This paper presents a systematic review on extrusion additive manufacturing (EAM), with focus on the technological development of screw-assisted systems that can be fed directly with granulated materials. Screw-assisted EAM has gained importance as an enabling technology to expand the range of 3D printing materials, reduce costs associated with feedstock fabrication, and increase the material deposition rate compared to traditional fused filament fabrication (FFF). Many experimental printheads and commercial systems that use some screw-processing mechanism can be found in the literature, but the design diversity and lack of standard terminology make it difficult to determine the most suitable solutions for a given material or application field. Besides, the few previous reviews have offered only a glimpse into the topic, without an in-depth analysis about the design of the extruders and associated capabilities. A systematic procedure was devised to identify the screw-assisted EAM systems that can print directly from granulated materials, resulting in 61 articles describing different pieces of equipment that were categorized as experimental printheads and commercial systems, for small- and large-scale applications. After describing their main characteristics, the most significant extruder modifications were discussed with reference to the materials processed and performance requirements. In the end, a general workflow for the development of 3D printers based on screw extrusion was proposed. This review intends to provide information about the state-of-the-art screw-assisted EAM and help the academy to identify further research opportunities in the field.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is an anatomical set of the buco-maxillary system that allows the movement of the mandible in most varied ways. Several factors can influence the malfunctioning of the joint and lead to the use of a total prosthesis. However, current prostheses do not supply the maximum amplitude of movement during protrusion and opening, due to mainly the anatomical differences between patients. For this reason, this article aims to study the patient's kinematic characteristics for a better comprehension of the problem and, consequently, to develop a numerical model for TMJ prostheses able to recover the healthy movement. The numerical model is based on the development of a mechanical joint whose profile is able to reproduce the movement of the health system. The results obtained through the developed model showed a good agreement with the experimental results, representing, therefore, a promising alternative to approach the problems related to TMJ.
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