Characterization of the Coating Layers Deposited onto Curved Surfaces Using a Novel Multi-Nozzle Extrusion Printer

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• Additive manufacturing (AM) has advanced rapidly over the last two decades, enabling the fabrication of functional components for diverse applications.
• In the medical field, AM is utilized for prototyping, prosthetics, drug delivery systems, and increasingly for tissue scaffolding.
• Current AM technologies struggle with depositing uniform layers on curved surfaces, limiting applications in complex geometries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel multi-nozzle extrusion printer designed for depositing soft gel layers onto curved surfaces.
• To enhance the printer's capability for conformal coating on both flat and curved substrates using a custom clearance locking mechanism.
• To investigate the impact of deposition parameters and sequences on layer uniformity and adhesion.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel multi-nozzle extrusion 3D printer with a custom clearance locking mechanism.
• Investigation of deposition parameters, including displacement volume and nozzle configuration.
• Comparison of two deposition sequences: "Press and Express" and "Express and Press" for soft gel deposition on curved substrates.

Main Results:

• The novel printer successfully deposited soft gel layers onto curved surfaces.
• The custom clearance locking mechanism improved conformal coating capabilities on both flat and curved substrates.
• The "Express and Press" deposition sequence resulted in more uniform and merged conformal layers compared to the "Press and Express" sequence.

Conclusions:

• The developed multi-nozzle extrusion printer with a novel mechanism shows significant potential for depositing conformal layers on curved surfaces.
• The "Express and Press" technique is superior for achieving uniform, merged layers in soft gel deposition.
• This technology offers promising advancements for applications in tissue engineering and other fields requiring precise deposition on complex geometries.