research-article

MultiFab: a machine vision assisted platform for multi-material 3D printing

Authors:

Pitchaya Sitthi-Amorn,

Javier E. Ramos,

Wojciech MatusikAuthors Info & Claims

ACM Transactions on Graphics (TOG), Volume 34, Issue 4

Article No.: 129, Pages 1 - 11

https://doi.org/10.1145/2766962

Published: 27 July 2015 Publication History

Abstract

We have developed a multi-material 3D printing platform that is high-resolution, low-cost, and extensible. The key part of our platform is an integrated machine vision system. This system allows for self-calibration of printheads, 3D scanning, and a closed-feedback loop to enable print corrections. The integration of machine vision with 3D printing simplifies the overall platform design and enables new applications such as 3D printing over auxiliary parts. Furthermore, our platform dramatically expands the range of parts that can be 3D printed by simultaneously supporting up to 10 different materials that can interact optically and mechanically. The platform achieves a resolution of at least 40 μm by utilizing piezoelectric inkjet printheads adapted for 3D printing. The hardware is low cost (less than $7,000) since it is built exclusively from off-the-shelf components. The architecture is extensible and modular -- adding, removing, and exchanging printing modules can be done quickly. We provide a detailed analysis of the system's performance. We also demonstrate a variety of fabricated multi-material objects.

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Cited By

Mehta PMujawar MLafrance SBernadin SEwing DBhansali S(2024)Editors’ Choice—Review—Sensor-Based and Computational Methods for Error Detection and Correction in 3D PrintingECS Sensors Plus10.1149/2754-2726/ad7a883:3(030602)Online publication date: 26-Sep-2024
https://doi.org/10.1149/2754-2726/ad7a88
Moyer IBourgault SFrost DJacobs J(2024)Don't Mesh Around: Streamlining Manual-Digital Fabrication Workflows with Domain-Specific 3D ScanningProceedings of the 37th Annual ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology10.1145/3654777.3676385(1-16)Online publication date: 13-Oct-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3654777.3676385
Sumegi MQuan WBrooks HShark L(2024)Real-time Monitoring of 3D Printing Using Between-layer Structural Similarity (BLSS)Proceedings of the 2024 7th International Conference on Image and Graphics Processing10.1145/3647649.3647694(278-285)Online publication date: 19-Jan-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3647649.3647694
Show More Cited By

Index Terms

MultiFab: a machine vision assisted platform for multi-material 3D printing
1. Applied computing
  1. Document management and text processing
    1. Document capture
      1. Graphics recognition and interpretation
2. Computing methodologies
  1. Computer graphics

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Published In

cover image ACM Transactions on Graphics

ACM Transactions on Graphics Volume 34, Issue 4

August 2015

1307 pages

ISSN:0730-0301

EISSN:1557-7368

DOI:10.1145/2809654

Issue’s Table of Contents

Copyright © 2015 ACM.

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Publication History

Published: 27 July 2015

Published in TOG Volume 34, Issue 4

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Cited By

Mehta PMujawar MLafrance SBernadin SEwing DBhansali S(2024)Editors’ Choice—Review—Sensor-Based and Computational Methods for Error Detection and Correction in 3D PrintingECS Sensors Plus10.1149/2754-2726/ad7a883:3(030602)Online publication date: 26-Sep-2024
https://doi.org/10.1149/2754-2726/ad7a88
Moyer IBourgault SFrost DJacobs J(2024)Don't Mesh Around: Streamlining Manual-Digital Fabrication Workflows with Domain-Specific 3D ScanningProceedings of the 37th Annual ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology10.1145/3654777.3676385(1-16)Online publication date: 13-Oct-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3654777.3676385
Sumegi MQuan WBrooks HShark L(2024)Real-time Monitoring of 3D Printing Using Between-layer Structural Similarity (BLSS)Proceedings of the 2024 7th International Conference on Image and Graphics Processing10.1145/3647649.3647694(278-285)Online publication date: 19-Jan-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3647649.3647694
Jiang LWolf RAlharbi KQin H(2024)In Situ Monitoring and Recognition of Printing Quality in Electrohydrodynamic Inkjet Printing via Machine LearningJournal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering10.1115/1.4066124146:11Online publication date: 11-Sep-2024
https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4066124
Fang QXiong GZhou MTamir TYan CWu HShen ZWang F(2024)Process Monitoring, Diagnosis and Control of Additive ManufacturingIEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering10.1109/TASE.2022.321525821:1(1041-1067)Online publication date: Jan-2024
https://doi.org/10.1109/TASE.2022.3215258
Cheng JYu SWang RGe Q(2024)Digital light processing based multimaterial 3D printing: challenges, solutions and perspectivesInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing10.1088/2631-7990/ad4a2c6:4(042006)Online publication date: 28-May-2024
https://doi.org/10.1088/2631-7990/ad4a2c
Tauqir MMohiuddin ASamson RArora PMertiny PNobes DQureshi A(2024)Assessing layer deviations and correction for robotic polymer 3D printing applicationsProcedia CIRP10.1016/j.procir.2024.10.042129(240-245)Online publication date: 2024
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2024.10.042
Zhang JZhu HLiu DLi YHuang C(2024)Piezoelectric inkjet printing: The principles, fluid dynamics challenges, and applicationsMaterials Today Communications10.1016/j.mtcomm.2024.11086641(110866)Online publication date: Dec-2024
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2024.110866
Yao YCheng LLi Z(2024)A comparative review of multi-axis 3D printingJournal of Manufacturing Processes10.1016/j.jmapro.2024.04.084120(1002-1022)Online publication date: Jun-2024
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmapro.2024.04.084
Mehta ASingh RPabla B(2024)Multi-material printing of thermoplastics using bio-printersComprehensive Materials Processing10.1016/B978-0-323-96020-5.00137-0(160-163)Online publication date: 2024
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-96020-5.00137-0
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