Video Transcript
Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Delft University of Technology announced the development of a 3D printing technique that reportedly offers higher efficiency, less waste, and enhanced precision.
Multi-material 3D printing lets makers produce customized devices with numerous textures and colors. However, the process is slow and inefficient because traditional 3D printers switch between nozzles and sometimes discard a material before they can begin depositing another.
The new method uses heat-responsive elements to produce objects with various shades, textures, and colors in a single step and doesn’t require hardware modifications.
The speed-modulated ironing method uses a dual-nozzle 3D printer. The first nozzle applies a heat-sensitive filament, while the second moves over the material and uses heat to trigger specific responses, including changes in coarseness or opacity. The team controls the second nozzle’s speed, which allows them to heat the material to certain temperatures and finely tune the filaments’ shade, roughness, and color.
The team created a model that can predict how much heat the ironing nozzle will send based on its speed. They use the model to create a system that creates printing instructions automatically.
Potential applications include making artistic effects by altering a printed object’s color or producing textured handles designed for easier gripping by individuals with hand weakness.
The scientists hope to eventually work with other materials, such as plastics. They also want to explore modifying certain materials’ acoustic and mechanical properties.
