3D Printed Auxetic Structures With Multi-Material Tuning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current auxetic structures are limited by their design with a single polymer and repetitive cellular unit configuration, which restricts the tunability of mechanical properties such as global stiffness and maximum reduce area, making them less adaptable for diverse applications.
Innovation Solution
A method for designing 3D printed auxetic structures using multiple materials with adjustable ratios and deposit locations, allowing for the modification of global stiffness and maximum reduce area through a user interface that specifies parameters affecting material distribution and strut configurations, enabling the creation of structures with enhanced properties like shear resistance and sound absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If auxetic structures are designed with a single polymer and repetitive cellular unit configuration, then the fabrication process is simplified, but the tunability of mechanical properties such as global stiffness and maximum reduce area is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by combining multiple polymers (e.g., TangoBlack Plus and VeroWhite) with different mechanical properties within the same auxetic structure. This allows the structure to achieve enhanced and tunable mechanical properties including improved global stiffness, increased maximum reduce area, and better shear resistance, while maintaining manufacturability through multi-material 3D printing technology
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by varying the distribution, ratio, and deposit location of different materials within specific regions of the auxetic structure. This enables different cellular units or struts to have customized material compositions tailored to specific functional requirements, such as placing stiffer materials in load-bearing regions while maintaining flexibility in other areas
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple materials with adjustable ratios and deposit locations are used, then the tunability of mechanical properties is enhanced, but the design complexity and manufacturing process become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustability in the design process by enabling users to modify parameters such as material ratios, deposit locations, and cellular unit configurations through software interfaces. This allows the auxetic structure design to be dynamically optimized for specific applications without requiring complex manual redesign, as the software automatically adjusts the multi-material distribution based on desired mechanical properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by allowing systematic variation of material composition ratios, deposit locations, and cellular geometry parameters to achieve desired mechanical properties. The software enables parametric modeling where changing key parameters automatically updates the entire structure design, simplifying the optimization process despite the complexity of using multiple materials
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for highly customizable auxetic structures with tunable properties, enhancing their suitability for various applications such as fasteners, prosthetics, and sound absorption materials by adjusting material distribution and strut configurations before 3D printing.
Implementation Method 1
a particular type of material is an auxetic material, which is a material that has a negative Poisson ratio... when an auxetic material is stretched (or compressed) in one direction, instead of becoming thinner (or thicker), it becomes thicker (or thinner) in perpendicular directions
Implementation Method 2
Their fabrication process typically allows only one repetitive cellular unit configuration... with at least two different materials having a predefined arrangement with respect to each other
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, facilitate the design and use of 3D printed auxetic structures. In one aspect, a system includes one or more computer storage media having instructions stored thereon; and one or more data processing apparatus configured to execute the instructions to perform operations including (i) receiving an input specifying a three dimensional (3D) model of a 3D structure that includes at least two different materials having a predefined arrangement with respect to each other to give the 3D structure a negative Poisson ratio, (ii) receiving an input regarding a change for the 3D structure, and (iii) modifying the predefined arrangement of the at least two different materials with respect to each other in response to the input regarding the change.