The lineup of EnvisionTEC 3D printers provides organizations with a range of 3D printing capabilities regardless of which industry they are in. Specifically, the EnvisionTEC 3D Bioplotter is an advanced 3D printer architected for numerous types of biofabrication techniques.

This printer supports a versatile array of materials. The Bioplotter has been used in over 200 research studies involving 3D printing of tissue and functional organs, using both the EnvisionTEC materials and a variety of others. Let’s quickly review this groundbreaking printer and explore its numerous material options.

EnvisionTEC 3D Printer: The Bioplotter

The EnvisionTEC 3D Bioplotter is an advanced 3D printer that can handle all of your biofabrication and biomedical printing needs. There are two models: the Manufacturer Series, which is ideal for advanced tissue engineering research and production, and the Developer Series, which is made for smaller research groups new to biomedical printing. Since its initial release back in 2000, this printer has been used for:

  • Bone regeneration
  • Drug releases
  • Soft tissue printing
  • Cell printing
  • Organ printing
  • Cartilage fabrication

EnvisionTEC Materials

LT Support RG

This research-grade cellulose derivative is processed as a hydrogel, ideal for short and medium-long print projects. The molecular components of this material allow it to be dispensed with other hydrogels without directly dissolving the other hydrogel sacrificial materials. This EnvisionTEC material is completely biocompatible and cell friendly, so any leftover residue will not impact the final performance of the part being printed.

Once parts are printed, the supporting materials can be easily removed by placing the entire part in distilled water or a nutrient media bath. Depending on liquid movement and temperature, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours to completely dissolve the supporting materials.

Support materials can dissolve in a matter of minutes to hours, just by placing the 3D printed part in distilled water.

HT Support RG

HT Support RG is similar to the LT Support RG EnvisionTEC material, but it is a sugar derivative that can be processed as a melt. Its molecular makeup results in no measurable degradation during printing, so it is better for prolonged printing jobs. Parts printed using the HT Support RG material can dissolve their support components using distilled, room temperature water, in a matter of minutes.
Working

Both the LT Support RG and HT Support RG materials use sacrificial components to support their 3D shapes. This additional support is needed for printing shapes that have external appendages or elongated parts. These sacrificial materials not only provide the mechanical support that the parts require, but remove the need to have a flat surface attached to the printing platform.

PCL 45K RG

Polycaprolactone is a versatile thermoplastic that provides lots of printing flexibility. It is ideal for printing large time-consuming parts and has little thermal degradation. Designers can determine the flexibility or stiffness of their parts by altering the part porosity. While flexible parts are good for cartilage regeneration and tissue engineering, more solid objects that have heightened mechanical stability are better for bone regeneration.

Scientists can easily make PCL 45K RG flexible or rigid based on the designed porosity of the part.

Silicone TG

This technical-grade silicon is the first material that the initial EnvisionTEC 3D Bioplotter prototype printed with back in 2000. Silicon TG is inexpensive compared to other materials, so it is a perfect testing material for new shapes and patterns, technical parts, or medical device casings. It can also be used for biomedical purposes, such as soft implants (breast, nose, ear), wound dressings, or surgical planning models.

Silicone is inexpensive, making it the ideal material to test new shapes and printing patterns.

Endless Material Options

printerWith the EnvisionTEC 3D printer, users are not limited to these four material options. They can use any material they want – the only requirement is that the material must solidify in order to print 3D shapes successfully. That means engineers aren’t required to use preprocessed filaments. You can use a variety of raw materials on their own, or mix them with the support EnvisionTEC materials.

A Range of Biomedical Possibilities Using EnvisionTEC Materials

The EnvisionTEC 3D Bioplotter provides medical professionals and engineers with the flexibility they need to continue revolutionizing the healthcare industry with 3D printing. The available EnvisionTEC materials combined with the endless material options allows organizations to print virtually medical device, part, or tissue formation they desire.

Interested in purchasing an EnvisionTEC 3D Bioplotter and EnvisionTEC materials? Contact us today.