Here at 3D Rapid Print, one of the fastest growing 3D Printing companies in the Thames Valley, we like to keep abreast of the latest innovations in 3D printing.
On February 21st 2023, science news website Advanced Science News spoke of researchers at Jilin University in China unveiling a new method to 4D print metallic parts via laser powder bed diffusion. (4D printing refers to 3D printing a material that can change shape in response to environmental stimuli, for example humidity, light, heat and electromagnetic fields.) Advanced Science News argued that the only materials historically used for 4D printing have been polymers and shape-memory alloys that deform when cooled, but return to their original shape when heated. The team’s research was published in the journal Advanced Science.
To produce a shape-morphing object with the required mechanical properties, the team exposed certain areas of a stainless steel powder to a specially programmed sequence of laser pulses. Cooling the object released the controlled mechanical stresses the laser pulses caused, leading to the prescribed deformation; the team created various metallic structures in several different shapes this way. They hope that their method will find applications in the space and aviation industries, including potentially using regular spare parts to repair in-service space stations with irregular shell damage.
A more novel example of 4D printing involves the University of Chicago. In late March 2022, researchers there announced that they had developed a 3D printing ink that could be used to make 4D printed objects that mimic human tissue. Study author Eben Alsberg hoped that the team’s work would lead to improvements in artificial tissue engineering, as well as more accurate studies on how tissue cells develop their shape. The team’s research was published in the journal Advanced Materials.
3D printing is an amazing tool. It can grow your small business or start a mini revolution in an industry. Explore what it can do for you when you contact us today.
Disclaimer: Featured image of “Chodowiecki Basedow Tafel 21 c Z” is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author’s life plus 100 years or fewer.
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