A team of students from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University recently showcased its 3D printing skills by printing braille labels on prescription bottles. The team is led by Dr. Tanil Ozkan, who is a visiting assistant professor in the department.
Dr. Andreas Polycarpou, head of the department, encouraged the team to showcase how its skills could help benefit society. The team members brainstormed and decided that visually impaired individuals might benefit from braille on many surfaces found around campus.
The team’s work was featured in a recent 3Dprint.com article where it used generic materials purchased at a local drugstore combined with an adhesion promoter and surfactant to add labels to the tops of the bottles, as well as signs found outside of classrooms.
The researchers realized early on that the challenges they faced couldn’t be met with traditional 3D printers. To resolve this challenge they designed a 3D printing filament that allowed for the enhanced adhesion characteristics needed to print onto the surfaces.
Mechanical engineering senior Yasushi Mizuno, Boston-based professional software engineer Artug Acar, and Ozkan worked to bring this proprietary technology to fruition.
“We did this as a service to the community and affectionately named the 3D printer Texas A&M 3D Braille Printer in true Aggie spirit,” said Ozkan.
