Mar 15 , 2024
How a 3D Printer Can Tattoo Your Body
How a 3D Printer Can Tattoo Your Body
Last year, a team of former students from a French design school created a robot that tattoos computer generated designs on human skin.tattoo machine 3d printer The machine, called Tatoue, was quite the sensation, and while it has yet to replace flesh-and-blood tattoo artists, it does open a lot of possibilities for future uses.
To create their tattooing machine, the designers took a MakerBot Replicator 3D printer and swapped out the extruder for a pen.tattoo machine 3d printer They began by drawing simple shapes on simulated skin, and then put out a call for volunteers to be the first people to get inked by the machine. Eventually, people began lining up to be tattooed, and the makers of the machine were able to tattoo a few designs on actual humans.
The main problem they faced was the curved surface of human skin, and they came up with various ways to flatten the person’s arm in order for the machine to work properly.tattoo machine 3d printer To do this, they tried a number of things like metal rings, elastics and even scotch tape to secure the area to be marked, but the best solution turned out to be a scooter’s inner tube. The designers then used this to tattoo a simple shape on the volunteer’s arm. They’ve since been tinkering with the machine, and they’re working on making it able to do more complex tattoos on other parts of the body.
There’s still a long way to go before this machine will be able to compete with the intricacy of flesh-and-blood tattoo artists, but it’s impressive to see just how far technology can come.tattoo machine 3d printer In the meantime, if you want to try getting a tattoo from this machine, don’t expect it to be easy: The video below shows the device puncturing prop limbs at up to 150 times per second.
This DIY 3D printer can tattoo your body with a pattern of cells that light up when exposed to certain chemical or molecular compounds.
The scientists developed a new 3D printing technique that allows them to create living tattoos on the skin. The researchers used a special ink that contains conductive silver, which is tattooed on the skin using a standard 3D printer. The conductive ink is then activated by the body’s natural chemistry to make the cells glow in different colours.
These luminous tattoos could be useful in diagnosing health problems and even helping to save lives by alerting medical staff of possible infections or other serious conditions. The research was published this week in the journal Science Advances. The team hope to develop the technique further, with the aim of creating tattoos that can detect biological or chemical agents, or even charge critical electronic devices. They’re also hoping to use the technology to print electronic tattoos that can power the sensors of military personnel, to help them detect biotoxins and other dangerous substances. The researchers are currently testing the system on mice, but they’re planning to expand their trials to include other species soon.