3-d printing has brought about a significant change in modelling and prototyping. With a few more advances in the technology, you can probably expect it to hit the mass production stage as well. Scientists from the Georgia Tech have hit upon an all new method of manufacture that will allow them to create objects, that can change their shapes after they have left the print bed.
In many similar processed changes are brought about using hydro-gels and as such. So, we are basically talking about something like this here. Except that it is not like this at all. Using Hydrogels means that the change is that much slower and is usually reversible very quickly. Under normal circumstances, the polymer loses its shape almost as soon as the process completes. In Georgia Tech’s process through, the material retains its shape depending on its temperature. The transformation process take around 5 second to complete from begining to end.
Scientists have also been able to determine the final shape of the object that they are attempting to print, even before they make the requisite changes to catalyze the transformation. Apparently, you can actually make changes to the final shape by modifying the printing parameters and the print structures.
The technology could have some serious applications in a variety of areas. For instance, doors and windows that open for a fixed temperature, prosthetic that harden after coming in touch with limbs and so on and so forth.
