Session: 03-20-03: Manufacturing: General

Paper Number: 145454

145454 - Empowering Mobile, Energy-Efficient and Sustainable 3 D Printing Systems for Emergencies and Rural Communities 

Natural disasters and emergencies create pain, diseases, and death. Resources at the affected sites might be sparse yet the availability of simple parts like braces, nuts, or tubes can be crucial to ease suffering and restore critical infrastructure. Additive manufacturing, commonly referred to as 3D printing,  can provide a fast and flexible way to produce items locally, as was seen after the earthquake in Haiti in 2010 when medical devices such as umbilical cord clamps, finger splints, and surgical instruments were 3D printed. Also during the COVID-19 pandemic, 3D printing has supplied door openers, headbands for face shields, and even ventilator parts. In addition, 3D printing can help to provide customized components in rural areas or for Do It Yourself users or when a shortage of products occurs.

This study therefore addresses an urgent and important need in today's world by developing mobile, energy-efficient, and sustainable 3D printing systems that can be used in emergencies and in

rural communities. The focus lies on rapid manufacturing of medical supplies, repair parts, tools, and more. If the digital files of these parts are made available in digital warehouses as STL-files, users can reproduce or customize them, for example change sizes or features.

In this study, we develop information to allow setting up a 3D printing system from commercially available solutions. One case scenario is selecting and installing 3D printing systems on a truck, which can be driven to emergency zones. Another scenario covers installing 3D printing systems in a shipping container to be flown to a remote location. The systems need to fit into the given space, satisfy the application needs, and connect to solar panels and batteries. The data needed therefore includes information on existing 3D printing technologies, their electricity and use requirements, scalability, and feasibility of making them mobile. Not only built space size and material, but 3D printer outside dimensions, weight, costs, and maximum power demand will define their feasibility for given applications. The energy supply from solar power needs to be discussed, researched, and sized, which includes critically analyzing solar power components, their capacities, weights, costs, and sizes. The focus on energy-efficiency, material sourcing and recyclability, and manufacturing emissions is important and will contribute to more sustainable 3D printing practices. Embedding sustainability in the presented framework for mobile 3D printing systems is therefore organic and crucial.

This study between the Tecnológico de Monterrey and the University of California, Davis is supported by University of California Alianza MX as exploratory and international research.

Presenting Author: Barbara Linke University of California, Davis

Presenting Author Biography: Professor Dr.-Ing. habil. Barbara S. Linke is a faculty member of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at the University of California, Davis. She completed her Diplom, doctorate, and Habilitation in mechanical engineering at the RWTH Aachen University, Germany. She worked as research associate at the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering WZL at the RWTH Aachen University and as postdoc at the University of California, Berkeley before joining UC Davis. She served as vice-chair of undergraduate studies in her department at UC Davis from 2019-22. Her research interests include sustainable manufacturing, abrasive machining technologies, part quality, smart and data-driven manufacturing, transportation research, among others.

Authors:

Barbara Linke University of California, Davis
Kholoud Bashayan University of California, Davis
Erick Ramírez-Cedillo TECNOLÓGICO DE MONTERREY
Maximiliano Armendariz-Rodriguez Tec de Monterrey
Mohsen Habibi University of California, Davis
Adriana Vargas Martínez TECNOLÓGICO DE MONTERREY
Ricardo Ramírez TECNOLÓGICO DE MONTERREY