Advances in three-dimensional (3D) printing are enabling the design and fabrication of tailored lattices with high mechanical efficiency. Here, we focus on conducting experiments to mechanically characterize lattice structures to measure properties that inform an integrated design, manufacturing, and experiment framework. Structures are configured as beam-based lattices intended for use in novel spinal cage devices for bone fusion, fabricated with polyjet printing. Polymer lattices with and porosity were fabricated with beam diameters of , with measured effective elastic moduli from to . Effective elastic moduli decreased with higher lattice porosity, increased with larger beam diameters, and were highest for lattices compressed perpendicular to their original build direction. Cages were designed with and lattice porosities and included central voids for increased nutrient transport, reinforced shells for increased stiffness, or both. Cage stiffnesses ranged from to with yielding after displacement, thus suggesting their suitability for typical spinal loads of . The porous cage with reinforced shell and central void was particularly favorable, with an stiffness enabling it to potentially function as a stand-alone spinal cage while retaining a large open void for enhanced nutrient transport. Findings support the future development of fully integrated design approaches for 3D printed structures, demonstrated here with a focus on experimentally investigating lattice structures for developing novel biomedical devices.
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March 2019
Research-Article
Mechanics of Three-Dimensional Printed Lattices for Biomedical Devices Available to Purchase
Paul F. Egan,
Paul F. Egan
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Texas Tech University,
ME North 201,
Box 41021,
Lubbock, TX 79409 − 1021;
Texas Tech University,
ME North 201,
Box 41021,
Lubbock, TX 79409 − 1021;
ETH Zurich,
Institute for Biomechanics,
Building HPP,
Honggerbergring 64,
Zurich 8093, Switzerland
e-mails: [email protected];
[email protected]
Institute for Biomechanics,
Building HPP,
Honggerbergring 64,
Zurich 8093, Switzerland
e-mails: [email protected];
[email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
Isabella Bauer,
Isabella Bauer
ETH Zurich,
Institute for Biomechanics,
Building HPP,
Honggerbergring 64,
Zurich 8093, Switzerland
e-mail: [email protected]
Institute for Biomechanics,
Building HPP,
Honggerbergring 64,
Zurich 8093, Switzerland
e-mail: [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
Kristina Shea,
Kristina Shea
ETH Zurich,
Department of Mechanical and
Process Engineering,
Building CLA,
Tannenstrasse 3,
Zurich 8092, Switzerland
e-mail: [email protected]
Department of Mechanical and
Process Engineering,
Building CLA,
Tannenstrasse 3,
Zurich 8092, Switzerland
e-mail: [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
Stephen J. Ferguson
Stephen J. Ferguson
ETH Zurich,
Institute for Biomechanics,
Building HPP,
Honggerbergring 64,
Zurich 8093, Switzerland
e-mail: [email protected]
Institute for Biomechanics,
Building HPP,
Honggerbergring 64,
Zurich 8093, Switzerland
e-mail: [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
Paul F. Egan
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Texas Tech University,
ME North 201,
Box 41021,
Lubbock, TX 79409 − 1021;
Texas Tech University,
ME North 201,
Box 41021,
Lubbock, TX 79409 − 1021;
ETH Zurich,
Institute for Biomechanics,
Building HPP,
Honggerbergring 64,
Zurich 8093, Switzerland
e-mails: [email protected];
[email protected]
Institute for Biomechanics,
Building HPP,
Honggerbergring 64,
Zurich 8093, Switzerland
e-mails: [email protected];
[email protected]
Isabella Bauer
ETH Zurich,
Institute for Biomechanics,
Building HPP,
Honggerbergring 64,
Zurich 8093, Switzerland
e-mail: [email protected]
Institute for Biomechanics,
Building HPP,
Honggerbergring 64,
Zurich 8093, Switzerland
e-mail: [email protected]
Kristina Shea
ETH Zurich,
Department of Mechanical and
Process Engineering,
Building CLA,
Tannenstrasse 3,
Zurich 8092, Switzerland
e-mail: [email protected]
Department of Mechanical and
Process Engineering,
Building CLA,
Tannenstrasse 3,
Zurich 8092, Switzerland
e-mail: [email protected]
Stephen J. Ferguson
ETH Zurich,
Institute for Biomechanics,
Building HPP,
Honggerbergring 64,
Zurich 8093, Switzerland
e-mail: [email protected]
Institute for Biomechanics,
Building HPP,
Honggerbergring 64,
Zurich 8093, Switzerland
e-mail: [email protected]
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Design for Manufacturing Committee of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL DESIGN. Manuscript received July 1, 2018; final manuscript received December 5, 2018; published online January 14, 2019. Assoc. Editor: Carolyn Seepersad.
J. Mech. Des. Mar 2019, 141(3): 031703 (12 pages)
Published Online: January 14, 2019
Article history
Received:
July 1, 2018
Revised:
December 5, 2018
Citation
Egan, P. F., Bauer, I., Shea, K., and Ferguson, S. J. (January 14, 2019). "Mechanics of Three-Dimensional Printed Lattices for Biomedical Devices." ASME. J. Mech. Des. March 2019; 141(3): 031703. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4042213
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