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TAMP-OS: An Open-Source Workflow for Tactile 3D-Printable Lithographs
Natalia Gonzalez-Vazquez1, Robert Faulkner2, Victoria Gamez3,4
1Materials Centralized Scientific Facility, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS), 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
Integrative and Comparative Biology
|June 3, 2026
Summary
This study introduces an open-source workflow for creating 3D-printable tactile graphics from microscopy images. This method enhances scientific accessibility by translating complex visual data into touchable formats for broader understanding.
Area of Science:
- Microscopy
- 3D Printing
- Scientific Accessibility
Background:
- Microscopy images contain fine details often imperceptible to the naked eye.
- Interpreting complex scientific visuals, especially at micro-scales, presents accessibility challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an open-source workflow for generating 3D-printable tactile graphics from generalized images.
- To provide an alternative method for interpreting complex microscopy images while preserving scale.
- To enhance scientific accessibility through tactile representations of microstructures.
Main Methods:
- A fully open-source lithograph workflow was created for rapid generation of 3D printable files.
- A customizable API allows user input for resolution, relief height, and blur.
- Output file types include STL, STP, 3MF, and GLB, validated on commercial 3D printers.
Main Results:
- The workflow successfully generates 3D printable lithographs from various image types.
- The system is validated across multiple commercial 3D printing platforms.
- An open-source GitHub repository (TAMP-OS) provides the workflow and a guide.
Conclusions:
- This 3D printing workflow makes scientific data, particularly from microscopy, more accessible through tactile graphics.
- The open-source nature of the Tactically Accessible Microscopy Printing (TAMP-OS) workflow encourages adaptation and further development.
- Novel tactile exploration of biological structures and scientific art is enabled.
