Two novel uses for 3D printing

Physics Today: Chemists at the University of Glasgow in the UK used a three-dimensional printer to make their own reaction vessels, reports Helen Shen for Nature. With the technique, they were able to customize the containers with various features, including catalyst-laced ink, electrodes, glass viewing windows, and fiber-optic cables. In addition, when the scientists pierced the vessels with a needle to extract the reagents, the holes spontaneously resealed themselves. With the new labware, Leo Cronin and coworkers synthesized three novel compounds—two inorganic solids and one organic fluid. Although the polymer they used would not be appropriate for all chemical reactions or for use at high temperatures, the flexibility the process offers is intriguing.In another story , this one from 3DPrinterHub, Fangjin Zhang and colleagues at Loughborough Design School in the UK are investigating the use of 3D printing to restore sculptures and archaeological relics in Beijing’s Forbidden City. Zhang’s technique involves using laser or optical scanners to capture an object in digital 3D form and then repairing the digital model before 3D printing the replica. Some models of Forbidden City structures have already been uploaded to Google 3D Warehouse .