3D Printing

New type of 3D printing uses sound waves to build up objects

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Direct sound printing uses ultrasound to create microscopic oscillating bubbles, which in turn cause resin to solidify at specific locations
Depositphotos
A diagram illustrates how DSP could be used to print a structure within a patient's arm
Concordia University
Direct sound printing uses ultrasound to create microscopic oscillating bubbles, which in turn cause resin to solidify at specific locations
Depositphotos

3D printing typically involves depositing layers of molten plastic, laser-melting powdered metal, or using UV light to harden gelatinous resin. A new technique takes yet another approach, however, by utilizing sound waves.

Developed by a team of scientists at Canada's Concordia University, the technology is known as direct sound printing (DSP).

In the current version of the technique, a transducer is used to send focused pulses of ultrasound through the sides of a chamber, into liquid polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) resin contained within. Doing so produces ultrasonic fields, which cause rapidly oscillating microscopic bubbles to temporarily form at specific points in the resin.

As those bubbles oscillate, the temperature inside them rises to about 15,000 degrees Kelvin (14,727 ºC or 26,540 ºF) and the pressure within them climbs to over 1,000 bar (14,504 psi). Although this sudden increase in temperature and pressure only lasts for picoseconds (trillionths of a second), it causes the resin to solidify at the exact location of the bubble.

Therefore, by incrementally moving the transducer along a predetermined path, it's possible to build up an intricate three-dimensional object – one tiny pixel at a time. Along with its ability to produce very small, detailed items, DSP also allows structures to be non-invasively printed inside other structures that have opaque surfaces.

A diagram illustrates how DSP could be used to print a structure within a patient's arm
Concordia University

For instance, utilizing the technique, aircraft mechanics could conceivably 3D-print repairs onto internal components, without opening the plane's fuselage. It's even possible that implants could be 3D printed within a patient's body, without the need for surgery.

Besides the PDMS resin, the scientists have also successfully used DSP to print objects made of ceramic material. They now plan on experimenting with polymer-metal composites, followed by pure metal.

"Ultrasonic frequencies are already being used in destructive procedures like laser ablation of tissues and tumours," said Prof. Muthukumaran Packirisamy, who led the study along with Dr. Mohsen Habibi and PhD student Shervin Foroughi. "We wanted to use them to create something."

A paper on the research was recently published in the journal Nature Communications. The technique is demonstrated in the video below.

Source: Concordia University

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2 comments
PAV
I don't understand how the waves are directed. Also what material are you using inside the body and how does it get there?
Treon Verdery
A slight variation on this is to puff or decrease the volume of foams inside medical implants like hip joints to expand them slightly for better retention once they set or shrink them slightly to improve comfort.

Also at the building and construction industry everything from nails, to other fasteners to rebar could be swell tightened or shrunk slightly with a robot or hand tool that had a focused sonic emitter, making things last longer or be more easily repaired or recycled