“If you can imagine it, you can print it, and the possibilities are limitless.”
This was how materials science experts and researchers from the Advanced Manufacturing Center-Materials Development (AMCen-Matdev) laboratory of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) summed up their case to encourage manufacturers, academic and professional researchers, educators and even artists to use their latest 3D printers, among other additive manufacturing services, at an online stakeholders’ forum on March 25.
Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is among DOST’s “priority programs,” emphasized Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña at the forum aimed at forging partnerships with end-users and research and development (R&D) collaborations with schools, hospitals and organizations, among other forms of engagement.
“Matdev is ready to provide its services to various stakeholders from the industry, academe and government,” said Dr. Blessie A. Basilia, R&D lead for the project.
One of DOST’s “big-ticket” projects last year funded its by Grants-in-Aid program in 2019, the AMCen is a shared facility covering two projects under the department’s advanced additive manufacturing R&D program.
The Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) steers the laboratory for the program’s Development of Multiple Materials Platform for Additive Manufacturing, or Matdev project.
Inaugurated on December 22 last year, the Matdev laboratory located within the ITDI compound is now fully operational at the Nanolab-Materials Science Building of the DOST complex.
The Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC), on the other hand, implements the Research on Advanced Prototyping for Product Innovation and Development using Additive Manufacturing Technologies or Rappid-Admatec project.
The AMCen main facility at the MIRDC compound of the DOST complex will be inaugurated on April 30.
“3D printing is one of the technologies for Industry 4.0, and the country will continue using this technology in the next five to 10 years,” said Basilia, who recently retired as chief of ITDI’s materials science division.
She said AMCen is developing a 10-year roadmap on additive manufacturing in consultation with 3D printing experts and end-users.
Collaborating with Matdev
The Matdev laboratory, which undertakes R&D of materials for use in additive manufacturing, aims to reduce the cost of filaments and other materials for 3D printing by utilizing local resources.
As the country’s leading R&D center for 3D printing, the facility consists of laboratories for fused deposition modeling, post-processing, chemistry, materials characterization, 3D printing R&D laboratories and spheroidizing.
“We are targeting from 10 to 15 collaborations with private and public institutions this year,” said Engr. Marianito T. Margarito, who became the Matdev project leader upon Basilia’s retirement.
The government invested P168 million over the past three years for the Matdev project, about 50 percent of which was spent in purchasing the equipment, while about 6 percent was used for the construction of the building, explained Margarito, senior science research specialist at the materials science division of ITDI, in his e-mail to the BusinessMirror.
Matdev has the latest equipment and software for practical application related to materials development for additive manufacturing, including the TEKNA TekSphero-15 spheroidization system, the first spheroidizer in the country and even in the Asean region.
“Many of our equipment are among the first in the country to meet the needs for materials processing, development and testing as we also utilize the capability on computer simulation to fast-track materials development and design optimization,” Margarito said.
More equipment—particularly the large 3D printers that can use high-performance engineering plastics, composites, metals and ceramics—will become available at the AMCen building for the rapid prototyping.
“Matdev commits to deliver innovative solutions to support manufacturing industries by the fusion of nanotechnology and additive manufacturing using developed nanomaterials to produce filaments,” Basilia added.
She said they found local materials cheaper and had improved properties and performance compared to imported ones.
“Matdev will create different possibilities, such as replacements of human parts and customized infrastructures, among others, that will greatly contribute to the progress of the country,” Basilia said.
Matdev had nine clients since its opening, “which either sent their designs or we prepared the designs for them for evaluation or the agreement is still being forged.”
The clients include other DOST agencies such as the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) for its nerve guidance conduits project, and other government offices, such as the University of the Philippines Manila, the Philippine Air Force, and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center for its valve holding chambers project.
“Individuals who wanted to create prototypes of their products using nonconventional materials and the 3D printing process” also availed of the facility’s services, she said.
The laboratory has also forged agreements for trainings and collaborations with the Batangas State University and the Mariano Marcos State University.
Long-term engagements, such as R&D collaborations, contract research and even trainings with Matdev, are covered by an agreement.
“Matdev will also fully support startups on their needs for prototypes and materials development for additive manufacturing,” said Carlo S. Emolaga, ITDI senior science research specialist.
“Services may range from design and conceptualization, materials development for intended application and continuous development until the intended application is successful,” Emolaga said.
Due to the pandemic, however, client visits and use of the equipment are limited as Matdev’s services are also limited to online transactions, designs and 3D printing.
Competent team
Matdev clients can rely on the expertise and knowledge of its competent team composed of licensed engineers and chemists from various fields of disciplines, six of whom have doctorate degree, 14 have master’s degree and 10 have bachelor’s degree obtained in the country and abroad.
“One of Matdev’s objectives is to develop the competency of the technical staff on design, materials development from local sources and testing for additive manufacturing applications,” Basilia said.
They underwent training at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Center, for 3D printing, Singapore University of Technology and Design, and Case Western Reserve University in the US on the various aspects of additive manufacturing.
The staff also attended benchmarking activities conducted by the National University of Singapore and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the US, as well as local trainings in operating the different additive manufacturing equipment.
“In the new normal, we trained under Dr. Chua Chee Kai of the Singapore University of Technology and Design, who has been in 3D printing for over 30 years, a real expert in this field,” Basilia said.
She added: “Our combined experience in the R&D of raw materials using indigenous sources and training in 3D printing technology has produced a capable team that can do R&D on any area under materials science.”
Promoting Matdev services
The forum also allowed the participants to be part of a virtual tour of the Matdev facility and its various equipment, which are complemented by other ITDI laboratories, providing access to their processing and analytical equipment.
The equipment cover the areas of design and simulation (computer-aided design and simulation software, 3D scanner), 3D printing materials processing (extruders, milling machines, spheroidizer), prototyping (3D printers, post-processing) and characterization (dynamic mechanical analyzer, digital microscope).
“We promote our services through stakeholders’ fora and online platforms in social media, including the web site of DOST,” Emolaga said.
“This is only the first of many engagements that we will have, including a series of webinars and trainings on 3D modelling, among others,” said DOST-ITDI Director Dr. Annabelle V. Briones.
The DOST-ITDI will also host the International Conference on Additive Manufacturing on October 28 and 29.
The conference will gather experts on additive manufacturing from the Asean region to foster collaborations and updates through presentations of their various researches on additive manufacturing.
DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Rowena Cristina L. Guevara said the role of Matdev is “crucial for the materials science industry as it can reduce the cost of raw materials and increase the utilization of local resources for high-end and high-value applications.”
“With AMCen-Matdev, we can continue developing advanced and sustainable materials for medical technologies, food packaging, transportation and defense, among others, from which various industries can truly benefit from—innovations that could go a long way in our efforts to be responsive and self-sufficient in this field, especially during these trying times,” Guevara said at the same online forum.
Image credits: TEKNA brochure
