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Harvard University’s Wiss Institute and SEAS research team developed a printing technology using a 3D printer named Multi-Material, Multi-nozzle 3D, and MM3D (Multimaterial, Multinozzle 3D Printing).
MM3D enables you to quickly create complex 3D objects by fully 3D printing 8 types of materials from one nozzle. Multiple colored filaments or hard or soft materials can be pulled freely and seamlessly from the same nozzle. Combining them can print extremely complex things. When multiple such nozzles are gathered, it is also possible to create a soft robot that moves with pneumatic pressure.
The speed at which the nozzle switches the material is 50 times per second. It’s too fast to catch up with human eyes. Fast material changeover is realized by an ultra-high-speed pneumatic actuator and an internal Y-shaped device acting on multiple ink containers. In addition, it accurately adjusts the nozzle shape, output pressure, and ink viscosity to prevent mixing of ink flowing when pressure is applied or from flowing backwards to other channels.
The research team developed a soft robot that uses elastic materials such as rubber to reduce and arrange parts such as nails and move them alternately with pneumatic pressure. The robot can walk at a speed of 1.3cm per second and has legs strong enough to carry objects up to eight times its own weight.
Until now, all nozzles exposed the same material at the same timing, but in the future, it is said that the nozzles are remodeling to print different materials and print more complex ones. Related information can be found here .
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