Marc Michel, an associate professor of geosciences in the Virginia Tech College of Science, typically spends his days (and some nights) studying nanoparticles in nature and how they are formed. He seeks new water treatment methods and ways to create untapped sustainable energy resources. Digitally printing roughly 2,000 nasopharyngeal swabs to be used by medical clinics during the […]
Researchers develop a method to 3D print latex rubber
Virginia Tech researchers have discovered a novel process to 3D print latex rubber, unlocking the ability to print a variety of elastic materials with complex geometric shapes. Latex, commonly known as the material in gloves or paint, refers to a group of polymers — long, repeating chains of molecules — coiled inside nanoparticles dispersed in […]
Improving 3D-printed prosthetics by integrating electronic sensors
Edited by Mike Santora With the growth of 3D printing, it’s entirely possible to 3D print your own prosthetic from models found in open-source databases. But those models lack personalized electronic user interfaces like those found in costly, state-of-the-art prosthetics. Now, a Virginia Tech professor and his interdisciplinary team of undergraduate student researchers have made […]
Improving 3D-printed prosthetics by integrating electronic sensors
Edited by Mike Santora With the growth of 3D printing, it’s entirely possible to 3D print your own prosthetic from models found in open-source databases. But those models lack personalized electronic user interfaces like those found in costly, state-of-the-art prosthetics. Now, a Virginia Tech professor and his interdisciplinary team of undergraduate student researchers have made […]
3D printing complex objects from graphene
Researchers from Virginia Tech and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have developed a novel way to 3D print complex objects from graphene, often used for applications in the battery and aerospace industries. Previously, researchers could only print graphene in 2D sheets or basic structures. But Virginia Tech engineers have now collaborated on a project that allows […]