News

Vasantham Seithi: Prosthetic Arm – New Hope for Singapore’s Healthcare

Vasantham channel’s Seithi (news) programme interviewed Assistant Prof Subburaj Karupppasamy and Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s Principal Prosthetist Trevor Binedell on their research collaboration to fabricate a non-metallic, self-locking 3D printed prosthetic arm for a patient. It is also 20% cheaper compared to conventional ones in the market. Trevor is also currently an EPD PhD student at SUTD. Link: https://seithi.mediacorp.sg/mobilet/singapore/3d-prosthetic-limb/4538256.html 

Channel 8, Using the shells of insects to manufacture in Mars

Channel 8 News featured Asst Prof Javier Fernandez’s research paper on manufacturing in Mars. First author, PhD student Ng Shiwei, was interviewed while co-author Assoc Prof Stylianos Dritsas was featured operating the 3D printing facility. Original Link: https://www.8world.com/news/singapore/article/ci-main-living-in-mars-1304171   【科技一点通】昆虫壳研发出新材料 可在火星上制造出居住空间  美国宇航局最近证实在月球上探测到水分子。这项发现可能开启人类全新的未来。如果资源充足，将来人类到外太空时，或许就能从月球补充物资。要是能在星球上采集水源，建筑材料和种植食物，人类长期居住在太空中的梦想将成为现实。 火星是太阳系中，环境和地球最相像的星球。科学家两年前在火星上发现液态湖，近期更探测到三个新的地下水体。这对孕育生命至关重要。 然而火星资源极度有限，要如何造屋定居，进行长时间探索是一大挑战。本地研究员就利用了昆虫壳研发新材料，只需一只机械手，就能以3D技术打印出住所。 昆虫高蛋白可制成太空餐，而昆虫壳其实还有用途。100克昆虫壳可提取出6到9克的甲壳素。与醋酸混合后掺入火星土壤模拟物，就能生产出大约700克材料。倒入模子凝固，就能做出一把坚固的扳手。这是新加坡科技设计大学三名研究员，花了一年多时间研发出的新建筑材料。只要将它倒入3D打印机，即使远在火星上，也能制造出工具和居住空间。 新加坡科技设计大学工程产品开发博士生黄诗玮表示：“在地球上所遇到的资源逐渐短缺，在太空探险方面其实是非常相似的问题。我们都想要找到一个不要有任何排气物，然后可以可循环的制造方式。我们可以完全地从火星的土壤中取出水分，或者是利用一些生物，带过去的生物制造出我们所需要的物品。” 研究团队正同一些宇航员和大学研究所探讨技术的可行性，未来可能带到月球进行测试。 为加速太空研究，欧洲航天局和英特尔两个月前通过卫星，将人工智能技术送上太空。名为PhiSat的实验卫星，具备高光谱热像仪和智能相机芯片。通过人工智能算法，它能把那些被云层大面积覆盖的图像过滤掉，只发送有用的图像到地球，节省约三成的宽带需求。预计这类人工智能卫星未来功能将更强大。 英特尔Movidius技术办事处负责人乔纳森伯恩：“我们想测试以卫星提供服务。例如经过野火地区，我们就能使用特别计算法探测火灾。在海面上则能探测和追踪船只。另外也能探测预防卫星是否会发生撞击，目前这一般由地面监控。但随着更多更小的卫星入轨，人们要监控将更困难，所以需要卫星自行监控。” 团队花了四个月完成软硬件测试，之后再用一年时间克服火箭，疫情和夏季风带来的挑战，才成功将人工智能卫星送入轨道。 文:  李赠谊

Tech Explore: New Insights into 3D Printing of Spacers and Membranes for Water Treatment

Tech Explore published Prof Chua Chee Kai’s review paper on 3D printed spacers and membranes for water treatment. His paper, produced in collaboration with NTU, was published in the Water Research journal. Original Link: https://techxplore.com/news/2020-11-insights-d-spacers-membranes-treatment.html Overview of the relationship between 3D printing and membrane-based water treatment industry. Credit: SUTD   3-D printing has seen great advancements in various aspects over the past few decades, and many […]

Channel 8, Tan Tock Seng Hospital and SUTD collaborate to 3D-print more comfortable and flexible prostheses

Channel 8, Tan Tock Seng Hospital and SUTD collaborate to 3D-print more comfortable and flexible prostheses Channel 8 News did a feature on the SUTD and Tan Tock Seng Hospital collaboration to print 3D-printed more comfortable and flexible prostheses, featuring interviews with Eric Teh, NAMIC’s senior centre manager and Trevor Binedall, TTSH’s principal prosthetist and an EPD PhD student. Original Link: https://www.8world.com/news/singapore/article/ttsh-sutd-3d-prosthesis-1300991 8视界：陈笃生医院和新科大合作 3D打印义肢更舒适灵活 陈笃生医院和新加坡科技设计大学联手合作，3D打印出不含金属，更舒适、灵活的义肢。价格也比传统义肢便宜。 若不仔细观察，很难发现视频中用户的右臂是义肢。他原本使用的义肢不通风，佩戴时容易出汗，形状也不自然。 陈笃生医院足部医疗及义肢设计中心首席义肢矫形师特雷弗说：“他经常出国公干。机场通关进行全身扫描时，若义肢内有金属会触动警报，对他造成极大不便。” 观察了用户的举止习惯后，研究团队扫描了他的双臂，确保义肢形状和左臂对称，之后采用轻质的尼龙材料，3D打印出义肢。新义肢采用网状设计，虽然比传统义肢重100克，但悬挂装置更好，使用时感觉更轻盈。 目前市面上的美观义肢价格介于4000元至7000元。而由3D打印出的义肢可以便宜两成，并且做到完全客制化。每个关节、锁定装置甚至是手指的质感，都能够按照用户的需求定制，让他们使用起来更有自信。 研究团队正探讨如何将样本采集和义肢制作过程自动化，未来方便用户远程定制。 新加坡科技设计大学数位制造与设计中心高级中心经理郑庆章说：“目前扫描截肢的部位都需要用到数位扫描仪。所以现在我们尝试用智能相机来拍照，可能在这个截肢的部位，我们多拍几张照片，尝试从这些照片之中，看有没有办法根据它的形状制造出义肢。” 文:  […]

The Medical News: Researchers develop low-cost, customizable, self-locking upper limb prosthesis

The Medical News reported that researchers have developed low-cost, customizable, self-locking upper limb prosthesis. This research was conducted by principal investigator Assistant Prof Subburaj Karupppasamy and PhD student Trevor Binedell. Original link: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20201027/Researchers-develop-low-cost-customizable-self-locking-upper-limb-prosthesis.aspx   Upper limb forequarter amputations which involve the removal of the entire arm and scapula require highly customized prosthetic devices that are expensive but yet, usually underutilized due to their […]

Straits Times: 3D-printed food can support healthcare, sustainability efforts: Panel

Straits Times published a feature on 3D-printed food supporting healthcare and sustainability efforts, and included quotes from Prof Chua Chee Kai. Original link:  https://www.straitstimes.com/business/economy/3d-printed-food-can-support-healthcare-sustainability-efforts-panel    3D-printed food can be created in appealing shapes after being pureed and contain the necessary nutrients. PHOTO: NTU 3D-printed star-shaped sweet potato printed at Nanyang Technological University. PHOTO: NTU Additive manufacturing – often known as 3D printing – might seem more […]

NRF’s RIE News magazine: Printing an arsenal of pandemic preparedness

NRF’s RIE News magazine published an interview with Prof Chua Chee Kai and his views on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the field of additive manufacturing, and how it will continue to influence it in the years to come.  Click for NRF Magazine Issue 11, October 2020.    

A 3D PRINTED NOVEL SOLUTION FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

It’s a fork – no, it’s a toothbrush! Wait – it’s also a pencil?   Students with Cerebral Palsy experience difficulties in activities of daily living (ADL) and learning tasks. This is due to a variety of reasons such as involuntary arm movements or difficulties in grasping objects from lack of muscle coordination. Together with the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore (CPAS), our National […]

All3DP: 3D Printed Structures: Most Important Projects

Over the years, we have worked with great minds in SUTD, AirLab for example is one of them. We are proud that 2 of their projects which DManD has directly/indirectly involved have been featured by All3DP alongside with others incredible creations from 3D printed structures around the world. The two structures from AirLab are the SUTD Time Capsule and AirMesh. Congrats to the […]

Phys.org: Researchers Develop Simple Method to 3-D Print Milk Products

Phys.org published an article about a simple method to 3D-print milk products. The lead author for this research paper is PhD candidate Mr Lee Cheng Pau and the article also included a quote from principal investigator Assistant Prof Michinao Hashimoto. Original Link: https://phys.org/news/2020-09-simple-method-d-products.html A – D: 3D printed milk structures of couch, fortress, wheel, and cloverleaf, respectively. E: 3D printed cone containing liquid […]