Enabling technologies towards personalization of scaffolds for large bone defect regeneration

Additive manufacturing of fracture fixation implants: Design, material characterization, biomechanical modeling and experimentation

The unique tool-less and layer-upon-layer capabilities of additive manufacturing (AM) have largely lessened manufacturing constraints and significantly broadened design freedom. AM offers new opportunities for developing customized products by achieving significant improvements in product performances and lower overall costs. The AM-enabled customization opportunities inevitably challenge traditionally design theories and methodologies (DTMs) that lack design knowledge for AM products. Here, to counteract this limitation, this study presents a novel methodology for constructing knowledge supporting DTMs for AM-enabled customization: customized design for AM (CDfAM). The CDfAM supports two main phases of design for additive manufacturing (DfAM): (1) opportunistic DfAM in a conceptual design phase and (2) restrictive DfAM in an embodiment design phase. In terms of the knowledge construction for the opportunistic DfAM, it is essential to construct knowledge that supports to explore a customized design space enabled by AM’s design freedom from the conceptual design phase. To address the challenge, this study provides a novel method for capturing knowledge of customized AM product behaviors. First, this study proposes an affordance-based DfAM framework by integrating the concept of affordance into three link chain models. Second, an affordance structure is proposed to develop a formal method for representing the knowledge of the customized AM product behaviors utilizing finite state automata. In terms of the knowledge construction for the restrictive DfAM, this study presents a formal method for representing and reasoning customizable modular knowledge of design rules for AM. First, a novel structured modular hierarchy and associated formalisms of AM design rule elements are presented. Second, machine learning is employed to automatically learn design rules from AM data, which leverages the proposed design rule formalisms. A knowledge graph is designed and built to demonstrate the proposed methodology. Case studies with AM products such as a transtibial prosthesis leg and AM data such as ex-situ AM measurement data provide illustrations in this study. The case studies show that the proposed methodology explicitly constructs structured and correlated AM design knowledge of customized AM product behaviors, product geometries, and additive manufacturability constraints. It is also shown that qualified design knowledge in the knowledge graph enhances automation of DfAM decision-making and data-driven knowledge constructions. The proposed CDfAM methodology enables incorporating both customized AM product functionalities and additive manufacturability constraints into product designs. This study provides a foundation for AM knowledge construction and data- and knowledge-driven automation of DfAM decision-making. Validated design rules and representations are expected to contribute to developing international standards on AM design rules.

The implementation of financial report management applications based on Android information technology in mosques has become a significant innovation in the application of Shariah economic law. This research investigates the effectiveness of applying this information technology in managing mosque financial reports. An experimental research method was used involving the development of a specific Android application to record and track financial transactions in accordance with Shariah principles. The results indicate a significant improvement in the accuracy, speed, and reliability of financial reporting after the implementation of this application. Furthermore, the application enhances transparency and accountability in mosque financial management, thereby reinforcing the application of Shariah economic law in the context of mosque finances. Despite some challenges in adopting this technology, such as a lack of technological understanding, the benefits obtained are considerably greater. The implications of this study suggest that the use of information technology, such as the Android application, can enhance efficiency and compliance with Shariah economic principles in mosque financial management. The application of financial report management applications based on Android information technology in mosque financial management specifically focuses on implementing Shariah economic principles. This research explores the effectiveness of Android information technology in aiding the recording, reporting, and management of mosque finances in accordance with Shariah principles. The use of information technology in mosque financial management has significant implications for enhancing compliance with Shariah economic principles. This study highlights that the application of Android software in the context of mosque finances can make a significant contribution to Shariah-compliant fund management, with the potential to improve transparency, compliance, and efficiency in mosque financial management.

Cranial reconstruction: 3D biomodel and custom-built implant created using additive manufacturing

Additive manufacturing (AM) has emerged as a transformative approach for advancing thermal management technologies, providing unprecedented freedom in design, material customization, and the implementation of novel thermal control strategies. This review presents a comprehensive overview of recent progress in AM-enabled thermal management, with an emphasis on enhancements in conductive, convective, boiling, and radiative heat transfer. AM facilitates the fabrication of complex architectures and composite materials with tailored thermal conductivities, substantially improving heat dissipation in diverse applications, including electronics, automotive systems, aerospace structures, and building technologies. Notably, recent developments in thermal metamaterials—such as structures capable of thermal cloaking and directional heat conduction—highlight the considerable potential of AM for manipulating complex thermal fields. Furthermore, the integration of phase change materials within AM-fabricated structures offers improved energy storage capacity and efficient thermal regulation. Future research should focus on the development of advanced composite materials, the integration of artificial intelligence for design optimization, the exploration of multifunctional metamaterials, and the advancement of sustainable and scalable AM processes. Hybrid and multimaterial AM techniques are particularly promising, enabling the fabrication of complex, functionally graded structures with precisely tailored thermal and mechanical properties. Addressing critical challenges—including structural integrity, microstructural control, material scalability, cost-effective production, and environmental sustainability—will further strengthen the role of AM in thermal management. In addition, the continued incorporation of high-fidelity computational simulations and real-time monitoring into AM workflows is expected to enhance process reliability and reproducibility. Expanding the range of AM applications to encompass lightweight and optically transparent polymer-based devices could unlock new avenues for thermal management in sensitive electronic and photonic systems.

Additive manufacturing, characterized by its inherent layer by layer fabrication methodology has been coined by many as the latest revolution in the manufacturing industry. Due to its diversification of Materials, processes, system technology and applications, Additive Manufacturing has been synonymized with terminology such as Rapid prototyping, 3D printing, free-form fabrication, Additive Layer Manufacturing, etc. A huge media and public interest in the technology has led to an innovative attempt of exploring the technology for applications beyond the scope of the traditional engineering industry. Nevertheless, it is believed that a critical factor for the long-term success of Additive Manufacturing would be its ability to fulfill the requirements defined by the traditional manufacturing industry. A parallel development in market trends and product requirements has also lead to a wider scope of opportunities for Additive Manufacturing. The presented paper discusses some of the key challenges which are critical to ensure that Additive Manufacturing is truly accepted as a mainstream production technology in the industry. These challenges would highlight on various aspects of production such as product requirements, process management, data management, intellectual property, work flow management, quality assurance, resource planning, etc. In Addition, changing market trends such as product life cycle, mass customization, sustainability, environmental impact and localized production will form the foundation for the follow up discussion on the current limitations and the corresponding research opportunities. A discussion on ongoing research to address these challenges would include topics like process monitoring, design complexity, process standardization, multi-material and hybrid fabrication, new material development, etc.

The cyclic manufacturing processes of Additive Manufacturing (AM) create three-dimensional objects layer by layer, offer a large freedom in design, and suffer from very different restrictions compared to conventional manufacturing processes. Nowadays, AM is a mature manufacturing technology capable of being applied in industrial series production. However, the AM technology enters the industrial series production only slowly. A main reason is the fact that engineers in industry have little to no experience in Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) and an integrated experience transfer in engineering education is not yet widespread. To implement the AM technology, a course for graduate students was developed and established, mainly in the master studies and in the field of mechanical engineering. The goal of the course is that the students gain experience in the possibilities and the restrictions of DfAM. The course is based on the Experience Transfer Model (ETM) and is divided in two parts, a lecture and a team project. In the lecture, the students gain explicit knowledge for DfAM. In the practical team project, the students develop and produce AM prototypes based on a variety of AM processes and gain implicit knowledge. The concept of the team project is based on Problem-Based Learning (PBL). The whole team project follows a product development process, including presentations of milestone. The physical outcomes showed that the students are able to design AM optimized parts without falling back into old design patterns. In a survey at the end of the lecture series, the students gave the authors feedback. The large majority of the feedback was positive.

Increasing pollution poses enormous pressure on the global ecosystem, with a need to limit the carbon emissions from the construction materials industry. Mitigation of this carbon is possible by converting industrial wastes into alternative cement and optimisation in the building process. Taking this into account, advancement is taking place in sustainable geopolymer composites-based additive manufacturing (AM) technology. Typical precursors for geopolymer binder are industrial waste by-products (such as slag, fly ash, and metakaolin). In another aspect, AM entails several benefits such as easy fabrication, freedom of design, the ability to generate sophisticated structural elements and reduce: expenses, time, waste generation, and labor demands. This review journal paper on geopolymer AM presents a bibliometric study followed by an overview of AM methods and influencing parameters, techniques in geopolymer AM (such as extrusion and powder bed), materials, improvements in AM process, and fresh-state and hardened-state properties. Recent developments in AM processes within the geopolymer are critically discussed while investigating the properties and applications of the same. The discussion includes an analysis pinpointing research gaps essential in developing geopolymer AM.Graphical abstract

The use of information technology has changed the way we carry out various aspects of life, including in the education sector. In this digital era, the use of news technology in educational planning management has brought considerable changes and various benefits. This study aims to determine how the influence of the use of information technology in the management of educational planning to increase educational efficiency. The research method used is the library research method, which involves collecting data and information from various sources of literature that are relevant to the research topic. This research will identify and analyze various challenges and obstacles in the use of information technology in educational planning management and the solutions offered to overcome them. In addition, this study will also analyze the impact of using information technology in increasing educational efficiency. The results of this study are expected to provide a better understanding of the potential use of information technology in increasing educational efficiency and its benefits. The findings of this study are expected to be the basis for decision making and strategic planning in the implementation of information technology in education management, with the ultimate goal of improving the overall quality of education.

Additive manufacturing (AM) or three-dimensional (3D) printing has introduced a novel production method in design, manufacturing, and distribution to end-users. This technology has provided great freedom in design for creating complex components, highly customizable products, and efficient waste minimization. The last industrial revolution, namely industry 4.0, employs the integration of smart manufacturing systems and developed information technologies. Accordingly, AM plays a principal role in industry 4.0 thanks to numerous benefits, such as time and material saving, rapid prototyping, high efficiency, and decentralized production methods. This review paper is to organize a comprehensive study on AM technology and present the latest achievements and industrial applications. Besides that, this paper investigates the sustainability dimensions of the AM process and the added values in economic, social, and environment sections. Finally, the paper concludes by pointing out the future trend of AM in technology, applications, and materials aspects that have the potential to come up with new ideas for the future of AM explorations.

This article reviews recent significant advances in the design of nanofiber scaffolds for orthopedic tissue repair and regeneration. It begins with a brief introduction on the limitations of current approaches for orthopedic tissue repair and regeneration. It then illustrates that rationally designed scaffolds made up of electrospun nanofibers could be a promising solution to overcome the problems that current approaches encounter. The article also discusses the intriguing properties of electrospun nanofibers, including control of composition, structures, orders, alignments and mechanical properties, use as carriers for topical drug and/or gene sustained delivery, and serving as substrates for the regulation of cell behaviors, which could benefit musculoskeletal tissue repair and regeneration. It further highlights a few of the many recent applications of electrospun nanofiber scaffolds in repairing and regenerating various orthopedic tissues. Finally, the article concludes with perspectives on the challenges and future directions for better design, fabrication and utilization of nanofiber scaffolds for orthopedic tissue engineering.

Additive manufacturing of nickel-based superalloys: A state-of-the-art review on process-structure-defect-property relationship

: Initiatives to reduce the cost of ship maintenance have not yet realized the normal cost-reduction learning curve improvements. One explanation is the lack of some of the technologies recommended by the developers of SHIPMAIN, an initiative designed to improve ship maintenance performance within the Navy by standardizing processes in order to take advantage of learning curve cost savings and other technologies. Two such recommended technologies are collaborative product lifecycle management (CPLM) and three-dimensional laser scanning technology (3DLST). One quickly emerging new technology is additive manufacturing (AM). The research team collected data on AM use by U.S. Navy in maintenance operations and extrapolated them to build two types of computer simulation models of ship maintenance and technology adoption. The models were used to investigate the impacts of 3DLST and scaling up AM use on potential cost savings. The results were analyzed and compared with previously developed modeling results of the use of AM in U.S. Navy ship maintenance. Results support the adoption of AM in ship maintenance. 3DLST increases savings slightly over the use of AM alone or with CPLM. Cost savings when AM and other technologies are used only to make prototypes are significant but limited. In contrast, savings are significantly larger if AM use is expanded to include the manufacturing of final parts. The primary implication for acquisition practice is the importance of scaling up the use of AM and other new technologies to capture potential savings.

Additive Manufacturing (AM) has a great potential of disrupting product design and supply-chain in many industries by means of its unique capabilities. Regarding the product design, the potential benefits comprise functional integration, reduced assembly efforts, reduced weight and increased performance. Although AM has been around for decades, designers still think in the restrictions imposed by conventional manufacturing. The awareness of the potentials of AM has not yet been pushed in the minds of designers and the adoption of AM in design process often fails due to a status quo in design or limited knowledge of the employees. Against this background, this paper proposes a framework to change Designer’s mindset towards AM. By means of in-depth interviews with designers and design engineers from different industries, the common challenges and implemented solutions were investigated. From these expert interviews, the following key challenges were identified: AM-adjusted design methodology, standards implementation and software support. Based on those, a wide literature review of possible solutions was carried out and its result was combined with the already implemented solutions in industry. The proposed framework not only takes advantage of currently available human capital in the organization but also paves a sustainable way to train new personnel and create momentum towards AM adoption. By means of a structured learning path and a knowledge management platform integrated into design software, the proposed framework effectively extracts tangible and part-specific design rules and assures optimal knowledge transfer among employees. This framework was subsequently validated in a workshop with industry experts.

Additively manufactured metallic biomaterials.