We asked if we could print things that change shape and change properties to behave in precise programmed ways. Skylar Tibbits from Massachusetts Institute of Technology is leading this research along with Stratasys which is a digital manufacturing company in 4D printing. They are combining various types of polymers and fibers that have the shape-changing ability in response to a stimulus like heat or water. Researchers at MIT, Autodesk and Stratasys are working on some secret materials to develop new and economically feasible 4D printing applications. Recently Nervous System design studio, Massachusetts developed a fully wearable dress printed in one single piece using 4D printing technology.Ī Fully wearable dress printed in one single piece using 4D printing technology Other processes include use of pressurized fluids, electroactive polymers, chemicals and the response of “smart” materials to light. Shape memory alloy is once such technology in which a temperature change stimulates a shape change. With the addition of time (a stimulus), objects get adaptive and self-evolving capabilities.Īlthough this concept isn’t new, the amount of interest being shown by scientists to produce 4D printed objects is now increasing. 4D printing adds time to the length, width and height of the objects. 4D printing (also known as adaptive additive manufacturing).ĤD printing is a recently coined popular term which may be attributed to an object which changes shape over the time. Now the researchers are working on “smart” materials which can change shape by themselves and hence 3D printing is moving into the next dimension i.e. The price of 3D printing has fallen below $1,000 and recently a Chinese company launched world’s first affordable personal 3D scanner and printer. This year 3D printing turned 30 years old and it has emerged as one of the fastest growing technologies with endless opportunities.

Define 4d printing