FAQ

Q: How are you creating the bone?

A: A CT image of a mouse femur will be imported into the 3-D CAD program Creo. In Creo we will be able to modify the shape and size of the bone. Once we have the dimensions that we want the file will be sent to the 3-D printer.


Q: What is the model made out of?

A: The 3-D printer we are using uses a standard ABS plastic.


Q: How are you testing the bone?

A: After the bone has been printed it will be tested using a 3-point bending machine. The data collected from the 3-point bending machine will be used to complete some mathematical calculations that will allow us to evaluate the quality of the bone.


Q: How will you be making  the genetically altered bone?

A: The original plan was to use a weaker plastic, however we are unable to load a different plastic into the 3-D printer. As a solution we found that if you soak the model in acetone, nail polish remover, it will melt the plastic. Acetone is typically used in a vapor form the smooth the surface of 3-D printed models however if you leave it in an acetone solution for an extended period of time the plastic begins to dissolve making the model weaker.


Q: How long do you keep the model in the acetone?

A: As of right now we are not sure of the exact timing. We are going to print at least 3 models that we can leave in the acetone for different lengths of time in order to determine which time is the best. Keep an eye on our weekly updates to see what time we find to be the best.


Q: How did you import the CT image into Creo?

A: take a look at our tutorials page and you can find all the information on importing into Creo and how to modify the file.



If you have any other questions please feel free to contact any of the group members or leave a comment on this page.