Now, 3D printed objects which dramatically change shape

(Image for representational purposes only)

Washington: Scientists have developed a way to use 3D printers to create objects capable of expanding dramatically, which could someday be used in applications ranging from space missions to biomedical devices.

The objects use tensegrity, a structural system of floating rods in compression and cables in continuous tension.

Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology in the US fabricated the struts from shape memory polymers that unfold when heated.

"Tensegrity structures are extremely lightweight while also being very strong," said Glaucio Paulino, a professor at Georgia Tech.

"That is the reason there is a heavy amount of interest right now in researching the use of tensegrity structures for outer space exploration. The goal is to find a way to deploy a large object that initially takes up little space," said Paulino.

The research, published in the journal Scientific Reports, used 3D printers to create the struts that make up one of the primary components of the tensegrity structure.

To enable the struts to be temporarily folded flat, the researchers designed them to be hollow with a narrow opening that runs the length of the tube.

Each strut has an attachment point on each end to connect to a network of elastic cables, which are also made with 3D printers.

Once the struts were heated to 65 degrees Celsius, the researchers could partially flatten and fold them into a shape resembling the letter W. The cooled structures then retain the temporary shape.

With all cables attached, the objects can be reheated to initiate the transformation into tensegrity structures.

"We believe that you could build something like an antenna that initially is compressed and takes up little space, but once it's heated, say just from the heat of the sun, would fully expand," said Jerry Qi, a professor at Georgia Tech.

A key component of making 3D printed objects that can transform into tensegrity structures was controlling the rate and sequence of expansion.

The shape memory polymers enable the researchers to fine-tune how quickly each strut expands by adjusting at which temperature the expansion occurs. That enables structures to be designed with struts that expand sequentially.

"For bigger and more complicated structures, if you don't control the sequence that these struts expand, it tangles and you have a mess," Paulino said.

"By controlling the temperature at which each strut expands, we can have a phased deployment and avoid this entanglement," said Paulino.