3D and 4D printing shows a wide range of possibilities during the coming year. Here are some examples of expansion in technology and markets.

Rob Spiegel

January 20, 2022

15 Slides

3D printing (3DP) and additive manufacturing (AM) are expanding in new and surprising ways. Like conventional manufacturing, 3D and AM are getting infused with data analytics. We’re expecting new materials and we’re likely to see market consolidation.

We’re also seeing the advent of 4D printing. In recent years, 4D printing has developed into a useful technology. 4D printing is the action or process of using 3D printing techniques to create an object that is able to change its shape or properties in a predictable way over time in reaction to conditions such as exposure to water, air, heat, or electric current.

The technology is often associated with work done by MIT in conjunction with Autodesk and Stratasys. This video explains how it works and its potential uses:

 

About the Author(s)

Rob Spiegel

Rob Spiegel serves as a senior editor for Design News. He started with Design News in 2002 as a freelancer and hired on full-time in 2011. He covers automation, manufacturing, 3D printing, robotics, AI, and more.

Prior to Design News, he worked as a senior editor for Electronic News and Ecommerce Business. He has contributed to a wide range of industrial technology publications, including Automation World, Supply Chain Management Review, and Logistics Management. He is the author of six books.

Before covering technology, Rob spent 10 years as publisher and owner of Chile Pepper Magazine, a national consumer food publication.

As well as writing for Design News, Rob also participates in IME shows, webinars, and ebooks.

Sign up for the Packaging Digest News & Insights newsletter.

You May Also Like