMS replica of 484-microwell array</span></span></span></p><h1><br></h1><h1><strong>Proof-of-Concept for Your Next Project&nbsp;</strong></h1><p>As the University of Pittsburgh project demonstrates, researchers can use micro 3D printing to speed microwell array fabrication. If your application requires proof-of-concept parts such as master moulds, BMF can harness the power of PμSL technology on your behalf. We can also help you with material selection and recommend the best microArch printer from our growing family of ultra-high resolution 3D printers.</p><p>In an exclusive partnership with BMF, CREATE Education are sharing their knowledge, support and experience, to bring micro 3D printing technology to the forefront of their education community in the UK and Ireland, enabling breakthrough research and development.</p><p>CREATE Education are committed to supporting educators, educational institutions, outreach and community programs with the aim to bring cutting edge technologies throughout the world, such as 3D printers, into education.</p><p>To learn more about PμSL technology and micro 3D Printing for research, please contact <a href="https://bit.ly/ContactCREATEEd" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CREATE Education’s specialists</a>.</p>

Julio Aleman, a Bioengineering PhD student needed two different microwell array system with individual wells that would support injection moulding of hydrogels and serve as “master moulds”

University of Pittsburgh Speeds Microwell Fabrication with Micro 3D Printing

<p><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1570180135315-cell-quality-control-010.jpg" style="width: 667px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></p><p><em>Georgia Tech graduate research assistant Mason Chilmonczyk examines a device after a plasma etch step in a reactive ion etching tool. The work was being done in the Institute of Electronics and Nanotechnology&rsquo;s Marcus Building clean room. (Credit: Rob Felt, Georgia Tech)&nbsp;</em></p><p>Researchers have demonstrated an integrated technique for monitoring specific biomolecules &ndash; such as growth factors &ndash; that could indicate the health of living cell cultures produced for the burgeoning field of cell-based therapeutics.&nbsp;</p><p>Using microfluidic technology to advance the preparation of samples from the chemically complex bioreactor environment, the researchers have harnessed electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) to provide online monitoring that they believe will provide for therapeutic cell production the kind of precision quality control that has revolutionized other manufacturing processes.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;The way that the production of cell therapeutics is done today is very much an art,&rdquo; said&nbsp;<a href="http://www.me.gatech.edu/faculty/fedorov" target="_blank">Andrei Fedorov</a>, Woodruff Professor in the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.me.gatech.edu/" target="_blank">George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering</a> at the Georgia Institute of Technology. &ldquo;Process control must evolve very quickly to support the therapeutic applications that are emerging from bench science today. We think this technology will help us reach the goal of making these exciting cell-based therapies widely available.&rdquo;</p><p>By measuring very low concentrations of specific compounds secreted or excreted by cells, the technique could also help identify which biomolecules &ndash; of widely varying sizes &ndash; should be monitored to guide the control of cell health. Ultimately, the researchers hope to integrate their label-free monitoring directly into high-volume bioreactors that will produce cells in quantities large enough to make the new therapies available at a reasonable cost and consistent quality.</p><p>Development of the Dynamic Mass Spectrometry Probe (DMSP) was supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center for Cell Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT), which is headquartered at Georgia Tech. The work was reported September 10 in the journal <em>Biotechnology and Bioengineering</em>.</p><p><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1570180203826-cell-quality-control-007.jpg" style="width: 676px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></p><p><em>Georgia Tech graduate research assistant Mason Chilmonczyk prepares to fabricate a Dynamic Mass Spectrometry Probe in the Institute of Electronics and Nanotechnology&rsquo;s Marcus Building clean room. (Credit: Rob Felt, Georgia Tech) </em></p><p>Traditional ESI-MS techniques have revolutionized analytical chemistry by allowing precise identification of complex biological compounds. Because of complex sample preparation requirements, existing approaches to ESI-MS require too much time to be useful for continuous monitoring of cell growth in bioreactors, where maintaining narrow parameters for specific indicators of cellular health is critical. Biological samples also contain salts, which must be removed before introduction into the ESI-MS system.</p><p>To accelerate the analytical process, Fedorov and a team that included graduate research assistant Mason Chilmonczyk and research engineer Peter Kottke used microfluidic technology to help separate compounds of interest from the salts. Salt removal uses a monolithic device in which a size-selective membrane with nanoscale pores is placed between two fluid flows, one the chemically complex sample drawn from the bioreactors and the other salt-free water with conditioning compounds.&nbsp;</p><p>The smaller salt molecules readily diffuse out of the sampled bioreactor flow through the nanopores, while the larger biomolecules mostly remain for the subsequent ESI-MS analysis. Meanwhile, chemical additives are at the same time introduced into the sample mixture through the same membrane nanopores to enhance ionization of the target biomolecules in the sampled mixture for improved ESI-MS analysis.</p><p>&ldquo;We have used advanced microfabrication techniques to create a microfluidic device that will be able to treat samples in less than a minute,&rdquo; said Chilmonczyk. &ldquo;Traditional sample preparation can require hours to days.&rdquo;</p><p>The process can currently remove as much as 99 percent of the salt, while retaining 80 percent of the biomolecules. Introduction of the conditioning chemicals allows the molecules to accept a greater charge, improving the capability of the mass spectrometer to detect low concentration biomolecules, and to measure large molecules.</p><p>&ldquo;We can detect really high molecular weight molecules that the mass spectrometer normally wouldn&rsquo;t be able to detect,&rdquo; Fedorov said. &ldquo;The size difference in the molecules of interest can be dramatic, so the improvement in the limit of detection across a broad range of analyte molecular weights will allow this technique to be more useful in cell manufacturing.&rdquo;</p><p>Because they use state of the art microfabrication techniques, the DMSP devices can be mass produced, allowing sampling to be scaled up to include multiple bioreactors at low cost. The small size of the device channels &ndash; which are just five microns tall &ndash; allows the system to produce results with samples as small as 20 nanoliters &ndash; with the potential for reducing that to as little as a single nanoliter.</p><p>&ldquo;We need to monitor small concentrations of large biomolecules in this messy environment in a production line in such a way that we can check at any point how the cells are doing,&rdquo; Fedorov said. &ldquo;This system could continuously monitor whether certain molecules are excreted or secreted at a reduced or increased rate. By correlating these measurements with cell health and potency, we could improve the manufacturing process.&rdquo;</p><p>Before the analytical techniques can be applied to quality control, the researchers must first identify biomolecules that indicate health of the growing cells. By sampling the bioreactor content locally in the immediate vicinity of cells and allowing identification of very small quantities of biochemicals, the DMSP technology can help researchers identify changes in molecular concentrations &ndash; which range from pico-molar to micro-molar &ndash; that may indicate the state of cells in the bioreactors. This would prompt adjustment of conditions in a bioreactor just in time to return to the state of healthy cell growth.</p><p>&ldquo;In this situation, we often can&rsquo;t see the trees for the forest,&rdquo; said Fedorov. &ldquo;There is a lot of material available, but we are looking for just a handful of individual trees that indicate the health of the cells. Because the forest is overgrown, the few selected trees we need to examine are hard to find. This is a grand challenge technologically.&rdquo;</p>

Close-up image shows the Dynamic Mass Spectrometry Probe developed to monitor the health of living cell cultures. (Credit: Rob Felt, Georgia Tech)

Researchers have demonstrated an integrated technique for monitoring specific biomolecules – such as growth factors – that could indicate the health of living cell cultures produced for the burgeoning field of cell-based therapeutics.

Microfluidic Molecular Exchanger Helps Control Therapeutic Cell Manufacturing

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