Digital Printing Technology Research Articles

A Comparative Study of Traditional and Computer-aided Surgical Simulation Guides in Orthognathic Correction of Bimaxillary Protrusion.

To compare the efficacy of traditional occlusal guides with computer-aided surgical simulation (CASS) guides in enhancing postoperative outcomes for patients with bimaxillary protrusion. This retrospective study evaluated 34 patients undergoing anterior maxillary and mandibular subapical osteotomy at the Plastic Surgery Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Fourteen patients were treated using traditional occlusal guides, whereas 20 patients were treated with CASS guides (median age 28.6 years, median follow-up 259 days). Pre and postoperative cephalometric indicators were measured using cephalometric software. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 14.0, with significant differences determined at P < 0.05. All 34 patients experienced primary healing without complications. Follow-up indicated significant improvements in key cephalometric measurements in the CASS group compared with the traditional group, including mandibular position (SNB angle, P < 0.001), jaw relationship (ANB angle, P < 0.001), facial angle (FH-NPo, P = 0.002), and condyle-to-sella distance (Co-S, P = 0.024). The CASS group also showed better aesthetic outcomes, with significant reductions in overjet (P = 0.012), overbite (P = 0.001), and improved alignment of upper and lower incisors (U1-L1 angle, P = 0.031). CASS-guided surgery offers a superior alternative to traditional methods for treating bimaxillary protrusion, providing more precise and aesthetically pleasing results. This study highlights the significant advantages of using advanced digital simulation and 3-dimensional printing technologies in orthognathic surgery.

Impact of ultraviolet radiation energy curing UV primer on adhesion of bamboo lumber surfaces and colorimetry of UV inkjet coatings

ABSTRACT The application of UV digital inkjet printing technology in the home furnishing industry has greatly enriched the diversity of decorative panels. Controlling the UV radiation energy curing UV primers process has a significant impact on the performance of UV printing coatings on bamboo surfaces. The results showed that the UV radiation energy is in the range of 60∼300 mJ cm−2, the adhesion of the UV primer on the surface of bamboo is the best when it is controlled at 180 mJ cm−2, which reaches the standard of 0 level; when the radiation energy reaches 240 mJ cm−2, the content of oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface of the primer is higher, the surface wettability is the best, and the roughness is also relatively high. When the radiation energy reaches 360 mJ cm−2, radiation energy that is too high would reduce the adhesion performance of the UV primer on the surface of bamboo lumber. In addition, the gloss difference of the UV ink coatings between adjacent parameter samples is small, while the color difference is more obvious. The energy of UV radiation should be controlled in the range of 180∼240 mJ cm−2 in the actual production application.

Interlayer Adhesion of Coating System in Analogue and Digital Printing Technologies Formed on Lightweight Honeycomb Furniture Panels

This article concerns research into the influence of the energy dose distributed by UV lamps on selected parameters of varnish coatings formed during the varnishing process of lightweight cellular panels. The lightweight cellular board used in the study was made according to an innovative solution. The surface finishing of the boards was carried out using the roller method in combination with digital and analogue printing under industrial conditions. Contact angle measurements of the obtained varnish coatings were carried out, from which the surface free energy was calculated. In addition, interlayer adhesion was assessed by pull-off tests. Irrespective of the radiation dose, higher contact angle values (54.3–89.9°) were recorded for the last two applied layers (base coat 2 and base coat 3) than for the other coatings (39.6–64.1°). For all systems tested, the γsp component showed lower values (2.25–28.99 mJ/m2) than γsd (28.66–32.80 mJ/m2). The adhesion test results ranged from 0.5 to 0.9 MPa, although with varying types of delamination. Based on the test results, the most favourable variants from the furniture manufacturer’s point of view were selected that provided the desired level of adhesion, in which cohesive damage located within the substrate (A) predominated.

Digital Printing in Art: Enhancing Narrative and Expression on Contemporary Works

This study explores the utilization of digital printing technologies in contemporary art, specifically examining how these technologies influence narrative depth and artistic expression. Using a case study approach, this research adapts findings from previous study to demonstrate that digital technologies significantly enhance artistic expression and narrative complexity. These findings highlight the capability of digital tools to innovate artistic practices and enrich the interpretation and appreciation of art in contemporary society. The implications of this study are valuable for artists, and educators in understanding and leveraging the interplay between technology and art.

Impact of Printing Orientation on the Accuracy of Additively Fabricated Denture Base Materials: A Systematic Review.

Printing orientation is one of the printing parameters that affect the properties of three-dimensional (3D)-printed resins. Different printing orientations and directions have been suggested; however, no clear and specific orientations are recommended in the literature in terms of the printing orientation effect on the accuracy and fit of 3D-printed removable dental prostheses. This review aimed to evaluate the effect of printing orientation on the fit and accuracy of 3D-printed removable dental prostheses. The PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched for published articles that investigated the effect of printing orientations on the accuracy and fit of the 3D-printed denture base. Full-length English published articles were searched between January 2010 and December 2023, which examined topics related to printing orientations, building angles, 3D printing, printing technology, accuracy, dimensional changes, internal fit, marginal integrity, marginal discrepancies, trueness, precision, and adaptation. Of the ten included studies, one investigated maxillary and mandibular denture bases, seven assessed maxillary denture bases, and two evaluated mandibular bases. Different printing orientations, ranging from 0° to 315°, were explored, with a higher prevalence of 0°, 45°, and 90°. The included studies utilized stereolithography and digital light processing printing technologies. High accuracy was observed at 45°, followed by 90. Additional struts and bars on the cameo surface increased the accuracy of the 3D-printed denture base. These results shows that printing orientation has a significant effect on the accuracy of 3D-printed resin, with 45° exhibiting the highest accuracy. In addition to the support structure, the density and position can impact the accuracy.

Sustainable pre-treatment of cellulose knitwear in digital pigment printing processes

PurposeIn the field of research on the application of digital printing to textile materials, there are still many research issues that arise from the very demanding interaction of digital printing technology and the complex, heterogeneous surface system of textile materials. This is precisely why the area of pre-treatment of textile materials is in need of research, and the purpose of this research was to establish the level of influence of physical and chemical activation of the textile surface with plasma and the possibility of improving the quality of the print and colour reproduction.Design/methodology/approachThe paper deals with the possibility of applying argon and oxygen cold low-pressure plasma in the processing of cellulose knitted fabrics, with the aim of improving the quality of the print and colour reproduction in digital pigment inkjet printing. The selected raw material samples were 100% raw cotton and lyocell. After plasma treatment, the samples were printed by digital ink jet printing with water-based pigment printing ink. An analysis of the micromorphological structure of untreated and plasma-treated samples before and after printing was carried out, and a comparative analysis of the colour of the printed elements was carried out depending on the pre-treatment.FindingsThe conducted research showed a positive influence of plasma pre-treatment on the coverage of the fibre surface with pigments, the uniformity of pigment distribution along the fibre surface and the uniformity of the distribution of the polymeric binder layer. This has a positive effect on colour reproduction. Also, certain improvements in colourfastness to washing were obtained.Research limitations/implicationsConsidering the complexity of the topic, although exhaustive, this research is not sufficient in itself, but opens up new questions and gives ideas for further research that must be carried out in this area.Practical implicationsAlso, this kind of research contributes to the possibility of adopting the idea of industrial plasma transformation, as an ecologically sustainable functionalisation of textiles, which has not yet been established.Originality/valueThis research is certainly a contribution to the establishment of acceptable textile pre-treatment methods in the field of digital printing, as one of the key quality factors in digital textile printing (DTP). Considering the still large number of obstacles and unanswered questions encountered in the field of digital printing on textiles, this kind of research is a strong contribution to the understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of the complex interaction between printing ink and textile.

Design of geometric flower pattern for clothing based on deep learning and interactive genetic algorithm

Abstract Geometric and floral models are an important part of clothing and have been used for thousands of years. Although the styles of geometric models and flower models have undergone changes over the centuries, they are still one of the important factors of clothing patterns, the important carrier of aesthetics, and the manifestation of people’s spiritual views and cultural needs. The development and application of digital printing technology have freed people from excessive dependence on sewing and embroidery processes. Therefore, while deeply studying the design of clothing patterns, this work sorted and analyzed the geometric flower models of clothing through interactive genetic algorithms, and optimized programming to enrich the models of clothing with geometric textures. The results showed that the deviation value of geometric flower pattern design was constantly decreasing, while the optimal strategy value was constantly increasing. The mean deviation value was 0.82, which was a decrease of 0.21 on the seventh day compared with the first day; the mean value of the optimal strategy value was 0.84, which was an increase of 0.19 on the seventh day compared with the first day. The visual effect and creativity of the clothing flower pattern design under the interactive genetic algorithm are better than the traditional flower pattern design, and the visual effect and creativity under the interactive genetic algorithm are 9% higher than the traditional one.

Inkjet-printed low temperature co-fired ceramics: process development for customized LTCC

This paper investigates the utilization of digital printing technologies for the fabrication of low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC). LTCC offer great opportunities for applications such as antennas, sensors or actuators due to their outstanding properties like low dielectric loss, low permittivity, low coefficient of thermal expansion and at the same time high reliability in harsh environments (heat, humidity, and radiation). LTCC are multilayer circuits that are typically functionalized by screen-printing. This publication investigates the replacement of screen-printing by digital printing processes, such as inkjet and Aerosol Jet printing, to facilitate a more resource-friendly and customizable manufacturing of LTCC. The use of digital printing technologies not only streamlines small-scale productions and development processes but also offers the advantage of achieving miniaturization down to single-digit microns. In this publication, digital printing processes, filling of vias, lamination processes, co-firing at 850 °C and printing on fired LTCC were investigated. Three layers of nanoparticle silver ink were printed on green LTCC tape and 100% of the embedded printed structures were conductive after co-firing. Filling of vias with inkjet printing was investigated and the most important process parameters were found to be the clustering of vias, the amount of active nozzles and the substrate temperature. Printing on fired LTCC demonstrated high precision, and sintering at 600 °C achieved strong adhesion of printed structures to LTCC. These successful findings culminate in presenting a process chain for fully maskless structured, multilayer LTCC.

3D Printer-Assisted Layered Fabrication of a Novel Appliance for Oral Myofunctional Therapy and Functional Evaluation of Its Effects on Orofacial Muscles During Wear.

Aim Balanced function of the orofacial muscles is important for normal occlusion and dentition; however, patients with malocclusion often present with myofunctional disorder (MFD). Myofunctional therapy (MFT) has received much attention as a method for reducing MFD. Moreover, prefabricated functional appliances (PFAs) have been developed as a method to eliminate abnormal muscle pressure and guide the tongue into the correct position. However, PFAs have disadvantages, such as poor intraoral retention, limited usage time due to discomfort and poor patient compliance, and changes in the axis of the mandibular anterior teeth.Therefore, this study aimed to develop a new custom-made splint-type orthodontic appliance with CAD/CAM technology. Moreover, we evaluated the characteristics of the appliance and conducted functional tests to determine the effects of the appliance on the orofacial muscles and the discomfort associated with its use. Materials and methods Twenty-five volunteers (nine females and 16 males; mean age 28.4 ± 3.4 years) with normal swallowing function were included in the study. Lip-closing strength (LCS), electromyogramduring swallowing, oxygen saturation, and pulse rate were measured and compared when the appliance was not worn and when it was worn. In addition, tongue habits were evaluated, and the maximum tongue pressure was measured when the appliance was not worn. The subjects were asked to answer a questionnaire using a numerical rating scale (NRS) regarding discomfort when wearing the appliance. The evaluation items were swallowing difficulty, speaking difficulty, and breathlessness, which were rated on an 11-point scale ranging from 0 to 10. Statistical tests were conducted using IBM SPSS version 28.0.1 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA) with the Shapiro-Wilk and Levene's test, followed by the Wilcoxon signed rank sum test. The significance level was set at α = 0.05. The measurement error for each measurement item was evaluated using an intraclass correlation coefficient. Results A new custom-made splint-type orthodontic appliance was fabricated for each subject. The fit and retention of the appliance in the mouth were good when fitted, and a comparison of the functional test measurements of 25 subjects with and without the appliance showed that the LCS decreased significantly (p<0.05) before and after wearing the appliance. However, no statistically significant differences were found for the other items. The Mann-Whitney U test regarding the effects of sex, previous orthodontic treatment, or MFT, and oral habits did not statistically significantly influence the effects of wearing the device. In the NRS results, "difficulty swallowing" was observed in half of the subjects, "difficulty breathing" was rarely observed, and "difficulty speaking" was observed in all subjects. Conclusions A novel custom-made splint-type orthodontic appliance was designed and fabricated using digital workflow and 3D printing technology. This appliance was designed to correct oral habits and was made from a new material classified as a class II medical appliance according to the international harmonized classification.

A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON THE FUTURE OF CURTAIN DESIGN PATTERNS

The study, "A Comprehensive Study on the Future of Curtain Design Patterns," explores the evolving trends and technological advancements shaping the curtain industry. The research highlights key findings that reveal a shift towards sustainable and smart textiles, driven by consumer demand for eco-friendly and technologically integrated home furnishings. Patterns are moving away from traditional designs to embrace more abstract, geometric, and nature-inspired motifs, reflecting broader societal trends towards minimalism and biophilia. One of the significant discoveries is the impact of digital printing technology, which allows for greater customization and intricate designs that were previously unfeasible. This advancement is expected to revolutionize the market by offering consumers bespoke options that cater to individual tastes and spatial requirements. Additionally, the study identifies a growing preference for multifunctional curtains equipped with smart features, such as light control, temperature regulation, and noise reduction, enhancing the functionality of living spaces.The research also underscores the importance of sustainability, noting a rise in the use of organic materials and recycled fabrics. This trend aligns with the global movement towards reducing environmental footprints and promotes the adoption of circular economy principles within the textile industry. In summary, the study provides a forward-looking perspective on curtain design, emphasizing the interplay between technology, aesthetics, and sustainability. The findings suggest that future curtain designs will not only serve decorative purposes but also integrate advanced functionalities, catering to the evolving needs of modern consumers. This comprehensive analysis offers valuable insights for designers, manufacturers, and retailers aiming to stay ahead in a competitive and rapidly changing market.

Optimizing Workflow Efficiency in Digital Printing Imposition: A Visual Tutorial on Design Impact Printing Methods

The rapid evolution of digital printing technologies has necessitated a parallel advancement in imposition workflows to ensure maximum efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and high-quality results. The purpose of this study sought to outline a visual tutorial focused on the intersection of design impact and workflow optimization in the realm of digital printing imposition. In an attempt, the study demonstrated the benefits of template-based imposition for standardized layouts and design consistency using imposer pro software. As a qualitative research method, the study adopted case study design on a visual tutorial approach, utilizing a combination of images, diagrams, and video explanatory text to present step-by-step guides and examples. The content was structured to cover fundamental concepts, software selection, template-based imposition, automation and variable data printing (VDP) integration. The outcome of the study revealed that the tutorial's visual format effectively communicated the intricacies of optimizing workflow efficiency in digital printing imposition. The study encourages design practitioners to leverage the tutorial as a practical resource for achieving efficiency gains, reducing turnaround times, and elevating design impact in the rapidly evolving digital printing landscape.

Microstrip resonators on polyethylene terephthalate substrates realized by direct-write technology

Printed Electronics (PE) technology has obtained considerable attention due to the simplification of the manufacturing process that can be fully additive. In addition, PE offers possibility to use low-cost, low-temperature substrates, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) foil, which could serve as an alternative to conventional high-frequency substrates, like Rogers. In this study, digital printing technology direct write, or so-called dispensing is used to print microstrip Rectangular-shaped resonators (RSRs) on a flexible PET foil and a semi-flexible Rogers 4003 substrate. Resonators are printed by a contact dispenser Nordson EFD Pro Plus 4L/A from a conductive silver-based DuPont PE 874 paste. The selected straight and bent RSRs have deep resonance frequencies at 2.50, and 1.90 GHz, with an amplitude of about −50 and −60 dB, respectively. The mentioned resonators are simulated and printed; then the results are compared with a good match. Resonators on Rogers shows a good match between simulation and realization. On a PET substrate, a 6% shift of transmission zero location is observed. To better understand some probable challenges during the manufacturing of high-frequency resonators, the structure of printed layers is characterized, and the manufacturing process itself is completely analyzed.

An injectable and photocurable methacrylate-silk fibroin/nano-hydroxyapatite hydrogel for bone regeneration through osteoimmunomodulation

Tissue engineering has emerged as a promising approach for addressing bone defects. Most of the traditional 3D printing materials predominantly relying on polymers and ceramics. Although these materials exhibit superior osteogenic effects, their gradual degradation poses a limitation. Digital light processing (DLP) 3D bioprinting that uses natural biomaterials as bioinks has become one of the promising strategies for bone regeneration. In this study, we introduce a hydrogel biomaterial derived from silk fibroin (SF). Notably, we present the novel integration of nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) into the hydrogel, forming a composite hydrogel that rapidly cross-links upon initiation. Moreover, we demonstrate the loading of nHA through non-covalent bonds in SilMA. In vitro experiments reveal that composite hydrogel scaffolds with 10 % nHA exhibit enhanced osteogenic effects. Transcriptomic analysis indicates that the composite hydrogel promotes bone regeneration by inducing M2 macrophage polarization. Furthermore, rat femoral defect experiments validate the efficacy of SilMA/nHA10 in bone regeneration. This study synthesis of a simple and effective composite hydrogel bioink for bone regeneration, presenting a novel strategy for the future implementation of digital 3D printing technology in bone tissue engineering.

Innovations in the Design of Pleated Clothing Using Digital Printing and Dyeing Technology

Pleating technology plays a major role in the design of pleated clothing. Also known as wrinkle clothing design, pleating is a high temperature process that has been significantly influenced by progress in science and technology. The combination of pattern design and pleating through the use of digital printing and dyeing technology has become a key aspect of the visual presentation, embodiment of style, and decorative art associated with pleated clothing. This paper explores the historical background and performance of the technologies used in the pleating process, and examines the various modeling techniques that have been brought to bear. The principal innovations in the pleating process can be divided up into shaping, shrinking, and decorative technologies. The relationship between changes in pleating and clothing patterns is also discussed, together with how design thinking has approached the craft of overlaying patterns on pleated clothing. Depending on the clothing and kind of technology being used, there are three main ways in which innovative design can be applied to the pleating process: to create geometric clothing patterns; to create basic clothing patterns; and through the superposition of shrinking technology. A Chinese design case is presented to illustrate how the integration of technology and art can be realized. This paper may serve as a source of future reference for technological innovation in the design of pleated clothing.

Preparation of excellent performance ZTA ceramics and complex shaped components using digital light processing 3D printing technology

Complex cellular structured Al2O3 ceramics is difficult to fabricate due to its poor toughness. To overcome this limitation, La2O3 and ZrO2 were introduced into Al2O3 ceramics in digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing. The toughening of ZrO2 and in-situ formation of platelet grains by La2O3 addition dramatically increased the performance of printed ceramics (flexural strength of 556.6 MPa, fracture toughness of 6.94 MPa·m1/2, Vickers hardness of 18.88 GPa, and an apparent porosity of 0.09%), which exceeds most of those fabricated by traditional process. Furthermore, four different cellular structures were successfully fabricated with a Diamond-structure being the best (compressive strength of 40.62 MPa, Young’s modulus of 2.41 GPa, energy absorption of 0.45 MJ/m3, cellular density of 1.70 g/cm3, and specific strength of 23.83 MPa/(g/cm3)). This study presents a novel strategy for using DLP 3D printing technology in the fabrication of lightweight, high-strength and complex shaped ceramic components. It aims to expedite the rapid application of DLP 3D printing technology in various fields such as aerospace and medical.

AI-driven real-time failure detection in additive manufacturing

The optimisation of 3D printing parameters for manufacturing biomedical devices is an emerging interdisciplinary field that incorporates artificial intelligence techniques such as machine learning and deep learning. In this particular study, the focus is on the fabrication of biocompatible finger splints using digital light processing 3D printing technology, followed by UV curing, to evaluate their quality. By leveraging vibration data from printers, which cannot be captured through visual inspection of layer defects, this study aims to develop a predictive model for assessing the failures of printed parts. Here, a closed-loop detection system is proposed to identify failure phenomena in 3D resin printing, combining both cloud and edge computing technologies to effectively detect and address potential failures in the printing process.

Adhesion of Varnish Coatings as a Background for Analogue and Digital Printing Technologies

In analogue and digital printing technologies, from 3 up to 12 layers of lacquer products are applied. Technological parameters significantly influence the adhesion in the coating system. This article refers to the analysis of the influence of selected technological parameters, such as the number of layers, energy doses distributed by the radiators, and line speed, on the topography and adhesion of varnish coatings formed in the process of varnishing with rollers and UV-curing systems. The appropriately prepared surface can be used as a background layer for the analogue and digital printing technology. Manufacturers must adapt the production process to the particular varnish to obtain finished products with the best possible performance properties. The state of surface free energy and finally adhesion can be assessed by theoretically determining the possibility of an adhesive bonding between the product and the substrate, taking into account the assumptions of the adsorption theory of adhesion and measurement of the contact angle (Θ). An experimental confirmation of adhesion measurements included removing the coatings from the substrate via stamps glued to the coating.

A Method of Enhancing Silk Digital Printing Color Prediction through Pix2Pix GAN-Based Approaches

Color prediction and color management for digital printed fabrics remain a challenging task. Accurate prediction of color appearances of digital printed fabrics would enable designers and manufacturers to better fulfill their design requirements and creative visions. We propose a color prediction method for silk digital printing utilizing a Pix2Pix Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) framework. This method aims to generate predicted images that possess the same stylistic and color characteristics as their actual fabrics after production. To develop and validate the method, color data and images are collected and processed from 5252 sets of paired original Pantone TPX color card and actual print sample fabrics. The results of this study demonstrate that the method can predict the colors of silk digital print samples while effectively reproducing the effects of inkjet printing in silk fabrics including silk crepe satin and silk twill. The method exhibits high prediction accuracy to an average CIEDE2000 value of 2.372 for silk crepe satin and 1.846 for silk twill. The findings of this research not only enhance the efficiency and accuracy of color management in fabric digital printing technology but also contribute to the exploration and development of high-fidelity color prediction techniques within the textile industry.

Printed Electronic Devices and Systems for Interfacing with Single Cells up to Organoids

AbstractThe field of bioelectronics with the aim to contact cells, cell clusters, biological tissues and organoids has become a vast enterprise. Currently, it is mainly relying on classical micro‐ and nanofabrication methods to build devices and systems. Very recently the field is highly pushed by the development of novel printable organic, inorganic and biomaterials as well as advanced digital printing technologies such as laser and inkjet printing employed in this endeavor. Recent advantages in alternative additive manufacturing and 3D printing methods enable interesting new routes, in particular for applications requiring the incorporation of delicate biomaterials or creation of 3D scaffold structures that show a high potential for bioelectronics and building of hybrid bio‐/inorganic devices. Here the current state of printed 2D and 3D electronic structures and related lithography techniques for the interfacing of electronic devices with biological systems are reviewed. The focus lies on in vitro applications for interfacing single cell, cell clusters, and organoids. Challenges and future prospects are discussed for all‐printed hybrid bio/electronic systems targeting biomedical research, diagnostics, and health monitoring.

3D Dispensing of Waterborne Polyurethane on Textile

The paper presents an investigation into the digital printing of waterborne Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) ink using advanced dispensing technology. The study focuses on assessing the ink’s adhesion properties on four distinct textile substrates and explores the challenges and possibilities of applying this ink to curved textile geometries. The research employed cutting-edge digital printing equipment to precisely dispense waterborne HAPTIC® ink onto polyester, cotton, and viscose textile. Adhesion testing was conducted to evaluate the ink’s performance on each substrate, considering factors such as elongation at maximal force. The results provide valuable insights into the suitability of waterborne TPU ink for various textile types, offering guidance for potential applications in the textile industry. Furthermore, this study delves into the intricate process of digitally dispensing waterborne TPU ink onto curved textile surfaces. The investigation examines the challenges posed by irregular textile geometries, including curvature, elasticity, and stretchability, and explores innovative solutions for achieving consistent and high-quality printing results on such surfaces. The findings of this research contribute to the advancement of digital printing technology in the textile industry, offering a deeper understanding of ink-substrate interactions and paving the way for new possibilities in textile design, customization, and manufacturing.