4D printing of heat-driven self-assembly structures (Part II)

• Main Author: Teo, Jin Howe
• Other Authors: Liu Yong
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Manufacturing::Polymers and plastics; DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering::Prototyping
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/64951
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Due to multi-material 3D printing technology developed in recent times, the new concept of 4D printing has emerged. In 4D printing, besides the regular three dimensions, the fourth dimension is time-dependent shape change of the printed product. This allows models to be printed in a specific form and activated by external stimulus to change its shape in a controlled method, hence opening the possibility of self-assembled structures. This creates a myriad of applications in situations where manual assembly of a structure is neither favoured nor possible. This project investigates and develops devices that facilitate the design and modeling of multistage folding process in self-assembling 4D printed structures with heat-driven shape memory polymers. First, the fabrication conditions of heat-driven self-assembly structures are examined. Hinges are printed with varying materials and dimensional parameters, and the resulting recovery time and the angle integrity are analysed. Next, two multi-stage folding techniques – insulating overlay and localized material variation are developed and tested. Finally, using the most effective multi-stage technique – localized material variation, an origami glider is designed to demonstrate the multi-stage folding in application.