For everything to work, the material to be printed is carefully calculated and formatted according to the transformations scientists want to obtain.įrom there, the printer creates the three-dimensional object, applying a special substance at key points in the structure. It undergoes physical transformations that alter its shapes and dimensions. Because they can shrink and unfold, items that are too large to fit in a printer can be compressed and then become full size.Īt the current stage of development of 4D printing technology, printed materials use a special type of ink that reacts when in contact with water. The most obvious advantage of 4D printing is that objects larger than printers can be printed as just one part. This transformation is possible due to the programmable and advanced materials used by 4D printers, which can change the behavior of objects over time. So the big advance of 4D printing technology over 3D is its ability to change shape even after it’s ready. Using a 3D printer, the institute’s scientists created a technique capable of generating three-dimensionally printed objects that can change shape over time, this being its fourth dimension. Simply put, what 3D printers do is repeat a 2D structure several times, layer by layer, until a 3D volume is created. Scientists have also presented models capable of reproducing three-dimensional human tissues and bones, which can help - in principle, without side effects - in a variety of treatments.ĤD printing, developed by MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), emerged at the MIT Self-Assembly Lab and, although there is no consensus on it, some say that designer and computer scientist Skylar Tibbits coined the term 4D Printing in this context. Shoes and insoles designed especially for people who suffer from orthopedic problems are some possible creations. This popularization allowed the purchase not only for industrial production, but also for personal use.ģD printers are also being studied for medical purposes. In 2009, it could already be found for five thousand dollars and today, it is possible to purchase a simple traditional model for less than R$700. When it was created, about 10 years ago, it was necessary to pay around 30 thousand dollars to acquire the technology. The equipment, which was already used by large companies, was available to the public at a high cost, but the price has been gradually decreasing, and today there are already very affordable models on the market. In addition to being fast, the printers do not have toxic materials in their manufacture, and the materials used for printing do not deform over time. By reading specific files for its operation, it is possible to create the most diverse types of objects, such as decorative pieces, food, and even tattoos. The materials used in printing are usually plastic resin, laser modeling and metal frame. However, while the industry is still discovering new applications, materials and printers, another technology is already starting to gain traction: 4D printing.īut how is it possible to add a fourth dimension to printed products? In 4D printing, a 3D-printed object is transformed into another structure through the influence of environmental stimuli such as light, wind, and temperature.ģD printers can print any kind of thing using three-dimensional printing technology. 3D printing technology has been around for nearly 30 years.
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