Sustainability of learning environments is a key pillar of all societal development frameworks. A variety of research address the development of education as a fine balanced relation between flexibility, adaptability, innovation, and efficient resource allocation. The main limitation of current approaches is the lack of correlation between various efficiency analyses and budget expenditure of learning environments. The current research aims at undertaking a comparative evaluation of a sustainable framework in STEM intensive programs for secondary and tertiary education. This was done using several established methods like the Plan, Do, Check, Act cycle for the development main framework, the Analytic Hierarchy Process for efficiency evaluation and Value Analysis for budget expenditure allocations and improvement identification. The main framework is based on learning objectives defined in accordance with Blooms’ revised taxonomy and student feedback was collected through surveys and group feedback. The main results of the study show that the framework had overall efficiencies over the 80% threshold in both secondary and tertiary education, whilst some of the components scored under 65%, identifying immediate improvement features. Further research involves the transition to an online and mixed teaching environment, by adapting the content and framework structure with the aid of smart learning environments.
Integration of additive manufacturing throughout a product’s lifecycle has proven over the years to bring substantial competitive advantages to companies worldwide. Complex geometries, quick iteration and lead-time reduction are universally seen as the biggest benefits of 3D printing. North American users also cite cost savings as a major benefit. More than half of the technologies’ applications are related to prototype manufacturing, especially due to high-cost savings in the development phase. Complex prototypes often require a cross reference when it comes to the design rules which need to be considered during the development stage. Thus, this study aims to analyze the various parameters when designing and manufacturing a complex prototype using material extrusion. Some of the main issues covered are related to analyzing the interference between components, adjusting the dimensions of the component elements according to the material contractions, the amount of used material and the total scrap and costs. In order to evaluate the abovementioned, a case study for a cold plastic deformation mould was chosen. The components were designed and assembled in a 3D software after which, each part was exported in *.STL and *.Gcode formats. Assembly tests were performed on the 3D printed components in order to adjust the dimensions. Project planning was used to propose an accurate time frame for the final complex prototype. Cost evaluation and material consumption were discussed in relation to functional, technological and economical restrictions. A final budget and general design rules were proposed for 3D printing of the complex functional prototype.
Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with nearly 90% of the deaths coming from low- and middle-income countries. Severe cases of brain injury often require a craniectomy, succeeded by cranioplasty surgery to restore the integrity of the skull for both cerebral protection and cosmetic purposes. The current paper proposes a study on developing and implementing an integrative surgery management system for cranial reconstructions using bespoke implants as an accessible and cost-effective solution. Bespoke cranial implants were designed for three patients and subsequent cranioplasties were performed. Overall dimensional accuracy was evaluated on all three axes and surface roughness was measured with a minimum value of 2.209 μm for Ra on the convex and concave surfaces of the 3D-printed prototype implants. Improvements in patient compliance and quality of life were reported in postoperative evaluations of all patients involved in the study. No complications were registered from both short-term and long-term monitoring. Material and processing costs were lower compared to a metal 3D-printed implants through the usage of readily available tools and materials, such as standardized and regulated bone cement materials, for the manufacturing of the final bespoke cranial implants. Intraoperative times were reduced through the pre-planning management stages, leading to a better implant fit and overall patient satisfaction.
Sports have become an important part of most people's lives. Every performance athlete goes through a series of workouts with different sports equipment meant to help their physical condition. Thus, the development of automated sports equipment that can throw a ball with a specific preset speed and trajectory is necessary to facilitate the work of the coach. The paper presents the additive manufacturing process of components for a ball machine prototype used for training athletes. Most of the components in the product's power system are made by additive manufacturing, this choice being conditioned by the appearance of innovative, customized component elements, used in the drive system. Material extrusion is used due to the custom shapes and sizes, specific to the developed product, which innovatively influence the principle of hitting the ball. Fusion 360 is used to design all components, taking into consideration material extrusion technological requirements and design principles. A basic static finite element analysis is performed on the main paddle component to ensure that it can withstand the stress scenario and the results showed that when using HIPS filament, the limit conditions are fully met. CAD files are saved as *.STL files and introduced in Z-Suite software for parameter optimization according to the functional role of each component. The optimized *.ZCODEX files are sent to Zortrax M300+ machines for material extrusion 3D printing of the components. The final result is a functional prototype of a device that is obtained using mainly additive manufacturing.
The design and development process of custom-made medical devices is very complex and often requires the use of additive manufacturing to obtain a customer compliant product. One of the key stages, but also very time consuming in the development of bespoke medical products, is the data acquisition of the patients' specific anatomy. The current research paper presents a detailed process of upper body data acquisition using 3D scanning protocols, with the goal of designing a custom smart spinal orthosis using generative design and additive manufacturing technologies. The initial captured cloud points are subjected successively to a series of surface manipulation and mesh optimization operations to generate the final working 3D model of the upper body. Each stage of the 3D model is obtained using a specific software application, as follows: *.DICOM images are generated using a 3D scanner software; *STL files are obtained by transforming initial files using MeshMixer software; *.STEP files are optimized using Fusion 360. Shape validation is done by 3D printing of a real scale upper body anatomical prototype using material extrusion. Authors also proposed a generative design process for the development of a personalized vertebral body from the construction of the smart spinal orthosis. The generative study is initialized with the following data: connection type, stress scenarios, material type (metals -Ti, Al, Steel; composites -ABS, PET, HIPS), and manufacturing technology (additive, subtractive, injection molding). A set of 49 converged outcomes is generated after running the study and three are selected for further research.
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