'Active' Technology Supports Multi-Material 3D Printing

The ability to integrate disparate materials and properties within printed objects is the next frontier in 3D printing. Harvard University researchers have designed new multimaterial printheads that mix and print concentrated viscoelastic inks, enabling simultaneous control of composition and geometry during printing. Using active mixing and fast-switching nozzles, the printheads change material composition on the fly and could pave the way for entirely 3D-printed wearable devices, soft robots, and electronics.