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Materials Science in Additive Manufacturing 2D/3D visualization software for bioprinting

the exterior and interior structure of a 3D model before (which are obtained from several G-codes’ 3D models) are
printing . Similarly, in the research paper by Gahbiche presented alongside in-depth analyses and discussions;
[16]
et al., script is built to implement the G-code commands and finally, section 4 provides a brief summary of the work
into the finite element software; this is used to control the and concludes the paper.
movements of the tool during the simulation of the sheet
formation processes . 2. Methods
[17]
Over the past years, we have developed an integrated The visualization software was developed to preview 3D
3D bioprinting system, consisting of a robotic arm and models before they were passed over to the computer
microfluidic pumps, and have been utilizing it to 3D numerical control machine. This allows for visualizing
print biological constructs. One application was using the the G-code text file, which contains codified movement
system with a peptide-based material inside 3D printed instructions for the tool path. However, unlike a simulator
support molds [18,19] . Later, the system was extended to which shows the exact movement of the printer in the
be a dual-arm printing system, called TwinPrint that process of fabricating the intended object layer by layer,
controls two 3D bioprinting sets of printing arms. The a viewer simply shows the path of the layers of which the
motivation behind building the TwinPrint Software was objects are created (i.e., there is no movement shown, simply
to have a single software operating bioprinting devices of arrows). Nonetheless, these movement commands are
different structures. TwinPrint eases the tedious aspect of essential for plotting 2D and 3D objects. Previewing the 3D
the printing process that deals with the usage of multiple model before printing is crucial as it is one way to check if the
software to control each device in a bioprinting set. For loaded G-code file is of the desired model. Moreover, errors
[20]
more information on TwinPrint, refer to this paper . in the G-code file can be detected when viewing the 3D
model. Consequently, this increases the efficiency of printing
Nonetheless, the TwinPrint Software lacks a 3D model by either reducing printing errors or avoiding printing of
previewer, which is crucial to check G-code errors and improper shapes, saving the user both time and materials.
model corrections. In the CoraPrint method that we
developed for coral restoration purposes, coral skeletons 2.1. G-code procurement
[21]
were 3D printed for the coral fragments to host . The Initially, the 3D digital model images were obtained from
asymmetrical shape of the coral adds to the complications scanning physical objects. A CAD software, SolidWorks,
3D bioprinting provides, thus exemplifying this software’s was then used to re-engineer the scanned models
handiness in viewing the shapes. For this purpose, this and export them as STL files. The STL files were then
paper proposes a 2D and 3D G-code preview software to transferred to a slicing software (e.g., Slic3r) to slice the 3D
be integrated within the TwinPrint System. The developed virtual model and from there a G-code file was provided
preview software displays the formation of the layers for the given model. The G-code file was then fed to the
involved in developing the selected 3D model, layer by printing software to preview and print the 3D construct.
layer, and piles them up to form their collective 3D model. The overall process needed to 3D print using a G-code is
The remainder of the paper is organized as follows: summarized in Figure 1.
in section 2, the methodology shares how the G-code
previewer software was built, starting from the procurement 2.2. G-code parsing and coordinate calculations
of the G-code to the development of the graphical user A G-code parsing script was created to read the information
interface (GUI); in section 3, the preview software’s results inside the uploaded G-code file line by line. The script

Figure 1. An overview of the three-dimensional printing process using the geometric code software.

Volume 1 Issue 3 (2022) 3 https://doi.org/10.18063/msam.v1i3.19