This summer the Rizk lab acquired a new 3D printer thanks to support from the Research Corporation for Science Advancement. The SnapMaker Artisan 2 3D printer will help with many aspects of research and outreach done by Dr. Rizk and the students in the Rizk lab. The machine is used to print protein structures to provide physical models to show how they fit together in multi-subunit configurations. This will be a great outreach tool for demonstrations on how proteins work. The machine is also used to model "new" protein structures engineered in the Rizk lab as a way to investigate how the structures give rise to new functions.
Students in the Rizk lab are also learning new skills of 3D modeling and using their skills to print parts for machines and instruments used around the lab. The Rizk lab is building collaborations with other departments at IU South Bend and the University of Notre Dame to design and manufacture specialized parts for research in physics, biology, and bacteriology. With a wide print plate, the machine can print large objects, or many small objects in parallel. But the machine is more than just a 3D printer. With interchangeable heads, it can be easily converted to a laser cutter/engraver or a CNC (computer numerical control) machine for precision carving. With the versatility of the instrument, we hope that it will be a valuable resource within the department as well as for other departments and universities in the region through active collaborations.
The 3D printer is shown in the process of printing a standard known as 3D benchy, which is a boat with very specific dimensions used universally to calibrate 3D printer settings.
