Create transformable objects with 3D printing technology

A team of researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology and two other organizations have successfully developed new 3D printing methods that create objects that can be transformed into a variety of different shapes when exposed to heat.

The team, consisting of researchers from Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and Xi'an Jiaotong University in China, created objects by printing polymer layers capable of memorizing shapes with Each layer is designed to meet different heat exposures.

This new technology can create material networks that change shape when heated.

"This new approach significantly simplifies and increases 4D printing capabilities by combining the following steps to process mechanical programming directly into 3D printing," said Jerry Qi, a professor at the School of Engineering. Engineering George W. Woodruff commented. This allows 3D printing of components designed with high resolution computer simulations and then directly and quickly translating into new permanent configurations by simply heating.

The team did this by using intelligent shape-keeping polymers (SMPS) , which have the ability to remember a program shape and shape change that is made when a certain temperature is applied, to make objects fold up according to the hinges.

3D printing technology is growing with many contributions to the progress of humanity.

"The approach can achieve minimal printing time and material savings of up to 90 percent, while completely eliminating time-consuming mechanical programs from design and production," Jerry said. Qi said.

In order to demonstrate the ability of this innovation, the team created a number of objects that could bend or expand quickly when exposed to hot water - including a pattern of a flower with petals. bend like a jasmine flower and when exposed to sunlight it can expand up to nearly eight times its original size.

"Our composite material at room temperature is just a soft material but can be programmed to withstand a huge pressure when needed, a breakthrough compared to other materials," Zhen Ding, A researcher at Singapore University of Technology and Design adds. "We use computational simulations to design hard-component composite components to protect 3D printed soft materials. After heating, hard materials soften and allow soft materials to turn. The design follows the design and this result will produce the product with the design of the designer. "

With the transformation ability of the new method, its applicability will be infinite.

4D objects created under this new method can allow a range of new product features, such as allowing the product to be stacked flat or rolled and then expanded. When needed, the researchers said. Finally, this technology allows components to respond to stimuli such as temperature, humidity or light by precisely timed to create spatial structures, medical devices, robots, furniture. Play and a variety of other buildings are being considered.

"The key to this research is to establish a simple 4D printing process by combining complex, high-resolution 3D printing products with reprogramming , " Martin L. Dunn said. Professor at Singapore University of Technology and Design, director of SUTD Digital Design and Production Center said. "It promises to enable a multitude of applications between biomedical devices, 3D electronics, and consumer products. It even opens the door to a new model in product design. , where components are designed from start to configuration in service ".