Material Fabrication

Removing the flaws from 3D printing metal alloys

Materials Today: In the past few decades, metal 3D printing has spearheaded efforts to create custom parts with intricate shapes and high functionality. But as additive manufacturers have utilized more metal alloys for their 3D printing needs, so they have faced…

Battery bends and stretches like a snake

E&T Magazine: Korean researchers have developed a safe, flexible and stretchable battery capable of smooth movement which mimics the motion of snake scales. The device could have a range of applications in soft robotics and wearable devices. A snake’s individual scales,…

Faster Microfiber Actuators Mimic Human Muscle

IEEE Spectrum: Robotics, prosthetics, and other engineering applications routinely use actuators that imitate the contraction of animal muscles. However, the speed and efficiency of natural muscle fibers is a demanding benchmark. Despite new developments in actuation technologies, for the most past…

Kirigami offers simple approach to building complex 3D structures

Materials Today: A new approach to producing metamaterials draws on kirigami techniques to make three-dimensional, reconfigurable building blocks that can be used to create complex, dynamic structures. Because this design approach is modular, these structures are both easy to assemble and…