RE: Move over, 3D Printing! Because 4D Printing is now the coolest technology in town!

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Move over, 3D Printing! Because 4D Printing is now the coolest technology in town!

in science •  8 years ago 

but why do Skylar call it 4D printing... When it's just a normal 3D printing process with smart material. It's just me with grouses on the way this conversion technique is being marketed...

In the market , EPP , Foaming materials (just a few examples) for injection , extrusion processes are already commercialised where the materials properties change after processing for lightweight down gauge applications .

You are right though for highly complex design materials, 3D printing is the way to go in the long run, assuming the cycle time can be cut down drastically.

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but why do Skylar call it 4D printing... When it's just a normal 3D printing process with smart material.

Because the final product can move. That's the time dimension - movement through time, rather than an objcet that stays in a static state once it's printed. The material is part of the printing process, so stating that it's "4D printing technology" isn't technically all that misleading.

Good marketing is good marketing ;-)