23-07-2014, 10:33 AM
4D PRINTING
[attachment=66146]
INTRODUCTION
3D printing is over 20 years old, but it feels like we’re just finally starting to truly unlock the potential of the technology. The continued march of technology is relentless, however, and some inventors are already thinking about what comes next4D printing takes inspiration from sources in nature. However, in order for this idea to be of any use, different forms of energy must also be harnessed.
HISTORICAL APPROACHES
The world of printing was set to be revolutionised by the advent of affordable 3D printers capable of creating solid shapes and structures on-the-fly from digital models.
However, before 3D printers have even hit the shelves, the concept of 4D printing has emerged and promises to completely change printing technology in exciting new ways
What Is 4D Printing?
The fourth dimension in 4D printing refers to materials that are able to change and mutate over time when exposed to water, temperature changes and/or air to self assemble.
4D printing uses a specialised form of 3D printer4D printing uses this layering process and applies it to create
intelligent models that have been programmed to independently
transform and assemble into different designs
How 4D Printing Works ?
4D Printers are specially adapted 3D printers that can use "smart" materials during the layering process. This smart material is bonded with standard strands of plastic and is capable of absorbing water. When a shape or model is printed, the smart material containing the water is able to expand, forcing the rest of the structure to start twisting or bending. Thus, when a printed model is being assembled it is also being programmed to react and form a new shape as the water layer expands Self-Folding Sheets: Hyperbolic Paraboloid from Skylar Tibbits.
Possible Applications
Pressure, temperature change, vibrations and even light could prove to be effective sources of activation energy.
All of these potential energy sources can be found in space, so Tibbits proposes that 4D printing could create simple designs that can be shipped and stored compactly.
When deployed on board a space shuttle or even the International Space Station, these designs could be transformed into much more complex structures.
However, most people will probably be more excited to hear that the self-building principle of 4D printing could revolutionise the concept of flat pack furniture.
The programmable objects could transform from simple designs into pieces of furniture without any user assembly.
It will also affect the field of fashion designing. Various types of dresses will hit the fashion world which would be able to change there shapes.
CONCLUSION
With 4D printing and it’s advancement there is a future ahead which today seems to be dream and if 3D printing is disruptive then wait for 4D .It can be concluded that the project cyborg led by MIT in self-assembly lab will prove to be a great advancement in each and every field.
While there is still work to be done to make the idea of 4D printing real, scientists at MIT are hard at work to show that it can be done. With the idea of the fourth dimension, Tibbits is showing that science just might change how we view the construction and building of objects.
[attachment=66146]
INTRODUCTION
3D printing is over 20 years old, but it feels like we’re just finally starting to truly unlock the potential of the technology. The continued march of technology is relentless, however, and some inventors are already thinking about what comes next4D printing takes inspiration from sources in nature. However, in order for this idea to be of any use, different forms of energy must also be harnessed.
HISTORICAL APPROACHES
The world of printing was set to be revolutionised by the advent of affordable 3D printers capable of creating solid shapes and structures on-the-fly from digital models.
However, before 3D printers have even hit the shelves, the concept of 4D printing has emerged and promises to completely change printing technology in exciting new ways
What Is 4D Printing?
The fourth dimension in 4D printing refers to materials that are able to change and mutate over time when exposed to water, temperature changes and/or air to self assemble.
4D printing uses a specialised form of 3D printer4D printing uses this layering process and applies it to create
intelligent models that have been programmed to independently
transform and assemble into different designs
How 4D Printing Works ?
4D Printers are specially adapted 3D printers that can use "smart" materials during the layering process. This smart material is bonded with standard strands of plastic and is capable of absorbing water. When a shape or model is printed, the smart material containing the water is able to expand, forcing the rest of the structure to start twisting or bending. Thus, when a printed model is being assembled it is also being programmed to react and form a new shape as the water layer expands Self-Folding Sheets: Hyperbolic Paraboloid from Skylar Tibbits.
Possible Applications
Pressure, temperature change, vibrations and even light could prove to be effective sources of activation energy.
All of these potential energy sources can be found in space, so Tibbits proposes that 4D printing could create simple designs that can be shipped and stored compactly.
When deployed on board a space shuttle or even the International Space Station, these designs could be transformed into much more complex structures.
However, most people will probably be more excited to hear that the self-building principle of 4D printing could revolutionise the concept of flat pack furniture.
The programmable objects could transform from simple designs into pieces of furniture without any user assembly.
It will also affect the field of fashion designing. Various types of dresses will hit the fashion world which would be able to change there shapes.
CONCLUSION
With 4D printing and it’s advancement there is a future ahead which today seems to be dream and if 3D printing is disruptive then wait for 4D .It can be concluded that the project cyborg led by MIT in self-assembly lab will prove to be a great advancement in each and every field.
While there is still work to be done to make the idea of 4D printing real, scientists at MIT are hard at work to show that it can be done. With the idea of the fourth dimension, Tibbits is showing that science just might change how we view the construction and building of objects.