Move over, 3D Printing! Because 4D Printing is now the coolest technology in town!
Hi! guys! Yes, you heard it right! We know that the 3D printing technology can make highly complex and customizable products. I wrote a little on 3D Printing in a post here. 3D printing made products via a layer-by-layer additive process. So what exactly is the 4th dimension? The physics guys will know the answer. Yes! It is TIME! But what do I mean by time? Let me show you.
4D printing, one of the coolest technology in town
Skylar Tibbits, a designer, artist, architect, scientist, all-in-one coined the term, 4D printing. You 3D print a product that can change its appearance like shape, color, size, etc, over time when triggered by something in the environment. This "something" can be anything like water, heat, light, pressure, etc. And the key to unlocking the appearance transformation lies in the “programming” of such “smart” materials. As a materials engineer myself, I can imagine three challenges for materials scientists.
First, it is difficult to 3D print new materials and composites because we do not know the optimum parameters (e.g. transition temperatures, melting rate and cooling rate) to 3D print them and form a product. Then, what comes next is the ability to program this function in the materials design. Last of all is that, after the 4d printed products react to the external force, there tend to be a degradation in the mechanical strength and this means that they might not be able to maintain their function performance as intended. Hence, materials scientists face exciting challenges to design new materials and composites that can be both 3D printed and at the same time, smart.
Let’s have a look at what the researchers are doing in their labs!
See how the smart coil amazingly forms the word "MIT" in water
Or how the plastic tube forms a different shape when immersed in water.
Or imagine when you drop something and it re-assembles by itself miraculously...
Smart Products made from 4D Printing
So now, we know that 4D Printing fabricates smart products made up of smart materials! What are the possible applications that 4D printing can have?
Biomedical applications
4D Printing has one of its successful products in biomedical applications. A sixteen-month-old baby, Garrett Peterson was born with a defect in the bronchial tubes which resulted in breathing difficulties. This was a particular challenge for biomaterials scientists who seek to 4D print a splint. First of all, a splint should be flexible as the body moves and the shape is also highly customized. The splint must also be able to help open and hold the airways for two to three years before it becomes normal. Then, the splint must degrade at the optimum rate as the air ways become normal. There are of course, other biomedical implants which require similar functional performance and ability, and 4d printing may be the perfect process to make the implants.
Electronic gadgets
Imagine your mobile phone transforming into any shape you want? Here it is! Cubimorp is a shape changing electronic device developed by the researchers at University of Bristol. When you press an app, it can change the shape of handheld electronic devices accordingly to how the app wants the shape to be. You can even change its shape to your preferred mobile shape.
Clothes that change colors
The idea of clothes changing colors comes from an animal in nature - The chameleon! Imagine if the color of your clothes can blend in with the environment! This is biomimicry at its best! This potential application is particularly useful for military clothing which is worn to hide from the enemies. Or for ladies, imagine wear a dress that changes color as you walk! Totally cool!
Cool applications in 4d printing, isn't it? As promising as it sounds, there are still many more challenges in 4d printing and I look forward to sharing some with you in the future. If you are interested in 4d printing, please consider giving me a follow.
Images credits for gif: 1, 2, 3
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Very nice article @coinbitgold. Nice tech. I will be on the lookout for more of your posts. Consider yourself followed ☺
Thanks! Appreciate it!
3D printing with a time dimension, changing the properties of the material. Focus here is only material development not so much on 4D printing technique itself. Theoretically any conventional manufacturing process can use such a material, not just 3D printing.
Theoretically, yes, any conventional synthesis and manufacturing can produce such a material. But it is another thing to produce a product that is highly complex in design made up of such smart material. 4D printing will be useful for such needs.
but why do Skylar call it 4D printing... When it's just a normal 3D printing process with smart material. It's just me with grouses on the way this conversion technique is being marketed...
In the market , EPP , Foaming materials (just a few examples) for injection , extrusion processes are already commercialised where the materials properties change after processing for lightweight down gauge applications .
You are right though for highly complex design materials, 3D printing is the way to go in the long run, assuming the cycle time can be cut down drastically.
Because the final product can move. That's the time dimension - movement through time, rather than an objcet that stays in a static state once it's printed. The material is part of the printing process, so stating that it's "4D printing technology" isn't technically all that misleading.
Good marketing is good marketing ;-)
Thanks for the upvote , though mine wasn't really a backslapping positive yeah yeah yeah comment. :)
I have never heard about that. Cool! :)
As almost stated in the previous comment, I am looking forward the 4D toys (but their kids version) ^^
:-) lol indeed me too! there are many applications for domestic appliances actually. To me, they are the toys^^
This is so interesting! I especially liked the bio-mechanical concept with the infant's lungs and dissolving over time, at a certain point, but being flexible to work with the child. So crazy. And a chameleon-like dress? I'm in!
Yes! I think 4d printing brings 3d printing to another level. And yes, I think a a chameleon-like dress is totally cool!
Might be the next big thing. More medical uses would be a good thing.
I guess it would solve some underlying problems that used to exist in biomedical industry. And now, probably a little more tuning on the materials properties
true
This is going to revolutionize the adult toys industry!
LOL men! -_-
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