3D Printing: What is it ? How does it advance science?

     Background information about 3D Printing

       3D printing is a process of creating three dimensional (3D) solid versions of electronic files. Sometimes, it is called as additive manufacturing (AM).The first wave of these machines was invented by Chuck Hull in 1986. However, 3D printers of 74-year-old Californian inventor remained unknown to the public until the second decade of the current decade. In 2012, by the help of the U.S. funding and commercial start ups, the idea of AM became popular. President Barack Obama granted $30 million for the creation of AM institute. Consequently, people can buy 3D printers for $100-1000.

Figure1. 3D printer

How 3D Printing works

Firstly, user makes a virtual design of the item he wants to print. This design can be drawn  in a CAD (Computer Aided Design) or with 3D scanner. Both of them let users make three dimensional digital file. After that, the printer slices the object into many cross sections. When 3D printer receives the file, it creates the object layer by layer. The 3D printer reads each piece and continues creating the object blending every slice together.

What is 3D printing and how does it work?

Methods and technologies of 3D Printing

3D printers use different ways to replicate objects. There are mainly 3 types of printing: Selective laser sintering (SLS), fused deposition modeling (FDM) and stereo lithography (SLA).

The FDM printing uses a plastic filament or metal wire. The printer will melt them to form layers. When the final object is ready, layers become hardened immediately. 

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) Technology

Similarly, the SLS technology uses a laser to fuse glass powders, ceramic, metal, or plastic into a mass. After scanning every layer, printer uses the powder to form entire object. 

Polymeric Selective Laser Sintering Process Explanation

 However, the SLA technology produces a solid part from a liquid one. In order to do so, it uses photo polymerization.

The process of Stereolithography (SLA)

3D printers are advancing science

3D printer has helped many areas of science. For example, Researchers at Drexel University are using this kind of printers to print ancient animals in order to study how they lived. Also, dinosaur models in museums are made of real bone, and they are very fragile. Government spent much money to construct them. However, it will be cheaper by the help 3D printers. Another use of printers is in medicine. 

Figure2.Dinosaurs

Researchers at the University of Toronto are studying cells of human skin and use the selected data to print real human skin for people with wounded skin. Similarly, scientists are going to print real human ear for people with injurer ear. Moreover, the technology company CSIRO is planning to print tracking tags to study big fishes like shark and tuna, because they are at risk of extinction from overfishing. The next use of 3D printers is creating lunar base. As travel to Moon is expensive, it will be cheaper to build lunar base on Earth. Also, scientists will use rock from Moon to study its structure and produce it by using materials on our planet. All in all, 3D printers are helping us to make our study and research easier and more practically. By the help these printers, scientists can achieve more in cheaper way.

Figure3.Lunar Base

References:

3D Printing, (2014). What is 3D printing? - Explanations - How it works - Industrial - Personal - 3D Printing. [online] Available at: http://3dprinting.com/what-is-3d-printing/ [Accessed 28 Oct. 2014].

LiveScience.com, (2014). 3D Printing: What a 3D Printer Is and How It Works. [online] Available at: http://www.livescience.com/34551-3d-printing.html [Accessed 28 Oct. 2014].

TreeHugger, (2014). 10 ways 3D printers are advancing science. [online] Available at: http://www.treehugger.com/gadgets/10-ways-3d-printers-are-advancing-science.html [Accessed 28 Oct. 2014].

EXPO-2017: The world comes to Kazakhstan

            On October 22, the 156 people from different countries met in Paris to choose a country that will host the international exhibition EXPO-2017. The candidate cities for this event were Belgian city of Liege and Kazakhstan’s capital city Astana. As a result, 103 members of the International Bureau of Exhibition (BIE) wanted Astana to win the competition. Moreover, Kazakhstan is the first country in Central Asia and CIS countries that is going to host this kind of international event. The theme of the exhibition will be “Future Energy” and this will give Kazakhstan a great opportunity to improve and develop sustainable, global energy solutions.

Figure1

    As our president Nursultan Nazarbayev said, hosting this kind of events is a big victory for our country. It is same as hosting Olympics Games, World Cups and World’s Fairs. This is a great coup for every country, because expos bring a huge amount of money and promote tourism industry. It is expected that 5 million people from 100 countries will take part in this exhibition and 3000 cultural events will be visited.

Figure2

The budget of EXPO-2017 is predicted to be $3billion. The government of Kazakhstan allocated $325.25million only for the construction of buildings. Other part of money will come from investors. For example, BI Group Holding, Basis-A Corporation and SredAzElektroMontazh will invest over $500 million. Furthermore, Kazakhstan’s neighbor countries such as Russia and China will help to solve the problem related to money whereas Azerbaijan will help to build, because this country has experience in hosting events related to Green energy.

Video1

The total area of construction is 173.4 ha (hectare). 25 ha of it belong to actual exhibition center. Other 148 ha will be used to build housing projects, socio-cultural, education and health-care facilities, shopping centers, parks and boulevards. The area of the exhibition pavilions will be nearly 118 620 m^2 (meter square), service area – 95 400 m^2, and housing – 686 465 m^2. The construction of the EXPO city is planned in the Esil district, a perimeter of streets and avenues: Kabanbai Batyra, Hussein Bin Talal, Orynbor and Ryskulova.

Figure3

If EXPO-2017 exhibition will be held successfully, it may bring to Kazakhstan $520-910 million of profit. Let us assume that 4 to 7 million visitors will come to Astana. According to the analysis of specialized exhibitions of recent years, one visitor brings a profit of around $130. The cost of a ticket for the previous exhibition was $30. For instance, the exhibition in 2010 brought $12 billion to China. It was visited by 73 million people.

Figure4

In this section of news, mathematics is used widely. First of all, when 103 of 156 people voted for Kazakhstan, it was clear that Kazakhstan was winner, because 66% of members wanted Astana to be the center of EXPO. Secondly, in the third paragraph, there were applied simple mathematical operations.For example, the budget was $3 billion, however only $500 million and $325.25 million were given. Some people may ask that from where the remaining money come. The next application of mathematics is about area of EXPO. When we find the area, we use the units in square.

The other use of mathematics is in the last paragraph. In order to find $520-910 million, we should multiply 4-7 million to $130. Finally, it can be concluded that mathematics can be applied everywhere, even in news.

References:

Edge : Kazakhstan, (2013). EXPO 2017 Kazakhstan, Astana 2017 Expo, World Expo | Edge : Kazakhstan. [online] Available at: http://www.edgekz.com/expo-2017-world-comes-kazakhstan/ [Accessed 7 Oct. 2014]

En.tengrinews.kz, (2014). Profits from EXPO-2017 may reach $900 million. Finance. Tengrinews.kz. [online] Available at: http://en.tengrinews.kz/finance/Profits-from-EXPO-2017-may-reach-900-million-16316/ [Accessed 7 Oct. 2014]..

Expo2017astana.com, (2014). Expo 2017. [online] Available at: http://www.expo2017astana.com/en/press/pressconferencepobeditelkonkurs [Accessed 7 Oct. 2014].

Trend, (2014). Organizing EXPO-2017 in Kazakhstan to cost around $3 billion. [online] Available at: http://en.trend.az/casia/kazakhstan/2296024.html [Accessed 7 Oct. 2014].