Wednesday, March 20, 2013
4D printing: The new frontier
ZDNet: The fourth dimension in 4D printing refers to materials that are able to change and mutate over time when exposed to water, temperature changes and/or air to self assemble. 4D object formats will soon have API's (Application Programming Interfaces) that enable designers to define the characteristics of the materials they are made from, which are then printed using sophisticated chemical calibrations to enable specific attributes and functionality.
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6 comments:
But I'm still getting used to the concept of a 3D printer! I thought those were the "new' thing in printing technology, yet already technologists are saying those aren't good enough and are developing something even crazier. Mixing materials to make not just a copy of something, but instead an object that is new and much more useful... sometimes the speed at which technology advances is more than a little intimidating. I have great respect for the minds behind this, but with such amazing knowledge and invention abilities comes great responsibility to use these abilities for good and not let the knowledge fall into hands that would use it to harm people.
Ok so I have no idea and I am slightly scared at the same time. First I watch a episode of Star Trek Next Gen and Worf has his spine regenerated through a printing service basically, and now I am reading that within my life time if I need a organ they could PRINT me one. Yes Print me one, CREEPY!!! Next they could make a piece of furniture that I "water" go to supper and come home and then there is a chair. I just see horrible sci fi movies running through my head. I just not sure, it sounds crazy but seems like they might be able to just grow a colony on the moon one day.
I'm not at all surprised that Autodesk would be at the forefront of developments like this, and it only solidifies the fact that I'm not using their products to a fraction of their potential. Not that this is a new idea, I realized this when I was first introduced to Inventor. But objects that change over time is a whole new ball game, one that's very different from even the world of 3D causing so many issues now with copyright.
Seriously? I thought 3D was as far as you could go with things like this! By the looks of their definition for 4D, I feel like its their way of dealing with the copyright infringement laws that come with the 3D printing materials. I wonder, if something were to go wrong in how the chemicals combined to make a material but ended up creating something completely new, what that would effect in the world of material science.
I agree with Emma because we just got used to the fantasy of 3D printing that will be accessible to daily life in near future. However, reading at this article, seeing 4D printing coming is so unusual and unexpected to me. Also, the quickness of shift in technology makes me surprising and awed. But I still find this new invention very interesting because it seems to be very useful to designers because it can handle different sorts of materials. which can change over time depends on various environments. I love how the material will play a significant role in this 4D printing, since material does really change the mood of the objects. I hope this 4D printing happening soon as well as 3D printing.
This is soooo cool! I really love 3D printers, but somehow I have never heard about 4D printing. Objects that can change over time or when something happens to them is a really amazing idea. I know that this will become one of the most important technological advances of our time. 3D printing is going to become popular for the common person in the next few years, but it will mostly just make small things out of plastic that people can put on their desks. 4D printing will take much more time to become wide spread but the possibilities are far greater. I hope that the blog will post more articles about 4D printing in the future.
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