Programmable Matter Research based on 4D printing

Abstract

As a concept suggested by Skylar Tibbits of MIT in 2013, 4D printing is a field with many new possibilities. 4D printing produces programmable matter that responds to exterior stimuli and changes its structure or properties into the shape designed in advance, through 3D printing. One of the advantages of 4D printing is that a motion can be realized in a simple constitution in order for a certain material to move even without a complicated driving mechanism like a motor. This paper first explains 3D printing and 4D printing and then deals with 4D printing using the properties of Poly-Lactic Acid (PLA), which is a shape memory polymer, and 4D printing using a bistable structure. In the case of 4D printing using PLA, we applied the properties that the shape is restored to the original form at a state higher than glass temperature to 3D printing and tested what structure of 4D printing would be possible in the future. In the case of the bistable structure, we made the basic elements of a mechanical bistable structure in order for 4D printing using Shape Memory Polymer (SMP) to produce more efficiently, and prepared the ground that can realize the diversified and complicated mechanical movements.