TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF TEACHING 3D DESIGN AND PRINTING IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

This work concerns teaching technical aspects of 3D design of objects, preparing them for 3D printing and the 3D printing process on the example of orthopedic implants. These issues are carried out in master's studies in the field of Biomedical Engineering conducted at the Lublin University of Technology. These studies require an interdisciplinary approach of both technical and IT as well as medical and biological knowledge. The topics of the course also combine theoretical knowledge acquired during lectures with practical aspects of the use of modern technologies, which are used in medicine, passed on during laboratory classes. One of the subjects realised in the field of Biomedical Engineering is "3D graphics in medicine", taught by the staff of the Laboratory of Intelligent Systems Programming and Computer 3D Technology in the Institute of Computer Science. In addition to medical imaging (2D and 3D), students also learn about 3D design and assembly of orthopedic elements using a CAD program. An important aspect of this process is the indication and selection of technologies for the production of designed elements. The paper discusses the possibilities of using incremental manufacturing technologies in Biomedical Engineering. The characteristics and problems of teaching the process of 3D design of screws, nails and orthopedic plates are presented using the Inventor parametric environment for design. The educational and practical aspects of the process of selecting the material for printing and the preparation of the printing process are characterised. The article also compares the technology of the incremental 3D printing process of prepared models using two 3D printing technologies: Fused Filament Fabrication / Fused Deposition Modelling (FFF/FDM) and Selective Laser Melting (SLM), where Ti6Al4V titanium powder was used as the printing material. FFF/FDM printing is supposed to show the possibilities of creating prototype 3D models as didactic aids, while printing in SLM technology presents the actual practical possibilities of making an orthopedic implant. The incremental manufacturing method (3D printing) of the prepared models was carried out using 3D SLM 280HL, DigitalWax 020x and MakerBot Replicator (FFF) printers.