The Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Research Group (3DPRG) at the University of Nottingham has just unveiled a new research lab, thanks to a £2.7 Million grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

Promising Research Goals

Equipped with the latest and greatest 3D printing equipment, the lab’s researchers hope to test new ideas and develop more practical applications for 3D printing. Their first order of business, in partnership with the School of Pharmacy, is to investigate ways that 3D printing can improve the pharmaceutical world, including dosages, delivery, and the development of implants.

Their secondary but no less important project, entitled Added Scientific, is an endeavor in additive manufacturing. The goal is to develop ways for 3D printing to be of more practical use to a myriad of sectors, including medicine, aerospace, electronics and nanotechnology. The innovative results could result in higher quality and more affordable products, as well as greater productivity for businesses.

“This new lab and Added Scientific represent a huge step forward in additive manufacturing research and development. We aren’t about printing just shapes or creating objects for their own sake, but about using science and engineering to find new ways to apply additive manufacturing to the real world,” said Professor Richard Hague, project leader for 3DPRG and Director of the University’s EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Additive Manufacturing. “The state-of-the-art equipment in our new lab will allow us to refine the process of multi-functional 3D printing, working with research organizations and industry partners to make 3D printed electronics, pharmaceuticals, and conductive materials a safe, viable, and cost-effective reality.”

4D Printing and Nanotechnology

With recent advances in ‘4D’ printed materials that can change depending on their temperature or other external factors, practical applications of nanotechnology are now the forefront for 3DPRG researchers. Future projects may allow them to develop 3D printed drugs customized to each individual. They also hope to create materials that can work as vehicles for vaccines.

The lab is equipped with word-first, state-of-the-art machines, including a bespoke PiXDRO JETx six head ink jetting system by Roth & Rau. This printer can create six materials, including metallic and ceramic ink as well as reactive polymers. This is useful for printing electronics all on one machine, but can also be used to develop drugs made with custom ingredients designed for individual patients.

The second machine of note is a two-photon lithography printer by Nanoscribe. This machine can print polymer-based objects from the nano to mesoscale, with future applications in electronics, science and medicine.

Karen Brakspear of EPSRC also said, “The EPSRC is dedicated to developing UK innovation by providing grants and funding for science and engineering research. 3DPRG’s work at The University of Nottingham continues to drive the capabilities additive manufacturing forward. We are pleased to be behind a team performing such ground-breaking research and look forward to its continued impact on not only the scientific community, but on the UK business, engineering and industrial communities.”

Photo Credits: 3DPRG