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Additive manufacturing of passive and active optical components – Presented by Andreas Heinrich, Aalen University

Andreas Heinrich

Additive manufacturing of passive and active optical components – Presented by Andreas Heinrich, Aalen University, Center for Optical Technologies, at the 4D Printing  & Meta Materials Conference, on April 17, during the 3D Printing Event at Brightlands Chemelot Campus in The Netherlands.

Additive manufacturing enables the realization of complex shaped parts. This also provides a high potential for optical components. Thus elements with virtually any geometry can be realized, which is often difficult with conventional fabrication methods. Continue reading “Additive manufacturing of passive and active optical components – Presented by Andreas Heinrich, Aalen University”

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Ceramics are moving into the 4D printing realm for the first time

Ceramics are moving into the 4D printing realm for the first time

For some materials, researchers have already moved beyond 3D printing to what’s being called 4D printing. In this process, time becomes the fourth dimension and objects can transform themselves over time when influenced by elements such as heat, mechanical force, or a magnetic field.

Now, scientists in China have developed a novel ink that takes ceramics into this 4D printing realm for the first time, paving the way for new structural applications of the material—including for electronic devices and aerospace. Specifically, a team at City University of Hong Kong created a ceramic ink using a mixture of polymers and ceramic nanoparticles that can print ceramic precursors that are soft and can be stretched three times beyond their initial length. Continue reading “Ceramics are moving into the 4D printing realm for the first time”

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ExportHub is media partner of 4D Printing & Meta Materials Conference

exporthub

ExportHub is media partner of 4D Printing & Meta Materials Conference

About ExportHub
ExportHub is an international B2B marketplace brand formed by a group of B2b & Internet marketing experts, who have spent their lifetime in pursuit of technology projects. People at ExportHub have prior internet marketing experience and are thorough with industry related knowledge.
Combining our strong B2B experience, technology expertise and profound knowledge of current industry trends, ExportHub offers innovative solutions to your business problems.

Unlike other B2B’s, ExportHub offers guaranteed result oriented services that differentiate us from the other B2B & Internet marketing industry. Over the last decade, ways to do business has changed multi-folds. To unleash your maximum business potential, we offer high-tech B2B and full-scale digital services. Continue reading “ExportHub is media partner of 4D Printing & Meta Materials Conference”

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4D Textiles: 3D printed hybrid textiles for shape change and self assembly – Presented by David Schmelzeisen, Insitut für Textiltechnik der RWTH Aachen University

David Schmelzeisen

4D Textiles: 3D printed hybrid textiles for shape change and self assembly – Presented by David Schmelzeisen, Insitut für Textiltechnik der RWTH Aachen University at the 3rd edition of 4D Printing & Meta Materials Conference, which takes place on 18 April 2018 at Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands.

Textile materials combined with 3D printing technology create the opportunity to explore “4D Textiles” – hybrid systems that can change form and/or function with the application of relatively small external energy. 4D printing is currently explored with the use of smart materials allowing a 3D printed structure to change form under the application of heat. Hybrid textiles are being explored with the use of elastic knitted fabrics and 3D printing to create interesting shapes formed by the stored elastic energy in the textile.

There has been rapid growth in research regarding 3D printing in recent years driven by the low cost and material efficiency of the technology. Combining 3D printing and textile materials is still a relatively new research area. However it is a growth area that offers the promise of “4D Textiles” – hybrid textile/3D printed structures that can change structural form with time.

4D Textiles explore the interaction of elastic textiles and 3D printing, wherein the textile is pre-stretched prior to printing, and after the printing is complete the fabric strain causes curvature in the assembly for example.
The underlying concept behind these hybrid material systems is to store energy in the textile material prior to printing and then release that energy to affect form and function of the hybrid system. Typically knitted fabrics that contain elastic material are used due to the high elastic strain available and sufficient recovery force.
Continue reading “4D Textiles: 3D printed hybrid textiles for shape change and self assembly – Presented by David Schmelzeisen, Insitut für Textiltechnik der RWTH Aachen University”

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4D printing of modified polycaprolactone with self-healing abilities – Presented by Marta Invernizzi, Politecnico di Milano

Marta Invernizzi

4D printing of modified polycaprolactone with self-healing abilities – Presented by Marta Invernizzi, Politecnico di Milano at the 3rd edition of 4D Printing & Meta Materials Conference, which takes place on 18 April 2018 at Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands.

In this work a 4D printed shape memory polymer with self-healing abilities is presented. The shape memory effect is provided by a polycaprolactone (PCL), while the self-healing behavior by 2-ureido-4[1H]pyrimidinone units (UPy). To print them in a DLP printer, a common solvent was added. Printed specimens show a stiffness comparable to neat PCL, but higher elongation at break. To demonstrate the feasibility as sensor for soft robotics an opposite thumb was printed and subjected to the shape memory effect after a healing process. Continue reading “4D printing of modified polycaprolactone with self-healing abilities – Presented by Marta Invernizzi, Politecnico di Milano”

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4D Shoemaking – Presented by Niek van Sleeuwen, Perflex, Eindhoven University of Technology

4D Printing Conference

4D Shoemaking – Presented by Niek van Sleeuwen, Perflex, Eindhoven University of Technology at the 3rd edition of 4D Printing & Meta Materials Conference, which takes place on 18 April 2018 at Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands.

The current way we deal with production of footwear is based on quick replacement of your current pair.
Huge pollution from unused half productions, consumerism and no development over time for you as an individual customer are just a few of the problems with the current way of producing. Continue reading “4D Shoemaking – Presented by Niek van Sleeuwen, Perflex, Eindhoven University of Technology”

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From active tuning of single cell stiffness towards multipurpose (re)programmable mechanism – Presented by Florent Cosandier, CSEM

Florent Cosandier

From active tuning of single cell stiffness towards multipurpose (re)programmable mechanism – Presented by Florent Cosandier, CSEM at the 3rd edition of 4D Printing & Meta Materials Conference, which takes place on 18 April 2018 at Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands.

Metamaterials linked to Additive Manufacturing and to Topology Optimization can lead to profound change in the way mechanisms and even materials are designed. Our goal is to conceive and manufacture a structured material, subdivided into cells, whose stiffness can be is (re)programmable. The result is a metamaterial that is a universal (re)programmable mechanism. Examples of application fields include adaptive optics, launch lock mechanisms and haptics. This presentation will show the great potential of such (re)programmable mechanisms and illustrate it through some proof-of-concept devices, while outlining the underlying philosophy of this approach. Continue reading “From active tuning of single cell stiffness towards multipurpose (re)programmable mechanism – Presented by Florent Cosandier, CSEM”

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‘Action-at-a-distance’ metamaterials for soft robotics, developed by TU Delft researchers (video)

soft robotics

Action-at-a-distance’ metamaterials for soft robotics, developed by TU Delft researchers

Mechanical metamaterials are a sub-category of designer materials where the geometry of the material at the small-scale is rationally designed to give rise to unusual properties and functionalities. Here, we propose the concept of “action-at-a-distance” metamaterials where a specific pattern of local deformation is programmed into the fabric of (cellular) materials. The desired pattern of local actuation could then be achieved simply through the application of one single global and far-field force. We proposed graded designs of auxetic and conventional unit cells with changing Poisson’s ratios as a way of making “action-at-a-distance” metamaterials.
We explored five types of graded designs including linear, two types of radial gradients, checkered, and striped. Specimens were fabricated with indirect additive manufacturing and tested under compression, tension, and shear. Full-field strain maps measured with digital image correlation confirmed different patterns of local actuation under similar far-field strains. These materials have potential applications in soft (wearable) robotics and exosuits.

Continue reading “‘Action-at-a-distance’ metamaterials for soft robotics, developed by TU Delft researchers (video)”

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Programmable mechanical metamaterials – Presented by Matthew Berwind, Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials

Matthew Berwind

Programmable mechanical metamaterials – Presented by Matthew Berwind, Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials at the 3rd edition of 4D Printing & Meta Materials Conference, which takes place on 18 April 2018 at Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands.

The fundamental problem of how structure scales and size-dependently impacts materials has occupied humanity for centuries. Modern manufacturing techniques now allow us to investigate this basic question with incredible freedom, and rational design approaches to the structuring of materials have led to metamaterials with unique physical properties. A scale-bridging understanding of how structure defines such a metamaterial independent of its base composition is necessary for this rational design process to be successful. Herein we examine metamaterials with a view spanning their internal ‘mechanisms’, the unit cell, its connectors, and finally the resultant matrix with its hierarchically subordinate components. Some recent efforts in the development of programmable mechanical metamaterials, or designed materials that respond to external stimuli in a discrete and ideally reversible fashion, will be presented that rely on a clear understanding of rational hierarchical design approaches. Continue reading “Programmable mechanical metamaterials – Presented by Matthew Berwind, Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials”

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FIFDM: 3D Printing with Continuous Fiber Reinforcement – Presented by Jens Schlimbach, The Institute for Composite Materials (IVW)

Program Jens Schlimbach

FIFDM: 3D Printing with Continuous Fiber Reinforcement – Presented by Jens Schlimbach, The Institute for Composite Materials (IVW), at the 3rd edition of 4D Printing & Meta Materials Conference, which takes place on 18 April 2018 at Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands.

The presentation shows practical examples of research into the application of 3D printing technologies with continuous fiber reinforcement – the 4th dimension. The FIFDM process is a technology developed at the Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe at Technical University of Kaiserslautern, Germany. Research combines disciplines including design, material science and manufacturing know-how like robotics and 3D printing. The technology opens new possibilities like free placement or load-specific orientation of the fibers overcoming the limitation of in-plane layup. Methods and materials used will be discussed, along with future expectations and implications of smart materials and 3D printing within creative design potential. Continue reading “FIFDM: 3D Printing with Continuous Fiber Reinforcement – Presented by Jens Schlimbach, The Institute for Composite Materials (IVW)”