Fabrication of a Low-Cost, Motorized, 3D-Printed Mechanical Testing Device Compatible with Confocal Microscopy

Current mechanical testing approaches in bioengineering involve systems that are bulky, expensive, and unable to work in tandem with many characterization procedures. In this thesis, we report the fabrication of a 3D-printed mechanical testing device with motorized translation controllable over a Bluetooth connection. Furthermore, with a form factor constrained to a 96-well plate, the device is able to fit into most conventional microscopy stages for simultaneous characterization of microstructure deformation under a quantifiable mechanical load. The construction of this device is performed using commercially-available 3D printers and metal fasteners, therefore production costs are as low as $100. Two design approaches to the device are detailed, and results of mechanical testing on multiple synthetic materials, as well as biological tissue, are discussed. We determined that this device, though not yet generalizable to mechanical analysis of all complex materials, does show significant promise as a viable microscopy-compatible mechanical testing device.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Natural Sciences

Grantor

Rice University

Year dc:date.issued

2019

Author dc:creator

• Mehta, Shail M

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Grande-Allen, K. Jane

• Mechanical Testing
• Microscopy
• Biomechanics
• 3D Printing

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1911/105973

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/105973