New method to integrate sensing capabilities into 3D printable structures comprised of repetitive cells

MIT researchers have developed a method for 3D printed materials with tunable mechanical properties, that sense how they are moving and interacting with the environment, which enables designers to rapidly prototype interactive input devices. 3D printers have become affordable enough to hit the mainstream. 3D printers can build three-dimensional objects, out of a variety of materials. Researchers share the ability to turn digital files containing three-dimensional data. With 3D printing, designers can quickly turn concepts into 3D models or prototypes, and implement rapid design changes. This research could lead to novel interactive devices such as intelligent furniture, a new study finds.

3D printed material:

MIT researchers manufactured objects made of flexible plastic and electrically conductive filaments. Some varieties of 3D-printed objects can now feel, using a new technique that builds sensors directly into their materials. 3D printing can be considered printing, although not as it's traditionally been defined. The method opens opportunities for embedding sensors within architected materials, a class of materials whose mechanical properties are programmed through form and composition.

The researchers also created 3D editing software, known as MetaSense, to help users build interactive devices using these metamaterials. The new technique 3D-prints objects made from metamaterial substances made of grids of repeating cells. It was designed to conform to a person's hand. When a user squeezes one of the flexible buttons, the resulting electric signals help control a digital synthesizer.

The researchers focused their efforts on lattices, a type of architected material, which exhibits customizable mechanical properties based solely on its geometry. In the future, researchers look forward to finding new applications for this technique. This technique could someday be used to create flexible soft robots with embedded sensors that enable the robots to understand their posture and movements.