4D printing: Self-Folding Structures

4D Printing: Change the Shape

What if you could 3D- print something, add some water and watch it change into a new form? Sounds like magic? It’s called 4D printing.

“4D Printing, developed as a collaboration between the Self-Assembly Lab, Stratasys and Autodesk, is a new process for printing customizable smart materials. 4D Printing entails multi-material prints utilizing the Stratasys Connex printer with the added capability of shape-transformation from one state to another, directly off the print-bed.” Using only water, heat, light or other simple energy input, this technique offers adaptability and dynamic response for structures and systems of all sizes. Somehow it reminded me a bit of the shape shifting BMW Gina car.

Source: Self Assembly Lab