Generating G-code for 3D bio-printing of free-form structures

• Main Author: Tan, Ernest Junguang
• Other Authors: Yeong Wai Yee
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/68508
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The essence of this final year project is the manipulation of the G-codes to produce tool paths to construct complicated 3D structures. This include supports for overhang and duo material printing operation. The Bio Printing Machine used is the RegenHU BioFactory.. The software provided is only capable of printing a single structure with a single type of material. The goal of this Final Year Project is to contribute to the Bio-printing process by generating methods to aid users to manipulate G-codes without the need to be proficient in them. The outcome of this FYP would be to produce an efficient way to overcome the limitations of the software’s capability (generating codes to print parts in a single material only) by producing a method to generate a code to print parts with 2 materials in a single run and to solve or fine tune the machine parameters of the material used as necessary. Making use of the software provided by NTU, RegenHU and open sources, printing of both support and main structures utilising 2 different types of materials was achieved. Problems with identifying machine parameters to be used for different materials was also solved during the course of this FYP. The flow chart on how dual material printing can be achieved as well as how different machining parameters for different materials can be obtained can be found in this report.