Page 236 - IJB-10-5

International Journal of Bioprinting Effect of ingredient flow speed

Since the radius of the capsule R, design volume V , flow experimental data unveiled that the amount of material
E
behavior n, and consistency index k are constants, Equation extruded is independent of the nozzle geometry when the
(XIII) can be reduced to the following Equation (XIV). volume extruded is greater than 20 mL. Other findings
included the effects of the process parameters on the
resolution, which revealed two interesting observations: (i)
the printing speed in Foodini does not affect the diameter
XIV of the 3D-printed straight line, and (ii) the ingredient
flow speed V affects the actual printing speed, even
IFS
when the printing speed in Foodini is kept constant.
Thus, the proposed theoretical relationship between ΔP Nonetheless, the findings of this investigation validated
and ingredient flow speed V can be described as follows: the complex relationship between the parameters due to
IFS
the introduction of V . A direct validation method should
IFS
ΔP ∝ V n+1 be developed in the future to verify the model. Although
IFS
MPs are used as the ink of study, more food materials can
be researched and analyzed to improve the applicability
It is predicted that there is a power law relationship
between pressure drop and ingredient flow speed. of the model. Overall, this study offers valuable insights
into Foodini-based extrusion printing and may serve
However, the measurement of pressure drop inside the as a foundational guide for further exploration in this
Foodini capsule proves to be extremely challenging. It is evolving field.
not practical, within current means, to validate the power
law relationship via experimentation. Nevertheless, this Acknowledgments
proposed theoretical relationship aligns with the current
logic that higher pressure would result in larger material P.X.N.L acknowledged the financial support from the
extrusion. SUTD PhD Fellowship presented by the Ministry of
Education (MOE), Singapore.
5. Conclusion
In this research, both experimental and theoretical Funding
approaches were used to understand the extrusion- The authors would like to thank SUTD Kickstarter
based printing process of Foodini, particularly the effect Initiative SKI_2021_02_05 for the funding support.
of ingredient flow speed. Despite the increasing use of
Foodini in research, this is the first work that attempts to Conflict of interest
analyze the food extrusion process in Foodini. Through The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
this study, a novel Foodini-specific model is introduced,
which elucidates the correlation between the process Author contributions
parameters and the extrusion resolution. The proposed
model also serves as a framework for future food printers Conceptualization: Phoebe Xin Ni Leam, Jia An, Chen
and a modeling approach superior to a math model. Huei Leo, U-Xuan Tan, Chee Kai Chua
Furthermore, this model is unique as it considers the Formal analysis: Phoebe Xin Ni Leam, Aakanksha Pant, Jia
rheological properties of the materials and printer-specific An, U-Xuan Tan, Chee Kai Chua
process controls, i.e., V . However, one limitation of this Investigation: Phoebe Xin Ni Leam, Aakanksha Pant, Jia
IFS
model is that there is no existing method to validate the An, U-Xuan Tan, Chee Kai Chua
model, as Foodini is not equipped with the capability to Methodology: Phoebe Xin Ni Leam, Aakanksha Pant, Jia
measure pressure. Experimental results have reported a An, Chen Huei Leo, U-Xuan Tan, Chee Kai Chua
constant extrusion rate that is independent of the nozzle Writing – original draft: Phoebe Xin Ni Leam, Aakanksha
geometry and ingredient flow speed in the dot extrusion Pant, Jia An, U-Xuan Tan, Chee Kai Chua
mode. However, in other printing modes where slicing is Writing – review & editing: Phoebe Xin Ni Leam,
required, the ingredient flow speed affects the extrusion Aakanksha Pant, Jia An, Chen Huei Leo, U-Xuan Tan,
rate. Another finding about the Foodini printer is the Chee Kai Chua
difference between the printing speed of Foodini and the Ethics approval and consent to participate
actual printing speed, which could be due to the direct
conversion of the speed of the electric motor. In addition, Not applicable.

Volume 10 Issue 5 (2024) 228 doi: 10.36922/ijb.2787