4D Printing at home - Self assembling magic

Are you ready to take your 3D printer to a new dimension? In this video, I attempt to create a self assembling 3D print at home.

Despite this process differing from the original, it still took a lot of problem solving and lateral thinking to come up with a solution. This project forced me to advance my skills to another level.

What are some uses for 4D printing that you can imagine? Let me know in the comments section below.

0:00 Introduction

0:44 What is 4D printing?

1:25 Why would 4D printing be needed?

1:56 My aim for home 4D printing

2:39 Concepts for self folding joints

4:07 Design criteria

4:25 Experiments with single materials

5:26 TPU/PLA dual material corners

6:06 Print in place rotating snap together mechanism

7:58 Switching from Bambu Lab X1 to Sovol SV04

8:43 Multimaterial slicer tips

9:35 Initial dissolvable lock fail

10:27 Temporary lock solution

11:00 First self assembly test

13:09 Working dissolvable lock solution

14:05 Final tests: 4D printing!

15:06 Conclusion

Get Quality Resins from 3D Printers Online. 5% off storewide for Teaching Tech subscribers [Code: tech5]

Take a look around and if you like what you see, please subscribe.

[jensschroder]

I always thought the 4th dimension would be the long time to print.

[Joshkashley]

Best part of this video is your engineering approach and persistence. Well done. Love your content. Been watching for years

[alexandru-antonioene]

This is wonderful. I am doing a PhD on 4D printing and this video helped me with another perspective on the matter. Usually, you can still achieve the 4d effect (memory shape) using a single type of material. At 12:35 the problem is that PLA has a glass transition temperature of ~60°C (glass transition temperature = when the material starts to soften and feel kind of rubbery. it's a reversible process)

[Haakkon]

Even as a proof of concept this is really impressive! Thanks for sharing these they are so cool

[boostaddict_]

As an engineering student, I can't think of anywhere I'd use this, but it does seem like something that could be useful to someone else. Neat.

[freddotu]

Your solution was quite elegant, especially the speed of the results. During the initial failure of the wash-away material, I considered that printing a PLA insert within the wash-away would provide rigidity, then fall apart and fall away from the main body once dissolved.

[PureRushXevus]

Watching this, I couldn't help but constantly think "wow, so many hurdles and he's still going.. is it gonna be worth it?"
I'm very glad you did, that end result was _really_ cool :D

[colinfielder]

You make the impossible, possible Michael. Always enjoy watching your problem solving skills come to light!

[crazybird]

The perseverance in this video is incredible.

[munxprojectsalternative]

...made me so happy when you finally succeeded with that - nice process - congrats and thanks!

[DombiD]

You reached even a better result as the slow ones on the original videos. Well done Michael!

[DMonZ]

well done Michael, that was really cool! great problem solving. nice work!

[landroveraddict]

Can not wait for a bar bumper with this technology my wife will love it!🤦‍♂🤦‍♂

[ofonwilliam]

I am so proud of you sir, How you were able to scale through all those obstacles and constraints. I learnt so much from this

[lvlwrlk]

Brilliant video has given me a lot to think about even just in terms of print in place mechanisms for strength, speed and overhang optimisation.

[GarryWiles]

Great proof of concept and introduction to 4D printing.

[Slambo]

OUTSTANDING JOB ! The thin member form factor of your final dissolvable constraining members were exactly as I predicted would be required as I watched the video. I foresee medical applications for this tech.

[DerekH_UK]

Great video Michael and great perseverance ... fascinating.

[darylmerriweather]

This was awesom
! The way you analyze and your creativeness with 3D printing is impressive

[greg]

Inspirational, as you often are. Thank you, and greetings from San Francisco.