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INTRODUCTION
Technology has always been amazing us with its beautiful inventions in the
nature by
making the life of human simpler to a greater extent. Additive manufacturing, more
popularly
known as 3-Dimensional (3D) printing technology, has been developed for more than
30 years.
Recently, 3D printing has been recognized as a disruptive technology for future
advanced
manufacturing systems. With a great potential to change everything from our daily
lives to the
global economy, significant advances in 3D printing technology have been made with
respect to
materials, printers, and processes .Now an innovative concept of printing
technology known as
4D printing technology has been developed. Although similar to 3D printing, 4D
printing
technology involves the fourth dimension of time in addition to the 3D space
coordinates.
Therefore, one can regard 4D printing as giving the printed structure the ability
to change its
form or function with time (t) under stimuli such as pressure, temperature, wind,
water, or light.
1.1 BACKGROUND
The term 4D printing is developed in a collaboration between MIT´s Self-
Assembly Lab
and Stratasys education and R&D department. In February 2013, Skylab Tibbits, co-
director and
founder of the Self-Assembly Lab located at MIT´s International Design Center,
unveiled the
technology “4D printing” during a talk at TED conference held in Long Beach,
California.MIT´s
Self-Assembly Lab, 3D printing manufacturer Stratasys and 3D software company
Autodesk are
the key players in the development of 4D printing technology.
1.2 OBJECTIVE
Though the knowledge about this technology has not yet reached to common
people in
the world still there is a lot of research going on in different labs at
universities and research
centers, each one getting different results which demonstrate that this technology
could be
brought into reality very soon. Currently 4D-printing requires complex and time-
consuming
post-processing steps to mechanically program each component. Also, most commercial
printers
can only print 4D using a single material, which greatly limits design choices. But
a research
team led by Jerry Qi, a mechanical engineering professor at Georgia Institute of
Technology,
along with scientists at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, have
developed a
powerful new 4D printer that can create self-assembling 4D-structures much more
quickly and
efficiently.
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2. 4D PRINTING TECHNOLOGY
FIG. 1. Schematic of 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4D concepts. A 4D structure is a structure (x,
y, z) made by 3D
changes over time (t). Arrows indicate the direction of change with respect to
time.
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2.2 PROCESS FOR 4D PRITNING
4d printing similar to current additive manufacturing process (3D printing).
The main
difference is the programmable materials or smart materials which are used for
making the
product. The4D printing relies predominantly on four factors—
✓ The basic additive manufacturing process,
✓ Types of stimulus-responsive material, and
✓ Interaction mechanisms.
✓ Smart design.
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Fig. 1.1 Generic process of CAD to part, showing all 7 stages
Step 1: CAD
All AM parts must start from a software model that fully describes the
external geometry.
This can involve the use of almost any professional CAD solid modelling software,
but the
output must be a 3D solid or surface representation. Reverse engineering equipment
(e.g., laser
scanning) can also be used to create this representation.
Step 2: Conversion to STL
Nearly every AM machine accepts the STL file format, which has become a
defect
standard, and nearly every CAD system can output such a file format. This file
describes the
external closed surfaces of the original CAD model and forms the basis for
calculation of the
slices.
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Step 3: Transfer to AM Machine and STL File Manipulation
The STL file describing the part must be transferred to the AM machine.
Here, there may
be some general manipulation of the file so that it is the correct size, position,
and orientation for
building.
The AM machine must be properly set up prior to the build process. Such settings
would relate to
the build parameters like the material constraints, energy source, layer thickness,
timings, etc.
Step 5: Build
Building the part is mainly an automated process and the machines can largely
carryon without
supervision. Only superficial monitoring of the machine needs to take place at this
time to ensure
no errors have taken place like running out of material, power or software
glitches, etc.
Step 6: Removal
Once the AM machine has completed the build, the parts must be removed. This may
require
interaction with the machine, which may have safety interlocks ensure for example
that the
operating temperatures are sufficiently low or that there are no actively moving
parts.
Once removed from the machine, parts may require an amount of additional cleaning
up before
they are ready for use. Parts may be weak at this stage or they may have supporting
features that
must be removed. This therefore often requires time and careful, experienced manual
manipulation.
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2.2.2 SMART MATERIALS
Stimulus-responsive material, often known as smart materials or programmable
materials, is highly dynamic in form and functions. The type of stimuli-responsive
materials is
the key element to grant the capability of self transformation and determines the
type of stimuli
needed to trigger the change in property and the functionality of the component in
4D printing.
The properties of stimuli responsive materials permit the phenomena of coupling or
conversion
of energy between various physical domains; for example, converting thermal energy
into
mechanical work. This coupling of energy can be direct or indirect. Direct energy
coupling refers
to mechanical response due to field induced eigen strain in the stimulus-responsive
materials,
whereas indirect is mechanical response due to field-induced. Change in stiffness
or other
properties. The types of stimulus-responsive materials capable of change in
physical properties
can be classified into shape-change material and shape memory material. Shape-
change material
possessed stimulus-induced behaviour known as shape-change effect (SCE). Shape-
change
material transforms instantly and spontaneously in response to its stimulus, and
returns to its
original or permanent shape when the stimulus is removed. Shape memory polymers
have the
ability to memorize and recover to their trained shape from a temporary shape when
stimulus is
applied, known as shape memory effect (SME).
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LIST OF SMART MATERIALS .
MATERIALS INPUT
APPLICATION
OUTPUT RESPONSE
STIMULATION
Electro-
Torsional steering
rheological fluid Electric signal Viscosity change
system damper
Personnel sensor
Pyroelectric Temperature Electric signal (open
super- market
material
door)
Polymer (eg
thin film Humidity change Capacity/resistance
Humidity sensors
cellulose), change
ceramic
Force Force
Self-Healing Smart
phone chassis
Materials
Dielectric
Elastomers Voltage Strain
Robotics
Piezoelectric materials
Those materials capable of generating electric charge in response to applied
mechanical stress
are piezoelectric materials. Not all the smart materials do exhibit a shape change
but they do
carry significant properties such as electro and magneto theological fluids. Those
fluids can
change viscosity upon application of external magnetic or electric field. Naturally
occurring
crystals like quartz and sucrose, human bone, ceramics, Polyvinylidene fluoride
(PVDF) are
known to have piezoelectric characteristics. Followed by the automotive industry
and medical
instruments, global demands for these materials have huge application in industrial
and
manufacturing sector. Researchers from University of Warwick in UK have developed
new
microstereolithography (MSL) 3D printing technology that can be used to create
piezoceramic
object. Piezoceramics are special type of ceramic materials that can create
electrical response and
responds to external electrical stimulation by changing shape. These are very
useful materials
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and applicable all around, sensor in airbag systems, fuel injectors in engines,
electric cigarette
lighter and electronic equipment.
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programmed to form flat helix, using heat energy ranging from 10 degree to 50
degree
centigrade, flat helix transformed into tube shape structure.
Magnetostrictive Materials
Similar to piezoelectric and electrostrictive materials magnetostrictive materials
uses magnetic
energy. They convert magnetic energy into mechanical energy or other way. Iron,
terbium, Naval
Ordnance Laboratory (NOL) and dysprosium (D) are most common magnetostrictive
materials.
Those materials can be used as transducers and actuators where magnetic energy is
used to cause
shape change. The application include telephone 42 receivers, oscillators, sonar
scanning,
hearing head, damping systems and positioning equipment. The development of
magnetostrictive
material alloys with better features will certainly help the 4D printing
technology.
2.2.3 TRIGGER OR INTERACTION MECHANISMS
A major challenge for 4D printing technology is design structure
including both
hardware section and software section. In order to design hardware part, special
measures needs
to be addressed. Since, this requires complex and advanced material programming,
precise multi-
material printing, designing complex joints for folding, expansion, contraction,
curling, twisting
process. Software section is even challenging that cooperates with hardware design.
Sophisticated simulation, material optimization and topology transformation are few
of the
challenges for software part. Following explanation demonstrates structural
transformation
regarding its joint angle, folding, curling and bending.
Fabrication
As the printer deposits UV curable polymer and cures layer by layer using UV light
thereby
creating complete 3D structure, printers are capable of printing multiple composite
materials
with various properties such as color pattern, material hardness and transparency
allowing
creation of complex, multiple composite parts in single process. Digital materials
can be printed
with this process. The properties can be digitally adjusted and altered with the
digital material.
The combination of digital material with different proportion and spatial
arrangements plays
significant role providing additional flexibility. 4D printed parts are generally
composed of rigid
plastic and digital material that reacts upon external energy source. In case of
hydrophilic UV
curable polymer, when exposed to water, the structure absorbs and creates hydrogel
with upto
150 percentage of original volume. The shape transformation of the structure is
linear in this
case, but when the polymer structure is combined with different composite material
that reacts
differently with water, complex geometric transformation occurs. Transformation can
be
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controlled by adjusting pure expandable polymer with digital composite material as
per
requirement.
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If the expanding composite is placed above rigid polymer, the surface will fold
downwards and if
placed below, the surface will fold upwards. This folding happens due to downward
or upward
force applied to rigid material. With the digital polymer composite, the control of
folding the
joints becomes much desirable. The time duration of folding depends upon the
expandable
material or digital material. If higher expanding composite is used, there will be
more folding
force increasing folding time. Similarly, less expanding composite will generate
less folding
force thereby decreasing folding time..
Custom Angle Surfaces
In his research, Skyler Tibbits demonstrated custom angle
transformation
creating truncated octahedron shape. Similar mechanism as folding strand described
previously,
series of flat two dimensional structures were generated with edge joints. The
position and
spacing of materials at each joint specifies the desired fold angle hence
positioned accordingly..
After the digital model was sent to be printed, physical model was immersed in
water. The
transformation process occurred within certain time with the final desired model
having edges
aligned perfectly aligned with neighboring edges. With this technique, a two
dimensional
polyhedral shape was folded and self-transformed into precise three dimensional
structure. Self-
Folding Truncated Octahedron. The advantage of this process includes efficiencies
of printing
flat shape with quick printing time and minimal resources used. If the final model
were to be
printed directly, it would have taken longer time consuming more support materials.
On the long
run, this technology can be effective for logistics operation where flat surface
material can be
created, shipped and self-transformed into three dimensional structure when
required
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Curved surface Folding
Curved surface folding mechanism is based upon a technique called curved-crease
origami,
where two dimensional flat sheets are folded along curved creases forming double
curved
surface with mountain and valley shaped linear pattern. (Figuring, 2016) This
mechanism can be
further explained with the example of concentric circles made of expanding polymers
separated
by rigid or less expanding polymer. The position of expanding polymer above or
below rigid
polymer in each circle with the ring being neutral, creates mountain and valley
folds. When the
design print is placed in water, after certain time period, the structure
transforms itself from two
dimensional crease to doubly curved structure.
.
Fig 9. Curved-Crease Origami
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Fig 10. (a) Schematic of the folding mechanism and (b) representative images for
folding by heat.
They also fabricated a self-folding and self-opening box with two-layer printed
active
composites as hinges connecting six inactive plates of a stiff plastic as shown in
Figure 7a. Using
this model, Ge et al. could actuate the hinges created from composites with polymer
fibers,
making the hinges fold to a prescribed angle. Finally, the group created a number
of active
origami components, including a box, a pyramid, and two origami airplanes based on
different
design parameters. They demonstrated that the folding of the printed composite
hinges depended
on the material properties of the polymers (including the shape memory behavior of
the fibers),
the lamina and laminate architecture, and the thermo mechanical loading profile.
Fig 11.(a) Folding processes of cubes printed with a composite material with a
hinge made of shape
memory polymer. Reprinted with permission (b) Folding processes of cubes printed
with a single shape
memory material. (c) Hinge design of a heat-induced folding cube made from a single
material
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3. APPLICATION AREA AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
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fig 12. (a) Computational image-based design of 3D-printed tracheobronchial
splints. (b) 4d printed stent
that is introduced into an artery.
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3.3 MILITARY AND AUTOMOBILE APPLICATIONS
Programmable matter will have vast application areas in military sector. US army
and Navy are
developing three dimensional printed spare parts in the field and developing
programmable elements
that form into full building with all the necessary components such as electricity,
plumbing and other
technical structures. As the technology allows the materials to change its shape,
military equipment,
cars and fabrics could enable them to alter its camouflage. Military advancements
with 4D printing
technology would develop coating material in automobile that changes its structure
to cope with
humid environment and corrosion. Similarly, transformation of tires depending upon
road and
weather condition. In 2013, US Army Research Office granted $855,000 to researchers
at three
universities, Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied Science, The University
of Illinois and
The University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering.In automobile industries
this
technology helps in printing body parts so that they can change their shape with
external conditions.
For example with variation in speed the front portion will get airfoil shape it
reduces load on the car.
BMW Company used 4d printing technology for printing body parts.
Fig 14. (a) Camouflage military vehicle fig 14. (b) BMW NEXT 100 4d
printed car parts
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3.5 FASHION
The idea of clothes and trainers adjusting their shape and function in response to
external
environment and comforting the user, sounds fascinating. Fitting perfectly upon
pressure being
applied or gears becoming water proof itself when raining. Massachusetts based
design studio
Nervous System have developed 4D printed wearable which is composed of thousands
of unique
interlocking component and the dress responds to the wearer's body. It is to fold
the dress and
reduces the space required. It can act like insulation for environment conditions
like hot and
cold. Experiments involving 4D printing have been few and limited to the date as
there are only
few major players actively in the field of research. Imagine a single shoe for
multiple activities:
If you start running, it adapts to being running shoes. If you play basketball, it
adapts to support
your ankles. If you go on grass, it grows cleats. If it is raining, it becomes
waterproof.
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perspectives. To convey the whole relevant studies,we organize the important
concepts as the
following sub-sections by considering four of main advancements in wind turbine
blades
including adaptability, bend-twist coupling shape-shifting, flexibility and plant
leaf-mimetic
wind blade.
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4. ANALYSIS OF 4D PRINTING TECHNOLOGY
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4.2 4d printing Market Analysis
Upon analyzing the trends in 4D printing market on the basis of programmable
matter,end user
industry and future scope, 4D printing market is expected to be commercialized by
2019. As the
printing technology is in its initial developing phase, the global market is
expected to grow with
compound annual growth of 42.5% between 2019 and 2025 reaching USD 537.8 million as
shown in Figure 22. As North America expected to hold the majority market size,
market
development will be driven by the necessity to reduce manufacturing cost, logistic
problems and
secure sustainable development. Similar to 3D printing technology, 4D printing
industry will
have major impact into aerospace, military and defense, healthcare, automotive,
clothing and
construction sector.
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5. CONCLUSION
Evolving Ecosystem:
4D printing technology is expected to be adopted by a range of industrial sectors.
Research
laboratories, universities, and companies are also expected to increase their 4D
printing research
activities, further enabling convergence between industries and increasing the
breadth of
applications of 4D printing technology.
Technology:
4D printing technology (software, hardware, 4D printing materials) is still in
early phase of S-
curve. Dominant hardware/software architecture yet to be established. IP on 4D
printing smart
materials is building up. 4D technology will be getting increasingly popular as the
trends toward
its integration with the giant industries like manufacturing and healthcare, have
increased.
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6. REFERENCES
➢ https://www.asme.org/engineering-topics/articles/manufacturing-design/4d-
printing-
Advances-additive-manufacturing
➢ Thomas A. Campbell, Skylar Tibbits, Banning Garret “The Next wave: 4D printing”
programming the material world Atlantic Council
➢ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-dimensional_printing
➢ http://manufacturing.materialise.com/stereolithography
➢ http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/healthtopics/topics/ stents
➢ http://www.technologyreview.com/article/401750/electroactive
-polymers/
➢ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gMCZFHv9v8
➢ https://www.theseus.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/130325/thesis_dilip.sequence=1
Technical considerations of 4d printing
➢ Plant leaf-mimetic smart wind turbine blades by 4D printing
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148118306207
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