Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Jorge Duro Royo

Neri Oxman

Laia Mogas Soldevila

Nicolas Hogan

Andrea Ling

Barrak Darweesh

Joshua Van Zak

Yen-Ju Tai

Joseph Henry Kennedy, Jr

Multiple colloids or hydrogels may each have a different chemical composition. A printer may extrude the colloids or hydrogels to form a physical object, in such a way that which hydrogel or colloid is deposited&#x2014;or the amount of each hydrogel or colloid that is deposited&#x2014;varies as a function of spatial position. Thus, the material composition and material properties of the physical object may vary at different locations. In some cases, physical properties of the structure being fabricated, such as surface roughness and hydrophilicity, are directly related to relative proportions of the materials being deposited and their fabrication processes. In some cases, cells, microorganisms, nutrients or other bioactive materials are embedded in or introduced to the fabricated structure. In some cases, the different materials in different spatial positions in the fabricated object may have different abilities to immobilize, localize, and stabilize specific nutrients and chemical signals.

Methods and apparatus for parametric fabrication

One or more input/output devices accept user-inputted path instructions that specify a set of multiple deposition paths for an extruder to travel. An actuator actuates motion of the extruder along a trajectory that includes each of the deposition paths and also includes multiple non-deposition paths. For each deposition path: (a) the user-inputted path instructions specify a thickness of an object; and (b) the extruder extrudes the object in accordance with fabrication instructions computed by a computer based at least in part on the thickness. As the extruder moves over the entire trajectory, the extruder extrudes a set of objects, one object per deposition path. The objects adhere to each other to form an integral 3D structure. In some cases, the objects include functionally graded material.

Methods and apparatus for additive manufacturing along user-specified toolpaths

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Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Jorge Duro Royo