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Research Lab uses Library's 3d printer; saves money

by Kimberley Barker on 2018-10-25T15:49:06-04:00 | 0 Comments


Dr. Sarah Ewald, an immunologist in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, had a problem: it was imperative that her specimens were kept in the freezer in order to maintain their integrity, but simply stacking the containers on top of each other would make for a jumbled, disorganized mess . The lab had inherited freezer drawers that would save the new research group almost $8000 dollars, but they lacked the inserts that would support material storage limiting their utility.



Enter the Health Sciences Library and its makerspace. The makerspace, which is a partnership between the Library and Dr. David Chen’s lab, is located on the lower floor of the Library, in the MILL (Multipurpose Innovative Learning Lab). In addition to providing space for meetings, working groups, and a monthly design thinking workshop, the makerspace houses many different materials for prototyping, including a Makerbot 3D printer.

Upon discovering the 3D printer, an associate of Ewald’s lab used the provided software to design an insert, refine the design, test several prototypes and, ultimately, print a few dozen copies of the final iteration.

 

This was a functional and affordable solution; functional because the inter-layer bonding of PLA (Polylactic Acid) isn’t greatly affected by the stresses of freezing temperatures, and affordable because the only cost to Ewald’s lab was the time spent by her associate to perform the design work and prototyping- use of both the 3D printer and its filament was (and are, for Health System employees and students) completely free!


You can learn more about Dr. Ewald’s work by following her lab on Twitter: @ewald_lab

Are you curious about the makerspace and its services? Do you have a problem that might be solved with the Library’s 3D printer?  If so, email hsl-makerspace@virginia.edu to discuss how the Library might be able to help you solve it.


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