Guest_Jim_* Posted September 28, 2015 Posted September 28, 2015 While 3D printing can allow a variety of objects to be made almost anywhere, it can still be better if what is made is a flat or rolled into a tube, for easy shipping. This naturally requires the object is later formed from its shipping shape, so researchers have been working on ways to get the objects to do this on their own. Typically these earlier attempts involved the controlled heating of the object, but researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have reversed the formula to a degree, simplifying the process. To create these self-folding objects, shape memory polymers (SMPs) are used, as they are able to be programmed with a shape that will take on when heat is applied. Previous work applied relied on heaters attached at specific points and activated at specific times to control the folding. This new approach however builds that control into the object by controlling the amount of SMP used in the different pieces, which 3D printers are able to do. When heat is evenly applied then, such as by warm water, the differing amounts control the folding, and do so precisely enough that the pieces can actually interlock with each other. There are a variety of applications for this research, even beyond the easier to ship flat and rolled objects that later fold into shape. Unmanned aircraft could potentially use this technology to controllably alter their shape depending on the situation, such as when transitioning from cruising to diving. Source: Georgia Institute of Technology Back to original news post Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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