New Orleans, Louisiana – A new 4-D printer technology has been unveiled by scientists from Georgia Institute of Technology and the Singapore University of Technology and Design. It allows more than one material to be printed at the same time.
Speaking at the American Chemical Society meeting in New Orleans, the team described their prototype printer. It is designed to make self-assembling structures that can change shape after being exposed to stimuli such as heat or humidity. The presenters suggested it could be useful in aerospace and medicine.
4-D printing is a challenge. It often requires complex, time-consuming post-processing steps to mechanically programme each component. Many commercial printers can only print 4-D structures composed of a single material.