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If You Thought 3D Printing Was Cool, Wait Until You Hear About the 4D Variety

Mar. 1, 2013 3:32pm Liz Klimas

3D-printing has been a hot topic of late due to the advancements it is making in the medical field, the mark some are having it leave in the gun control debate, and the slew of other products people making with it. But there’s a new buzz word coming out of MIT that takes the tech a step further — 4D-printing.

What is that? Developed by Stratasys and MIT’s Self-Assembly Lab, it’s a process that essentially has the product being fully functional when it comes off the printer. No other parts or assembly required.

In other words, “Imagine robotics-like behavior without the reliance on complex electro-mechanical devices,” MIT’s website stated.

But there is a catch — you must add water.

When the object in its printed state is dunked into water, it shape-shifts, at joints made from a water-activated material, into the final product.

MIT and Stratasys Create 4D Printed Self Assembly Materials

(Image: Vimeo screenshot)

According to the project website, the team works with Cyborg software by Autodesk Research, which “allows for simulated self-assembly and programmable materials as well as optimization for design constraints and joint folding.”

See a 4D-printed object in action in this video:

The 4D-printing idea was showcased at a TED conference this week, but the lab’s leader Skylar Tibbits gave Fast Company a preview of the project. Here are real-world examples from Fast Company for how the technology could be applied:

Imagine if this technology could be used to construct pipes that could expand or contract based on their contact with water. They might get bigger to accommodate the runoff from a hurricane, then contract when the emergency is over. Imagine pipes that could bend–but not break–during an earthquake.

Imagine being able to ship parts for structures to countries where unskilled laborers are the only help available, so they can assemble themselves. Imagine how this might work in the case of disaster housing or refugee camps. Transformers without Borders!

Imagine if that desk you bought from Ikea could assemble itself, while you kicked back and watched the game.

See the acronym this printed strand folds into:

Tibbits told Fast Company he hopes someday other stimulus beyond water, like heat or light, could be used to trigger the object to fold.

Tibbits explains more about the Self-Assembly Lab’s work in this video:

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Comments (27)

ranchoazulmt
Posted on April 24, 2013 at 4:54pm
Next we move from the 4D to the 2nd derivative!

Technology is increasing at a much faster pace every year as computing power increases exponentially each cycle.

Back when I had a TRS-80 (Now not even a good door stop) I thought it couldn’t get no better than this! Now I have more power on my phone!!!

I, along with others, hope that we find our God and turn back to him prior to the merging of man and machine. Without God, this could go very badly if no one has a conscience.

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woodyee
Posted on March 3, 2013 at 10:09am
Screw their We Are The World carap – “Imagine being able to ship parts for structures to countries where unskilled laborers are the only help available, so they can assemble themselves. Imagine how this might work in the case of disaster housing or refugee camps. Transformers without Borders!”

IMAGINE What Can Be Done on The Moon Or On Mars With Something Like This!

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emberlyawake
Posted on March 3, 2013 at 2:07am
Seriously, my first thought when I saw this was that I want to walk to up my voice activated 3D printer and say, “Earl Grey….hot”

:D

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Fenrirsulfr
Posted on March 2, 2013 at 10:26pm
I, for one, would like to welcome our new robotic overlords.

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Horsewithnoname
Posted on March 2, 2013 at 10:21pm
Can I be the one to say it? Okay…for you with a ‘touch of grey’ this invention is THE DAWNING OF THE AGE OF AQUARIUM AGE OF AQUARIUM A Q U A R I U U U U M, A Q U A R I U U U U M!!!

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FeliciaJewel
Posted on March 2, 2013 at 9:59am
I have to say, at age 41, I am so excited about the future. I do hope that the American people can get their hearts on the right track and that we all see more freedoms as we move to the Singularity. My son came to me about 2 years ago with this idea, he was 17. I thought him silly and I thought I was up to date with computers and technology. About a year ago I gave into his craziness and started to inform myself about the Singularity, I am now so fascinated by it. I do have a fear that the government will try to control or take over many of the ideas, projects, and items that will come from the advancements. This technology needs to be in the hands of the people. Libertarians need to push forward and inform others of the idea of freedom as well as the Singularity.

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Twobyfour
Posted on March 2, 2013 at 3:24am
Our bodies do 4-d printing all the time. The result is production of self-folding proteins. These are produced for maintaining cell’s integrity and self-repair. The process is very conservative, deviations are usually terminal.

When cells become progressive, it is called cancer.

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- JohnnyinthePedros
  Posted on March 2, 2013 at 6:30am
  “Imagine if that desk you bought from Ikea could assemble itself, while you kicked back and watched the game.”
  
  I’m thinking the closest I’ll ever care to come to buying a desk from Ikea is imagining it, and besides, if I had a 4-D printer, couldn’t I make my own?
  
  Report this comment
- Stoic one
  Posted on March 2, 2013 at 9:06am
  Or sickle-cell anaemia..
  
  Report this comment
- Noonien_Soong
  Posted on March 2, 2013 at 12:23pm
  Very astute observation, indeed. What i am looking forward to is the 3-D or 4-D printing of tronic circuits on the very small scale. This would not only include the electronic pathways, but the implementation of logic circuits smaller than Integrated chips. Nano-scale is on the horizon as we can imagine now. Pretty soon there will be nano repair circuits to correct or enhance the human body form whatever ails us in the future. Imagine a cure for Multiple-Sclerosis which I have and I can have my mobility back.
  
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- Noonien_Soong
  Posted on March 2, 2013 at 12:31pm
  Very astute observation. Imagine if you will nano-scale printing of repair cells to repair neurological disease or abnormalities like Multiple-Sclerosis then I would be ecstatic.
  
  Report this comment
JimmyP
Posted on March 1, 2013 at 7:19pm
These will be the flying helo-cars we all thought were impossible back in the 50′s! Now look at how far we-ve blown by that idea, why there’s that free-grow-yer-own-gas-o-matic algea fuel maker to power your jet-car-copter and heck we all got them snazzy jazzy clothes that clean they-self, anh who could live a day without your very own robot butler?

Yep, got that figured out!

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Stone Cold Truth
Posted on March 1, 2013 at 5:21pm
It looks like a black flexy straw to me.

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SamIamTwo
Posted on March 1, 2013 at 4:27pm
Meh, that’s nothing…I just called out for a pizza and here comes the pizza dood. BRB

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Exidor
Posted on March 1, 2013 at 4:17pm
This is going to take away more jobs. You know, like the ATM’s did……

;)

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NoMoMrNiceGuy
Posted on March 1, 2013 at 4:01pm
Warp 9 Scotty ! Engage

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- AMERICA4EVER
  Posted on March 1, 2013 at 4:11pm
  Let’s just 3d print a new administration and water board the old ones.
  
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macpappy
Posted on March 1, 2013 at 3:59pm
Wait a minute, you mean they discovered a Fourth Dimension, and this story is about a printer.
The sensationalism this writing crew uses is a crime to journalism.
Not to mention, out right lies.

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- Calm Voice of Reason
  Posted on March 1, 2013 at 4:09pm
  The 4th dimension refers to the fact that these objects change dynamically over time. It’s not necessary to call someone a “liar”.
  
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termyt
Posted on March 1, 2013 at 3:41pm
Oh. That’s disappointing. I thought the fourth dimension was time.

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- Ben__Franklin
  Posted on March 1, 2013 at 4:07pm
  I first thought the same thing and figured it was a spoof. Technically it still is. The 4th Dimension I always remember was time. I am not to impressed with a bendy straw.
  
  Imagine a 4D Printer that spits a part out to you and then prints….Lol
  
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- UNALIEN
  Posted on March 1, 2013 at 4:36pm
  it is the fourth dimension, the material shapes itself through time
  
  3 dimensions are vectors is space
  x, y, z
  
  4th dimension is
  time
  
  It is 4D printing
  
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- Orion the truth hunter
  Posted on March 1, 2013 at 5:38pm
  And the 5th dimension is an old musical group (sorry)
  
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- Ben__Franklin
  Posted on March 2, 2013 at 5:35pm
  Funny Unalien, I can take a steel pipe or rod and stick it in an atmosphere of hot gas and it will slowly bend and deform over time – but its not 4th Dimension.
  
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- UNALIEN
  Posted on March 2, 2013 at 7:17pm
  BEN__FRANKLIN
  
  but the shape is not predetermined.. it would be relatively random
  
  like the video of the material that spelled MIT
  
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UNALIEN
Posted on March 1, 2013 at 3:39pm
so instead of the shape of the material being formed by external forces, the material forms the shape itself

the first is Progressivism and the latter is Conservatism

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- mharry860
  Posted on March 1, 2013 at 10:58pm
  Well done sir!
  
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