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Vaccines prompt an immune response in the body that produces antibodies to fight a specific pathogen.
In this kinetic sculpture, a COVID19 virus is attacked and disabled by antibodies. The virus and antibodies are neutrally buoyant, allowing them to spin and move when the surrounding water is agitated.
This COVID19 virus design is based on an icosahedron and so has 20 “protein spikes.” The tips of the protein spikes and the receptor surfaces of the antibodies have contours that force them into proper alignment so that each virus could potentially be surrounded by 20 antibodies. Small magnets attract and hold the antibodies to the virus.
For each COVID19 virus you will need to print two of either “Half COVID” or “Half COVID supports” and one “Connector.” Use a vice and some spacers to press fit the two “Half COVID” pieces together as pictured above. You should not need glue. Be sure that you connect them in the proper alignment.
Print as many of the “Antibody” pieces as you like. Then need to be printed with the receptor surface oriented upwards. I suggest raising them a few millimeters of the print bed with support structures to print. The support structures create a nice rough looking texture that you can just leave as is.
Achieving neutral buoyancy is the tricky part of this print and you can expect to do several trial prints before you get it right. Specific settings will vary according to the set-up and materials you are using. The settings that I use may serve as a start point for you.
I used a .8mm nozzle and three wall layers. I printed the COVID19 virus at 30% grid infill. For the antibody, I suggest thickening the bottom layer to 2.4mm and then trying 50% infill. Thickening the bottom layer makes the antibody float with the receptor facing upwards which increases frequency of connecting with the virus. If your test print floats too much, increase your infill density. If it sinks, decrease your density. Repeat.
The magnets are all 1/8” x 1/16” cylindrical magnets. www.kjmagnetics.com is a good source. Be sure that polarity is oriented so all virus magnets are one way and all antibody magnets are the opposite. I suggest cleaning out the magnet holes with a hand-turned 1/8” drill bit first before inserting magnets. Some magnets may need to be glued; CA glue works well.
The water needs to be agitated in some way for the pieces to move and interact. Stirring works OK, but this pump set up works best: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4749176
