Jan 2014
3D printing, also known as stereo modeling or rapid prototyping, starts with a computer-aided design (CAD) [digital drawing] file of an object. The CAD file is then converted to a 3D printer file, which represents the object in layers and directs the printer to deposit layer upon layer of material to build an object from bottom to top. See also: Computer-aided design and manufacturing
3D printing of multiple materials
Jan 2014
Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in collaboration with industry partners Stratasys and Autodesk, have used 3D printing technology to create objects that can self-assemble into new structures when desired. The process is called 4D printing because its designs involve not just the three physical dimensions but also planned changes over time. The research was led by Skylar Tibbits, director of the Self-Assembly Lab at MIT. Stratasys provided the 3D printer and materials, and Autodesk provided the software for self-assembly and folding design.
Experiments in 4D printing