Speaker
Description
Introduction: As new biofabrication technologies emerge, the possibilities for research into new applications expand rapidly. However, for young researchers with limited experience in the relevant areas (i.e., regenerative medicine, robotics, 3D printing or G-code postprocessing) and constrained financial resources, the application of new technologies may be challenging. From the very beginning, the prohibitive price of commercially available Melt Electrowriting (MEW) machines prevented access to this versatile fabrication technique. Additionally, the information needed to build and operate a non-commercial MEW printer was limited and, by definition, non-standard for more than a decade, which prevented many interested researchers from commencing scientific exploration in MEW. These barriers to the utilization of MEW fell with the publishing of a low-cost and open-access platform, the MEWron [1]. Since its unveiling, the number of MEW-based research has grown considerably. Additionally, a new community is forming around the National Science Foundation-sponsored HAMMER (Hybrid Autonomous Manufacturing) Engineering Research Center’s (ERC) which is tasked with developing inexpensive desktop fabrication units (PET-Fabs), and short learning curve suites of hardware and software that can be used for education and research in emerging manufacturing technologies [2].
Methods: To build our MEWron, we followed the guidelines that describe the conversion of the Voron 3D printer [1]. While the printer itself can be assembled for less than $1,000 USD, one of the most expensive components to procure is the high voltage power supply (HVPS), which may cost a few thousand dollars. We integrated an inexpensive HVPS for $250 USD using a 12V to 10kV voltage converter. It also integrates a YT Meter (Shenzen, China) 10 kV indicator, and an easy-to-build electronic board priced at about $20 USD for voltage control. We added to the MEWron suite a $100 USD plug-and-play, pellet-fed Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) print head. For this, we adapted a pellet extrusion mechanism to a Creality Ender Pro hot end (Shenzhen, China) that is compatible with the MEWron.
Results: The adoption of the MEWron as a HAMMER ERC PET-Fab has allowed it to serve as a training platform for undergraduate students in electronics, 3D printing, G-code programming, and the analysis of mechanical systems. For many students it is also a gateway to the fields of biofabrication, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.
Discussion: The MEWron has allowed MEW research on regenerative medicine to quickly scale. Previously, our lone MEW machine was committed to a single study at a time due to its small throughput. The adoption of the MEWron has allowed us to expand our research capabilities, while simultaneously disseminating knowledge of these techniques to a broader scientific community. This dynamic environment has also fostered the development of new tools, such as the inexpensive HVPS and the integration of a FDM pellet-fed printhead. Finally, extended access has also resulted in a maker community coming together around MEW to lower costs, set performance standards, provide training opportunities, and collaborate on research into new applications.
References:
[1] Reizabal, et al. (2024) MEWron: An open-source melt electrowriting platform.
[2] NSF-HAMMER ERC. Point-of-Care Testbed 2 (2024).
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