I.

NANOTECHNOLOGY

A. Introduction
Nanotechnology can be defined through by the word itself. Nano (n) is a unit prefix
which means one billionth, this prefix denotes a factor of 10 -9 or 0.000000001. In the other hand,
technology is the making, usage and knowledge of tools, machines and techniques, in order to
solve a problem or perform a specific function. Therefore, nanotechnology refers to the
constructing and engineering of the functional systems at atomic level. In this chapter, we will
discuss about the history of nanotechnology, the different facilities and equipment used in this
technology and its applications. Furthermore, this chapter also includes the status of
nanotechnology in the Philippines.

B. History
Theres a plenty of room at the bottom
a classic talk given by a famous scientist
Richard Feynman on 29th of December 1959 at
the annual meeting of the American Physics
Society. In that meeting, Mr. Feynman
describes

field

which

focuses

on

manipulating and controlling things in a small

scale. According to him, it will help us
understand the strange phenomena that occur
in complex situations. According to him, it will help us understand the strange phenomena that
occur in complex situations. Furthermore, it leads us to enormous applications. It is just an idea
of Mr. Feynman until the year1974 when Norio Taniguchi a Tokyo science university professor
1

started to define nanotechnology. He claims that nanotechnology mainly consists of the

processing of, separation, consolidation and deformation of materials by one atom or by one
molecule. However, nanotechnology is still a concept at this time until 1981 when Gerd Binning
and Heinrich Rohrer develop the scanning tunneling microscope (STM). This instrument enables
a powerful imaging of surfaces at atomic level. Later on, a much higher resolution type of
scanning probe microscopy was been developed by Gerd Binning along with Christoph Gerber
and Calvin F. Quate, they name it Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) or Scanning Force
Microscopy (SFM).
In 1986, K. Eric Drexler publishes a book entitled Engines of Creation: The Coming Era
of Nanotechnology which proposes the idea of a nanoscale assembler. And later teaches the first
course on nano which has a course title Nanotechnology and Exploratory Engineering at
Stanford University. Finally, at year 2000 the government of the United States establishes the
National Nanotechnology Initiative to coordinate federal nanotechnology research and
development.

C. Facilities and Equipment

Nanotechnology involves manipulating and controlling things at a small scale or to be
specific at atomic level. Hence, it really needs facilities and equipment which helps us visualize
the things at a nano level. It is stated in the previous section that in 1981 scanning tunneling
microscope (STM) was invented and used to see an atom. Nowadays, there are lots of advance
facilities and equipment used in nanotechnology some of it are briefly discuss below.

a. X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD)

X-ray diffraction analysis is perhaps the

most widely used X-ray based analytical
techniques for characterizing materials. The
material will be subjected to an X-ray beam
and produced a diffraction pattern. When the 2D diffraction pattern is recorded, it shows
concentric

rings

of

scattering

peaks

corresponding to the various d spacingsor the

distances between planes in the crystal lattice.
The positions and the intensities of the peaks are used for identifying the underlying structure (or
phase) of the material since X-rays are diffracted by each mineral differently, depending on what
atoms make up the crystal lattice and how these atoms are arranged. For example, the diffraction
lines of graphite would be different from diamond even though they both are made of carbon
atoms. This phase identification is important because the material properties are highly
dependent on structure.

b. X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)

An XRF spectrometer works

because when the sample is subjected to
an intense X-ray beam known as incident
beam, some of the energy is scattered, but
some

is

also

absorbed

by

the

sample.When the atoms in the sample

absorb X-ray energy, electrons from the
lower (usually K and L) energy levels will
be
ejected, The ejected electrons are replaced by electrons from an outer, higher energy orbital.
When this happens, energy is released due to the decreased binding energy of the inner electron
orbital compared with an outer one. This energy release is in the form of emission of
characteristic X-rays indicating the type of atom present.

c. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

The scanning electron microscope (SEM) uses
a focused beam of high-energy electrons to
generate a variety of signals at the surface of
solid specimens. The signals that derive
from electron-sample

interactionsreveal

information about the sample including

external morphology (texture), chemical composition, and crystalline structure and orientation of
materials making up the sample.

d. Fourier Transformation Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)

This equipment is widely used in
identifying the presence of certain functional
groups in a molecule. In this equipment, a
beam of different wavelength will be passed
through a sample. The sample will then absorb
or transmit wavelength depending on its chemical composition. Absorb or transmit wavelength
will be detected and interpreted via Fourier transformation.

D. Nanotechnology in the Philippines

We also have this technology in the Philippines. One of the priority programs of the
department of science and technology (DOST) is the nanotechnology. This is to make
Philippines globally competitive in terms of products and services. In order to make that
possible, nanolab in the Philippines were equipped of necessary facilities and equipment to help
with this technology. In fact, materials science division (MSD) has SEM, Transmission Electron
Microscope (TEM), Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), XRD, XRF, FTIR and Nanoparticle size
analyzer. Hence, nanolab in the Philippines is really capable in producing products and services
that are globally competitive.
There are four major programs of this technology that the DOST focuses on. First would
be the nano-based technologies and materials where it involves technologies that focus on
environment such as water and wastewater purification and nano-based engineering or industrial
materials. Second would be nanosensors and nanodiagnostics. This will help in detection of
contaminants in our food, detection of diseases in agriculture and forestry, and for Filipino
ethnicity-based nanodiagnostics for health related problems. Third would be nanometrology for
5

ICT and semiconductor where it provides full operational metrology and materials testing
laboratory. Last would be on nanostructured solar energy devices and storage for national solar
cell R&D testing facility, new design and new methodologies for energy storage devices, and
scaling up processes of nanostructured solar and energy storage devices.

E. Applications
Richard Feynman said that nanotechnology will have enormous applications in the future.
He is not wrong. In fact, there a lot of advance applications involving nanotechnology nowadays.

a. Nanomedicines
Is the science and technology of diagnosing,
treating, and preventing disease and traumatic
injury, of relieving pain, and of preserving and
improving human health, using molecular tools
and molecular knowledge of the human body.
industrial applications of nanotechnology,potential applications of catbon nanotubes and nano
art. Below are the brief definitions of these applications.

b. Nanobiotechnology
Is the application of nanotechnology in biological fields. Nanotechnology is a
multidisciplinary field that currently recruits approach, technology and facility available in
conventional as well as advanced avenues of engineering, physics, chemistry and biology.

c. Green nanotechnology
Is the study of how nanotechnology can benefit the environment, such as by using less
energy during the manufacturing process, the ability to recycle products after use, and using ecofriendly materials.

d. Carbon nanotubes
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are tubular cylinders
of carbon atoms that have extraordinary
mechanical, electrical, thermal, optical and
chemical properties At the individual tube
level, these unique structures exhibit: 200X the
strength and 5X the elasticity
of steel; 5X the electrical conductivity ("ballistic transport"), 15X the thermal conductivity and
1,000X the current capacity of copper; at almost half the density of aluminum. As a carbon based
product, CNTs have almost none of of environmental or physicaldegradation issues common to
metalsthermal expansion and contraction, corrosion and sensitivity to radiationall of which
result in greater system failure in performance-sensitive applications in aerospace and
defense, aviation, automotive, energy and consumer products.
e. Nanocoating

Nano coating or nano sealing is the result of

an application where nano structures build a
consistent network of molecules

on a

surface.This is a chemical process where the

surface can be designed as hydrophobic
which means that liquids, which strike the
surface are repelled and flow away immediatelyorhydrophilicwhich means that liquids, which
strike the surface build a plain film on the surface and mostly flow away too.

II.

ADVANCED MATERIALS

A. Introduction

Every segment of our everyday lives is influenced to one degree or another by materials:
transportation, housing, clothing, communication, recreation or food production. The
development & advancement of societies are produced and manipulate materials. Earliest
humans had access to only a very limited number of materials that occur naturally: stone, wood,
clay etc. With time the techniques for producing materials were discovered: pottery, and various
metals. Materials utilization was totally a selection process by virtue of its characteristics. Came
to understand the relationships between the structural elements of the materials and their
properties. Tens of thousands of different materials that meet the needs of our modern and
complex society: metals, plastics, glasses and fibers. Improving the suitable materials is never
ending process to meet humans need.
There are many different definitions of advanced materials and they have become so
commonly used that most tend to assume that advanced materials are just materials. For a
physical scientist considers that advanced materials could just as easily have been Polymers,
for these are some of the most versatile advanced materials in use today and often are confused
as plastics by many people.
Some scholars define advanced materials as those that involve knowledge (and creation
of materials) at the molecular and/or atomic scale for the purpose of advancing technology and
improving the human experience. These might be materials such as tiny carbon nanotubes that
are being used in new types of X-ray tubes that are more efficient and safer than those now in use
at airports and in doctors offices. These are also new coatings and methods of manufacturing of
Teflon, which is an example of a polymer material made with chemical processing methods that
causes much less pollution and is environmentally friendly. Other possibilities include
materials used in new diagnostic methods such as those for medical biopsies.
9

Advanced materials research involves discoveries of fundamental principles of

Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics that can be applied to control the molecular-level properties
of new materials, and then fashioning materials and/or nanostructures for real-life applications. It
involves knowing the conditions under which a material will be used and identifying candidate
materials for this purpose.
There is always a real need for better materials and/or nanostructures - the issue is how
much better and at what cost. An applied scientist, with a particular application in mind, will
scour lists of known materials and/or nanostructures looking for one that meets his or her needs.
If existing materials are unsuitable, the applied and basic scientist must work together to develop
new materials and/or nanostructures. This synergism between what is available and what needs
to be developed reflects the important and complementary roles of the basic and applied sciences
in Materials Science. Neither one takes precedence over the other. Rather, they work hand-inhand to fulfill our ever-growing need for new materials.
Materials that are utilized in high-technology application. High-tech is a device or
product that operates or functions using relatively intricate and sophisticated principles.
Electronic equipment, computers, fiber optic systems, spacecraft, aircraft, medical and military
rocketry.They might be of all material types whose properties have been enhanced or newly
developed.
B. Biomaterials
A biomaterial is essentially a material that is used and adapted for a medical application.
During the last two decades, significant advances have been made in thedevelopment of
biocompatible and biodegradable materials for medicalapplications.In the biomedical field, the
10

goal is to develop and characterize artificial materialsor, in other words, spare parts for use in
the human body to measure,restore and improve physical functions and enhance survival and
qualityof life.
Biomaterials were used in the following devices: ophthalmology, cardiology,
neuromuscular surgery, orthopedics and dentistry. All biomaterials must have intimate contact
with patients tissue or body fluid and providing a real physical interface.The search for new,
more reliable devices require a disciplined scientific approach to the subject.
Biomaterial is any material that is an integral part of a living organism. The material can
be natural or synthetic and includes metals, ceramics and polymers. They mainly are used in the
medical field for tissue repair, heart valves and implants. While biomaterials have many
advantages and disadvantages, each material is chosen according to the end application such that
the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Indeed, a complementary definition essential for understanding the goal (i.e., specific end
applications) of biomaterials science is that of biocompatibility. "Biocompatibility is the
ability of a material to perform with an appropriate host response in a specific application
(Williams, 1987).Examples of "appropriate host responses" includes the resistance to blood
clotting, resistance to bacterial colonization, and normal, uncomplicated healing.
Application of Biomaterials
1. Heart Valve
Substitute Heart valves: Heart valve prostheses are fabricated from carbons, metals,
elastomers, fabrics and natural (e.g. pig) valves and other tissues chemically pretreated to reduce

11

their immunologic reactivity and enhance durability. Problem: degeneration of tissue, mechanical
failure, postoperative infection, and induction of blood clot.

2. Artificial Tissue
Polymer result of condensation of lactic acid and glycolyic acid. Immersion of patients in
fluid bath or silicone fluid to prevent early fluid loss, minimize breakdown of remaining skin,
and reduce pain

12

3. Dental Implants
Small titanium fixture that serves as the replacement for the root portion of a missing
natural tooth. Implant is placed in the bone of the upper or lower jaw and allowed to bond with
the bone. Most dental implants are: pure titanium screw-shaped cylinders that act as roots for
crowns and bridges, or as supports for dentures. Titanium is commonly used as an implant
material as it has high biocompatibility and bonding ability with the bone.

4. Intraocular Lenses
Intraocular Lenses (IOLs) made by poly (methyl methacrylate), silicone elastomer, or
other materials are used to replace a natural lens when it became cloudy and cataractous. By age
75 more than 50% of population suffers from cataracts. Good vision is generally restored almost
immediately after lens is inserted.
13

5. Vascular Grafts
Made of polyurethane, Teflon, and Dacron. It must be flexible. Designed with open
porous structure.Often recognized by body as foreign.

6. Hip

Replacements

The human hip joint

is

subjected

to

high

mechanical stress and undergoes considerable abuse. Hip joints are fabricated from specific highstrength alloy, ceramics, composites, and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene. In most
cases, good function is restored, and even athletic activities are possible. After 10-15 years, the
implant may loosen, necessitating another operation.Key Problems to overcome:fixation agent to
hold acetabular cup, cup lubrication material, femoral stem fixing agent (glue), must avoid
any debris in cup, must hold up in body chemistry, and must be strong yet flexible.

14

C. Composites Materials
Engineered materials made from two or more constituent materials that remain separate
and distinct while forming a single component. Composites can be very strong and stiff, yet very
light in weight, so ratios of strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight are several times greater
than steel or aluminum.Fatigue properties are generally better than for common engineering
metals. Toughness is often greater too. Composites can be designed that do not corrode like steel
Possible to achieve combinations of properties not attainable with metals, ceramics, or polymers
alone.

15

Properties

of

many important composites are anisotropic - the properties differ depending on the direction in
which they are measured this may be an advantage or a disadvantage. Many of the
polymer-based composites are subject to attack by chemicals or solvents, just as the polymers
themselves are susceptible to attack. Composite materials are generally expensive.
Manufacturing methods for shaping composite materials are often slow and costly.
Generally, one material forms a continuous matrix while the other provides the
reinforcement. The two materials must be chemically inert with respect to each other so no
interaction occurs upon heating until one of the components melts, an exception to this condition
is a small degree of interdiffusion at the reinforcement-matrix interface to increase bonding.The
strength of the composite depends primarily on the amount, arrangement and type of fiber (or
particle) reinforcement in the resin. Typically, the higher the reinforcement content, the greater
the strength. In some cases, glass fibers are combined with other fibers, such as carbon to create
a "hybrid" composite that combines the properties of more than one reinforcing material.
Application of Composite Materials
16

The applications of composite materials continue to be of increasing importance due to

the industrys need for modern analysis and improved performance.Composites are a
combination of two or more organic or inorganic components one of which serves as a matrix
holding the materials together and then other of which serves as reinforcement in the form of
fibers.Composites are lightweight and strong but they are complex to manufacture, expensive
and hard to inspect for flaws
D.

Coatings and High-Temperature Materials

Powder coating is a type of coating that is applied as a free-flowing, dry powder. The
main difference between a conventional liquid paint and a powder coating is that the powder
coating does not require a solvent to keep the binder and filler parts in a liquid suspension form.
The coating is typically applied electrostatically and is then cured under heat to allow it to flow
and form a "skin". The powder may be a thermoplastic or a thermoset polymer. It is usually used
to create a hard finish that is tougher than conventional paint. Powder coating is mainly used for
coating of metals, such as household appliances, aluminium extrusions, drum hardware,
and automobile and bicycle parts. Newer technologies allow other materials, such as MDF
(medium-density fibreboard), to be powder coated using different methods.

17

Because powder coating does not have a liquid carrier, it can produce thicker coatings
than conventional liquid coatings without running or sagging, and powder coating produces
minimal appearance differences between horizontally coated surfaces and vertically coated
surfaces. Because no carrier fluid evaporates away, the coating process emits few volatile organic
compounds (VOC). Finally, several powder colors can be applied before curing them all
together, allowing color blending and bleed special effects in a single layer.
While it is relatively easy to apply thick coatings which cure to smooth, texture-free
coating, it is not as easy to apply smooth thin films. As the film thickness is reduced, the film
becomes more and more orange peeled in texture due to the particle size and glass transition
temperature (Tg) of the powder.
Most powder coatings have a particle size in the range of 30 to 50 m, a softening
temperature Tg around 80 C, a melting temperature around 150 C, and are cured at around
200 C. For such powder coatings, film build-ups of greater than 50 m may be required to
obtain an acceptably smooth film. The surface texture which is considered desirable or
acceptable depends on the end product. Many manufacturers actually prefer to have a certain
degree of orange peel since it helps to hide metal defects that have occurred during manufacture,
and the resulting coating is less prone to showing fingerprints.
Application of Coatings and High-Temperature Materials
Ceramic coating materials can withstand high temperatures and provide more effective
performance in high velocity/high speed applications. This makes an ideal coating solution for
land based and aerospace turbine components.Originally, the coating was invented for the steel

18

industry. The reason for this was the molten metal being produced was causing the metal
machinery to melt.
Ceramic coatings are used as critical seals in heavy-duty, high speed industrial
applications for equipment in steel production and energy creating process equipment. Isolating
bearing contamination by wear resistant coatings on sealing surfaces greatly reduce against leaks
in these process environments by applying a wear-resistant ceramic surface that works
effectively with metal, rubber, and polymer seal materials.
E. Advanced Device and Materials Testing Laboratory of the Philippines
The advanced device and materials
testing

laboratory
(ADMATEL) is a DOST national testing facility equipped with state-of-the-art analytical
equipment for failure analysis and materials characterization. These equipment and others
acquired by the laboratory allows semiconductor companies in the Philippines to test their
designs here cutting the costs that they need to spend in sending their products abroad. The
semiconductor industry in the Philippines is one of the major contributors in the exported
products and ADMATEL aims to improve this. Now, these companies can design, test and
manufacture advanced electronic components here in the Philippines instead of just assemble the
final product. ADMATEL is situated at the DOST Compound in Bicutan, Taguig City.

19

III.

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

Manufacturing - is the production of merchandise for use or sale using labour and machines,
tools, chemical and biological processing, or formulation.
There are two types of manufacturing:
1. Subtractive manufacturing
2. Additive manufacturing
Subtractive Manufacturing - is a process by which 3D objects are constructed by successively
cutting material away from a solid block of material. Subtractive manufacturing can be done by
manually cutting the material but is most typically done with a CNC Machine.

20

Additive Manufacturing - refers to a process by which digital 3D design data is used to build
up a component in layers by depositing material. The term "3D printing" is increasingly used as a
synonym for Additive.

Can be summarized as:

it takes a model
a digital design
turn into real, physical Object

How does 3D Printing Works?

It all starts with making a virtual design of the object you want to create. This virtual
design is made in a CAD (Computer Aided Design) file using a 3D modeling program (for the

21

creation of a totally new object) or with the use of a 3D scanner (to copy an existing object). A
3D scanner makes a 3D digital copy of an object.
3d scanners use different technologies to generate a 3d model such as time-of-flight,
structured / modulated light, volumetric scanning and many more.To prepare a digital file for
printing, the 3D modeling software slices the final model into hundreds or thousands of
horizontal layers. When the sliced file is uploaded in a 3D printer, the object can be created layer
by layer. The 3D printer reads every slice (or 2D image) and creates the object, blending each
layer with hardly any visible sign of the layers, with as a result the three dimensional object.

Processes and Technologies

Not all 3D printers use the same technology. There are several ways to print and all those
available are additive, differing mainly in the way layers are build to create the final object.
Some methods use melting or softening material to produce the layers. Selective laser
sintering (SLS) and fused deposition modeling (FDM) are the most common technologies using
this way of printing. Another method of printing is when we talk about curing a photo-reactive

22

resin with a UV laser or another similar power source one layer at a time. The most common
technology using this method is called stereolithography (SLA).
To be more precise: since 2010, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
group ASTM F42 Additive Manufacturing, developed a set of standards that classify the
Additive Manufacturing processes into 7 categories according to Standard Terminology for
Additive Manufacturing Technologies. These seven processes are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Vat Photopolymerisation
Material Jetting
Binder Jetting
Material Extrusion
Powder Bed Fusion
Sheet Lamination
Directed Energy Deposition

1.)Vat Photopolymerisation

Figure1. Shows the Set-up for Vat

Photopolymerisation method

23

A 3D printer based on the Vat Photopolymerisation method has a container filled with
photopolymer resin which is then hardened with UV light source.The most commonly used
technology in this processes is Stereolithography (SLA). This technology employs a vat of liquid
ultraviolet curable photopolymer resin and an ultraviolet laser to build the objects layers one at a
time. For each layer, the laser beam traces a cross-section of the part pattern on the surface of the
liquid resin. Exposure to the ultraviolet laser light cures and solidifies the pattern traced on the
resin and joins it to the layer below.
After the pattern has been traced, the SLAs elevator platform descends by a distance
equal to the thickness of a single layer, typically 0.05 mm to 0.15 mm (0.002 to 0.006). Then, a
resin-filled blade sweeps across the cross section of the part, re-coating it with fresh material. On
this new liquid surface, the subsequent layer pattern is traced, joining the previous layer. The
complete three dimensional object is formed by this project. Stereolithography requires the use
of supporting structures which serve to attach the part to the elevator platform and to hold the
object because it floats in the basin filled with liquid resin. These are removed manually after
the object is finished.
2.) Material Jetting

24

In this process, material is applied in droplets through a small diameter nozzle, similar to

Figure 2. Shows the set up for material jetting

method
the way a common inkjet
paper printer works, but it is applied layer-by-layer to a build platform

making a 3D object and then hardened by UV light.

3.) Binder Jetting

Figure 3. Shows the set up for Binder Jetting

Method

With binder jetting two materials are used: powder base material and a liquid binder. In
the build chamber, powder is spread in equal layers and binder is applied through jet nozzles that
glue the powder particles in the shape of a programmed 3D object. The finished object is
glued together by binder remains in the container with the powder base material. After the
print is finished, the remaining powder is cleaned off and used for 3D printing the next object.

25

This technology was first developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1993 and in
1995 Z Corporation obtained an exclusive license.

4.) Material Extrusion

Figure 4. Shows the Set Up for Material

Extrusion Method

The most commonly used technology in this process is fused deposition modeling
(FDM). The FDM technology works using a plastic filament or metal wire which is unwound
from a coil and supplying material to an extrusion nozzle which can turn the flow on and off. The
nozzle is heated to melt the material and can be moved in both horizontal and vertical directions
by a numerically controlled mechanism, directly controlled by a computer-aided manufacturing
(CAM) software package. The object is produced by extruding melted material to form layers as
the material hardens immediately after extrusion from the nozzle. This technology is most widely
used with two plastic filament material types: ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) and PLA

26

(Polylactic acid) but many other materials are available ranging in properties from wood filed,
conductive, flexible etc.

5.) Powder Bed Fusion

Figure 5. Shows the Set Up for Powder Bed

Fusion Method

The most commonly used technology in these processes is Selective laser sintering
(SLS). This technology uses a high power laser to fuse small particles of plastic, metal, ceramic
or glass powders into a mass that has the desired three dimensional shape. The laser selectively
fuses the powdered material by scanning the cross-sections (or layers) generated by the 3D
modeling program on the surface of a powder bed. After each cross-section is scanned, the
powder bed is lowered by one layer thickness. Then a new layer of material is applied on top and
the process is repeated until the object is completed.
All untouched powder remains as it is and becomes a support structure for the object.
Therefore there is no need for any support structure which is an advantage over SLS and SLA.

27

All unused powder can be used for the next print. SLS was developed and patented by Dr. Carl
Deckard at the University of Texas in the mid-1980s, under sponsorship of DARPA.

6.) Sheet Lamination

Figure 5. Shows the Set Up for Sheet Lamination

Method

Sheet lamination involves material in sheets which is bound together with external force.
Sheets can be metal, paper or a form of polymer. Metal sheets are welded together by ultrasonic
welding in layers and then CNC milled into a proper shape. Paper sheets can be used also, but
they are glued by adhesive glue and cut in shape by precise blades.

28

7.) Directed Energy Deposition

Figure 5. Shows the Set Up for Directed Energy

Deposition

This process is mostly used in the high-tech metal industry and in rapid manufacturing
applications. The 3D printing apparatus is usually attached to a multi-axis robotic arm and
consists of a nozzle that deposits metal powder or wire on a surface and an energy source (laser,
electron beam or plasma arc) that melts it, forming a solid object.

29

Applications of Automotive Manufacturing 3D Printing

1.) Architectural Design

3D printing technology produces astonishingly smooth, detailed architectural models in

an array of materials, including rigid photopolymers ready for painting.By printing more detailed
models, will help your clients to better visualize the final projects, ultimately helping your firm
to win more business. 3D Printer you can significantly reduce the time and expense in producing
building models, often requiring highly delicate details. 3D printed models are also stronger than
traditional models and wont buckle or break over time.

2.) Entertainment (Film Props)

30

3D printing is the new technology that movie studios are embracing and integrating into
their movies. 3D printing can produce striking objects, which makes it the perfect tool for quirky,
fantastical props on set in movie production. As the technology becomes increasingly
sophisticated, movie studios can capitalize on the incredibly advanced, detailed methods of 3D
printing to bring more magic into their movies.
3,) Fossil Reconstruction

Paleontologists are printing out dinosaurs and other fossils. Scientists are 3D scanning the
pieces of bones and then virtually building a model of complete bones, which takes much less
time and money and the real fossils get to stay safe and preserved.
4.) Artifact Reconstruction

31

Mostartifacts that have been destroyed because of weathering or natural causes can now
be easily fixed or create a copy of. This is all possible because of 3D printing technology.
Artifacts can now be studied by a large number of scholars all over the world. This will
revolutionize the way we view our history.
5.) Medical Applications

As 3D printing technology continues to take the medical field by storm, 3D printed

implants fit for human use have risen into prominence. From functional ear replacements to
spinal implant parts, researchers are finding that 3D printing can potentially help mend almost
any part of the human body. Now, it appears that tumors are next on the 3D printing hit-list;
6.) Aircraft and Aerospace

32

3D printing machines work with production grade thermoplastics including ULTEM

9085, which provides an ideal solution for the manufacturing of component parts for aircraft, as
it is lightweight and able to withstand intense heat (flame retardant).
7.) Automotive Industry

Automobile parts are now design and fabricated at a much faster pace, thanks to the 3d
printing technology. he possibilities when it comes to design flexibility are far vaster with 3D
printing. This way, manufacturers can develop some more customized features, such as
lightweight lattice structures, fancier geometries, parts made of more than two materials,
hollowed structures that have electrical wiring going through them, and the list can go on, and
auto dealerships can offer more variety to an ever growing consumer base.
8.) Industrial Printing

33

Outsourcing your prototypes can take days and cost hundreds of dollars. With a 3D
Printer you can create the same prototype in just hours for a fraction of the cost.In some cases
using CAD models alone is not as effective at finding design problems as a 3D printed physical
part you can easily identify a component issue that may have been missed in the initial design
stage.
9.) Food Printing

3D food printing offers a range of potential benefits. It can be healthy and good for the
environment because it can help to convert alternative ingredients such as proteins from algae,
beet leaves, or insects into tasty products. It also opens the door to food customization and
therefore tune up with individual needs and preferences.

34

Pros and Cons of 3D printing

Pros
1.) Ability to customize products
Customization is the norm when it comes to 3D printing.
With the desired raw material, a 3D printer, and the required
blueprint, you can manufacture any object you want, with
the specifications and design of your choice.

2.) Rapid production of prototypes

3D printing enables quick production of prototypes or
small-scale versions of the real object. This helps
researchers and engineers plan the actual object and
catch any design flaws that may affect quality and
functionality.

3.) Low Cost of Production

35

Although the initial cost of setting up a 3D printing

facility may be high, the overall savings in the form of
labor costs, time saved, and equal effort for small-scale
and mass manufacturing ensures that the cost of
production is relatively low.
4.) Increased employment opportunities
Widespread use of 3D printing technology will increase the demand for designers and
technicians to operate 3D printers and create
blueprints for products

5.) Quick availability of organs

The long and often traumatic wait for an organ donor
could come to an end with advances in bioprinting or
manufacture of 3D printed organs. Research is on to
create bioprinters that can create living organs along
with the structural lattice for the organ using the patients
own cells and tissues.
Cons
1.) Intellectual property issues

36

The ease with which replicas can be created using 3D technology raises
issues over intellectual property rights. The availability of
blueprints online free of cost may change with for-profit
organizations wanting to generate profits from this new
technology.

2.) Unchecked production of dangerous items

Liberator, the worlds first 3D printed functional gun, showed
how easy it was to produce ones own weapons, provided one
had access to the design and a 3D printer. Governments will
need to devise ways and means to check this dangerous
tendency.
3.) Limitations of size
3D printing technology is currently limited by size constraints.
Very large objects are still not feasible when built using 3D
printers.

4.) Limitations of Raw Materials

37

At

present, 3D printers can work with approximately 100 different raw

materials. This is insignificant when compared with the
enormous range of raw materials used in traditional
manufacturing. More research is required to devise methods to
enable 3D printed products to be more durable and robust.

5.) Cost of printers

The cost of buying a 3D printer still does not make its purchase by the average householder
feasible. Also, different 3D printers are required in order to print different
types of

objects. Also, printers that can manufacture in color are costlier than
those that print monochrome objects.

38

IV.

ROBOTICS

Introduction
Robotics can be described as the current pinnacle of technical development. Robotics is a
confluence science utilizing the perpetuating advancements of mechanical engineering, material
science, sensor fabrication, manufacturing techniques, and advanced algorithms. The study and
practice of robotics will expose a dabbler or professional to hundreds of different avenues of
study. For some, the romanticism of robotics brings forth a virtually magical curiosity of the
world leading to engenderment of astonishing machines. A peregrination of a lifetime awaits in
robotics.
The promise of robotics is facile to describe but hard for the mind to grasp. Robots hold the
promise of moving and transforming materials with the same elan and facilitate as a computer
program transforms data. Today, robots mine minerals, assemble semi-processed materials into
automobile components, and assemble those components into automobiles. On the immediate
horizon are self-driving cars, robotics to handle household chores, and assemble specialized
machines on demand. It is not intransigent to imagine robots that are given some task, such as

39

reclaim desert into photovoltaic cells and arable land, and left to make their own way. Then the
promise of robotics exceeds the minds grasp.
Robotics is the field cognate to science and technology. It stands tall by standing the
accomplishments of many other fields of study.

Definition
Robotics is the branch of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer
science that deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots, as well as
computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing. Essentially, a
robot is a re-programmable machine that is capable of movement in the completion of a task.
Robots use special coding that differentiates them from other machines and machine tools, such
as CNC. Robots have found uses in a wide variety of industries due to their robust resistance
capabilities and precision function.
These technologies deal with automated machines that can take the place of humans in
perilous environments or manufacturing processes, or resemble humans in appearance,
demeanor, and or cognition. Many of today's robots are inspired by nature contributing to the
field of bio-inspired robotics.
History
Although the science of robotics only came about in the 20th century, the history of humaninvented automation has a much lengthier past. In fact, the ancient Greek engineer Hero of
40

Alexandria, produced two texts, Pneumatica and Automata, that testify to the existence of
hundreds of different kinds of wonder machines capable of automated movement. Of course,
robotics in the 20th and 21st centuries has advanced radically to include machines capable of
assembling other machines and even robots that can be mistaken for human beings.
The word robotics was inadvertently coined by science fiction author Isaac Asimov in his
1941 story Liar! Science fiction authors throughout history have been interested in mans
capability of producing self-motivating machines and lifeforms, from the ancient Greek myth of
Pygmalion to Mary Shelleys Dr. Frankenstein and Arthur C. Clarkes HAL 9000.
Many sources attest to the popularity of automatons in ancient and Medieval times. Ancient
Greeks and Romans developed simple automatons for use as tools, toys, and as part of religious
ceremonies. Predating modern robots in industry, the Greek God Hephaestus was supposed to
have built automatons to work for him in a workshop. Unfortunately, none of the early
automatons are extant.
In the Middle Ages, in both Europe and the Middle East, automatons were popular as part of
clocks and religious worship. The Arab polymath Al-Jazari (1136-1206) left texts describing and
illustrating his various mechanical devices, including a large elephant clock that moved and
sounded at the hour, a musical robot band and a waitress automaton that served drinks. In
Europe, there is an automaton monk extant that kisses the cross in its hands. Many other
automata were created that showed moving animals and humanoid figures that operated on
simple cam systems, but in the 18 th century, automata were understood well enough and
technology advanced to the point where much more complex pieces could be made. French
engineer Jacques de Vaucanson is credited with creating the first successful biomechanical

41

automaton, a human figure that plays a flute. Automata were so popular that they traveled
Europe entertaining heads of state such as Frederick the Great and Napoleon Bonaparte.
The Industrial Revolution and the increased focus on mathematics, engineering and science
in England in the Victorian age added to the momentum towards actual robotics. Charles
Babbage (1791-1871) worked to develop the foundations of computer science in the early-to-mid
nineteenth century, his most successful projects being the difference engine and the analytical
engine. Although never completed due to lack of funds, these two machines laid out the basics
for mechanical calculations. Others such as Ada Lovelace recognized the future possibility of
computers creating images or playing music.
Automata continued to provide entertainment during the 19 th century, but coterminous with
this period was the development of steam-powered machines and engines that helped to make
manufacturing much more efficient and quick. Factories began to employ machines to either
increase work loads or precision in the production of many products.
In 1920, Karel Capek published his play R.U.R. (Rossums Universal Robots), which
introduced the word robot. It was taken from an old Slavic word that meant something akin to
monotonous or forced labor. However, it was thirty years before the first industrial robot went
to work. In the 1950s, George Devol designed the Unimate, a robotic arm device that transported
die castings in a General Motors plant in New Jersey, which started work in 1961. Unimation,
the company Devol founded with robotic entrepreneur Joseph Engelberger, was the first robot
manufacturing company. The robot was originally seen as a curiosity, to the extent that it even
appeared on The Tonight Show in 1966. Soon, robotics began to develop into another tool in the
industrial manufacturing arsenal.

42

Robotics became a burgeoning science and more money was invested. Robots spread to
Japan, South Korea and many parts of Europe over the last half century, to the extent that
projections for the 2011 population of industrial robots are around 1.2 million. Additionally,
robots have found a place in other spheres, as toys and entertainment, military weapons, search
and rescue assistants, and many other jobs. Essentially, as programming and technology improve,
robots find their way into many jobs that in the past have been too dangerous, dull or impossible
for humans to achieve. Indeed, robots are being launched into space to complete the next stages
of extraterrestrial and extrasolar research.
Robotic Aspects
There are many types of robots; they are utilized in many different environments and for
many different uses, albeit being very diverse in application and form they all share three
fundamental homogeneous attributes when it comes to their construction:
1.

Robots all have some kind of mechanical construction, a frame, form or shape designed
to achieve a particular task. For example, a robot designed to travel across heavy dirt or
mud, might use caterpillar tracks. The mechanical aspect is mostly the creator's solution
to completing the assigned task and dealing with the physics of the environment around
it. Form follows function.

2.

Robots have electrical components which power and control the machinery. For
example, the robot with caterpillar tracks would need some kind of power to move the
tracker treads. That power comes in the form of electricity, which will have to travel
through a wire and originate from a battery, a basic electrical circuit. Even petrol
powered machines that get their power mainly from petrol still require an electric
current to start the combustion process which is why most petrol powered machines
43

like cars, have batteries. The electrical aspect of robots is used for movement (through
motors), sensing (where electrical signals are used to measure things like heat, sound,
position, and energy status) and operation (robots need some level of electrical energy
supplied to their motors and sensors in order to activate and perform basic operations)

3.

All robots contain some level of computer programming code. A program is how a
robot decides when or how to do something. In the caterpillar track example, a robot
that needs to move across a muddy road may have the correct mechanical construction,
and receive the correct amount of power from its battery, but would not go anywhere
without a program telling it to move. Programs are the core essence of a robot, it could
have excellent mechanical and electrical construction, but if its program is poorly
constructed its performance will be very poor or it may not perform at all. There are
three different types of robotic programs: remote control, artificial intelligence and
hybrid. A robot with remote control programing has a preexisting set of commands that
it will only perform if and when it receives a signal from a control source, typically a
human being with a remote control. It is perhaps more appropriate to view devices
controlled primarily by human commands as falling in the discipline of automation
rather than robotics. Robots that use artificial intelligence interact with their
environment on their own without a control source, and can determine reactions to
objects and problems they encounter using their preexisting programming. Hybrid is a
form of programming that incorporates both AI and RC functions.

Laws or Principles
44

Laws of Robotics are a set of laws, rules, or principles, which are intended as a fundamental
framework to underpin the behavior ofrobots designed to have a degree of autonomy. Robots of
this degree of complexity do not yet exist, but they have been widely anticipated in science
fiction, films and are a topic of active research and development in the fields of robotics and
artificial intelligence.
The best known set of laws are those written by Isaac Asimov in the 1940s, or based upon
them, but other sets of laws have been proposed by researchers in the decades since then.
Asimov's three laws are as follows:
1.

A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to
come to harm.

2.

A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders
would conflict with the First Law.

3.

A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with
the First or Second Law.

He later introduced a fourth or zeroth law that outranked the others:

"A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm."
Applications
Robots in the present are able to perform a number of different tasks as compared to the
past uses of robots. Advances in technology have helped present robots to expand their horizons
into automotive industry, medical, agriculture, space exploration, and search-and-rescue among
many others.

45

One of the most important partners in the

development of robotic technologies is the automotive
industry. Robots in this field are used for welding,
robustness

and

precision

of

assembly

pieces,

manipulating very heavy loads.

Figure 1. Da Vinci Surgical System

Robots are getting more and more accurate, modern

surgery tends to be less invasive. Robotic systems now developed to assist surgeons in high
precision manipulation of medical equipment and improve patient care. One example is the Da
Vinci Surgical System. It is designed to facilitate complex surgery using a minimally invasive
approach, and is controlled by a surgeon from a console. The system is commonly used for
prostatectomies, and increasingly for cardiac valve repair and gynecologic surgical procedures.
Robots have also applications in agriculture. In Australia, a robotic system has been
developed for sheep shearing. Field-sowing and apple-gathering robots are also present.
Space probes are sent for many years to explore
and discover our universe. Regarded as one of the
most advanced robot ever created, Curiosity, is a carsized robotic rover exploring Gale Crater on Mars.
The rover's goals include: investigation of the
Martian climate and geology; assessment of whether
the selected field site inside Gale Crater has ever
offered environmental conditions favorable for
microbial life, including investigation of the role of

46

water; and planetary habitability studies in preparation for future human exploration.
Some robots are also made especially for Search and Rescue. Inspired by cockroaches and
their ability to squeeze into tiny holes is the robot (Shown on Fig.3). It will be used for this
specific field. The palm-size prototype, called the Compressible Robot with Articulated
Mechanisms, or Cram, looks more like an armadillo and walks sort of like Charlie Chaplin when
its compressed. Its about 20 times the size of the roach that inspired it. It also has a camera for
searching purposes. And its simple and cheap.
Co-author Kaushik Jayaram, a Harvard
Figure 2. Curiosity (rover)

robotics researcher, says the most difficult part

was the design, but after that he used off-theshelf
Figure 3. Robo-roach compared to a real
cockroach

electronics

and

motors,

cardboard,

polyester and some knowledge of origami. He

could probably put one together in about half an hour, he estimates.

Robotics in The Philippines
With the fast-paced advancement of technology, everybody has to keep up. The
Philippines, a country famously known in the field of boxing and beauty pageants, is now
gearing up. Robotics subjects are now added in the curriculum of highschool students and
different robotics competitions are now held locally both for elementary and highschool students.
In the Philippines, there is a lot of interest and potential for robotics. We can mention the
winnings we had in both the local and international robotics competitions as proofs. We can also
highlight the increased participation of schools in various robotics contests as another sign that
47

the field is indeed on the rise, said SEI director Josette Biyo.
As a result, Filipinos are now gaining reputation in international robotics competition.
Recently, the Philippine Robotics Team bagged 3 golds, 4 silvers, and 7 bronze medals from the
world-renowned International Robot Olympiad in South Korea.
One example of a Filipino-made
robot is the Mechanical Anti-terrorist
Concept (MAC). It is developed in
collaboration

between

the

Philippine

National Police and a robotics team from

Mapua Institute of Technology and costs
roughly $6,100 as of 2008. Its chief
designer is Engr. John Judilla, head of the
robotics team of MIT and one of the countrys top engineers in the multidisciplinary field of
mechatronics

and

who

is

also

naval

reserve

officer.

MAC is two feet tall, three feet wide and five feet long. It is made of aluminum,
fiberglass, and engineering plastic. It is equipped with a mobile arm that can lift objects weighing
up to 11 pounds. It features a front and rear cameras and has a night-vision capability. The four
wheeled vehicle runs off motorcycle batteries, and can move at up to four meters a second or 15
kilometers per hour. Though MAC is controlled via a 150 foot cable, with the operator viewing
the video feed on a laptop it can also be operated via remote control depending on the situation.
MAC, which weighs about a hundred pounds, can carry up to 44 pounds of equipment, and
future versions will carry different types of equipment.

48

Other robots include Adamson University Engineering Students' Talking female

humanoid android, stair-climbing robot that detects combustible gas leak, surveillance robot, allterrain geo-exploration robot, and a 3-wheel human transformer.
Advantages and Disadvantages
The future of robots is unlimited because the possibilities are endless. With robots
becoming more mundane each and every day, it is consequential to understand both the
advantages and disadvantages that robots have. This will help enable people to better determine
when to utilize and when to not utilize robots. Below are some of the advantages and
disadvantages of robots.
The Advantages of Robots
1.

Cost: The most obvious advantage of robots is their cost. Robots are cheaper than most
human counterparts, and their costs are still decreasing.

2.

Abilities: Robotic abilities, what robots can do, are now extremely vast and growing.

3.

Productivity: Robots do not tire and can work very long hours without service or
maintenance. As a result, robots can be significantly more productive than people.

4.

Precision: Robots can be much more precise than people. For instance, robots should
not tremble or shake as human hands do. Furthermore, robots can have much smaller
and versatile moving parts than people. As a result, robots have even performed
medical surgeries, because they can be more precise than people.

5.

Strength: Without a doubt, robots can be significantly stronger than people.

6.

Speed: Additionally, robots can be significantly faster than people too.

7.

Size: Robots can come in any size. Whatever size needed for any task can be created.
49

8.

Environment: Robots can be designed to work in extremely harsh environments, such

as in space, without air, underwater, fire, etc. Thus, robots can be used instead of
people when human safety is a concern.

9.

Dangerous and Unwanted Work: Finally, robots can do jobs that people are
unwilling to do. For instance, many robotic probes have been sent throughout the solar
system to never return back to Earth. I dont think many people would be willing to do
those types of jobs.

10. Warfare: Using robots in warfare eliminates putting more people at risk and has
proven to be very successful.

The Disadvantages of Robots

1.

Jobs: The biggest issue with using robots is the huge loss of jobs for people. Basically,
robots have eradicated a wide range of middle class jobs in several industries, such as
car manufacturing.

2.

Limited Functionality: Robots are very good at doing perfectly defined jobs, however
robots typically do not handle the unexpected as well as people do.

3.

Lack of Intelligence: Since robots are not intelligent or sentient, robots can never
improve the results of their jobs outside of their predefined programming. In other
words, robots do not think. At least, not yet.

4.

Lack of Emotions or Conscience: Similarly, robots do not have emotions or

conscience; therefore, robots lack empathy and all of the advantages that come with it.
As a result, this limits how robots can help and interact with people.

5.

Colonization: While robots can be sent to other planets and distance moons to help
50

colonize them, they cannot build an independent functioning society.

6.

Dangerous: Robots can be extremely dangerous. Whether robots are malfunctioning or

designed for warfare, robots can be very hazardous to people.

The creation of robots have simplified humans job. Robots have enabled people to
explore places where nobody dares to go. There are various pros and cons associated with
robots.

An important advantage is that they make our life much easier.

An important

disadvantage is that they take away the jobs from us. Robots have come a long way since the
creation of them. They are much more faster and sophisticated than before. Robots are taking
over the world as we speak. What will happen in the future, only time will tell.

51