3DP web banner (1128 × 191 px) (2048 × 1152 px).png

Current Research

This page is for the Current Research that Chico State Students did as part of Either SPE or through UGR^2 and MESA. All of this research was done at an undergraduate level. This research is ongoing or will be conducted in the Spring Semester In preparation of the SPE GGS research competition.

Biocomposite

Using a Twinscrew compounder to create 5,10,20,30% biocomposites pellets for injection molding, using organic material from waste sources. This project's aim is to see how biofillers compare to each other to find the strongest and most sustainable composite.

Composite Filament

Trying to take the pellets made in part 1 for injection molding and adapt them to make FDM filament that can reliably print. The aim is to create a product that students can use to learn more about bioalternatives.

Strength of FDM

This is a secondary research project from last year's Infill vs Wall research. This research will try to isolate the dependent variable affecting strength, specifically examining how the surface area between layers affects strength.

Composite Resin

This research is aimed at combining SLA UV resin and 2-part high strength compression epoxy resin to see if there is a cheaper alternative to current options for 3D printing low-volume injection molds for proof of concept.

Past Research

This page is for the Past Research that Chico State Students did as part of Either SPE or through UGR^2 and MESA. All of this research was done at an undergraduate level. This research is older then one semester.

Rice Straw Filament

Dylan Sanders proved that you can realiably create a filament out of 5, 10, 15, 20% rice straw PLA composites. For FDM printing. He also compared the strength of RS PLA to RS PP

Mycellium

Isa Cook successfully made a biocomposite using shitake mycelium as the biofiller and did SEM testing to show that the material was amorphous.

Bamboo

Gonzalo Sandoval successfully made a biocomposite PLA using Bamboo utensils that he ground and milled into a powder. He showed that based on the particle size of the powder, he could improve the UTS.

Seaweed Algae

Diego Rubio examined the defference between bladderwack seaweed and store bought seaweed algae. Showing there was an insignificant difference in their strength when used as a biofiller with PLA

Hops

Paul Maready succefully made a biofiller compisite using spent hops after the brewing process, and showed a negligible strength change. The research went so well that the company that provided the hops Sierra Nevada is sponsoring a fall project.

Wheat Straw

Paul Maready made a biofiller using Wheat straw that is generated in the brewing process and this filler is the easiest to mold and strongest so far.

Coffee Grounds

Using the spent coffee grounds from Dutch Bros Coffee, we were able to make a biocomposite of up to 30% agro-filler. This is the first of the biofillers to come out stark black.

Infill vs Walls

This project examined what affects tensile and shear strength in FDM prints. By increasing the wall rather than the infill, we proved that the strength of shear and tension is more likely related to walls than infill. Increasing the walls from 3 to 4 is the same as increasing the infill from 25 to 75%