The 2nd edition of the 4D Printing & Meta Materials Conference took place on February 01, 2017, at Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands. At the same location, on February 02, the 3D Printing Materials Conference was held.
The conferences brought together over 150 attendees, who gathered to discuss the most disruptive applications of 3D printing and latest developments and applications in the field. They were not purely academic conferences, but innovative events bringing together brilliant minds and discoveries.
Speakers from Keio University, Hasso Plattner Institute, Fraunhofer IWM, Maastricht University, FOM Institute AMOLF, University of the West of England, University of Wollongong, Eindhoven University of Technology, Delft University of Technology and University of Stuttgart talked about the topics in focus.
The titles of the presentations included: New Origami (Foldable) Designs by Shape Memory Polymer Filament, Metamaterial Mechanisms, Towards 4D printed scaffolds for regenerative medicine, Meta-biomaterials, Rational design of reconfigurable prismatic architected materials, Design at the intersection of smart materials and 3D printing, 3D printed complex microoptics, Stimuli-responsive materials based on 3D structured liquid crystalline polymer networks.
Find more about the 2017 program. A photo impression of the event can be found here.
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Fast Facts on the Importance of 4D Printing & Meta Materials
Making and utilizing new materials to improve our life is a defining feature of mankind. We moved on from the stone age, to the bronze age, to the age of silicon and plastic. Now we are at the edge of a new episode, where technological breakthroughs allow us to create, investigate and dream of a total new range of structured forms of matter.
Two fields emerge strongly:
- 4D Printing offers a streamlined path from idea to full functionality.
- Mechanical metamaterials are structured materials with mechanical properties defined by their structure rather than their composition.
These are highly promising disciplines which develop in a synergistic manner, and which aim at creating entirely new forms of matter, which will lead to applications that have not yet been conceived.
Why is this relevant?
These fields offer not only tremendous opportunities for engineers but also for designers as many new applications will arise. Smart materials will solve design/engineering problems, which often arise from limitations of current materials. Applications can range from new materials for shoes and wearables, to applications in robotics and new type of sensors.
The 4D Printing & Meta Materials Conference will not only cover the academic results but will show how designers and engineers will see future applications and new markets.
Who should attend?
The conference is mainly addressed to:
- Engineers
- Designers
- Material researchers
- Material producers
- Academics
… but is open and of interest to anyone who sees potential in 4D Printing and Meta Materials!
Before the event, the registered participants will receive a list with all attendants at the conference. Expand your knowledge, enhance your network!
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