Multimaterial 3D Printing of Multifunctional Materials

Project Description

The Additive Assembly Laboratory (AAL) at BU has a variety of active projects that focus on multimaterial 3D printing of multifunctional materials, ranging from 4D printing (3D printing materials that change shape over time in response to a stimulus – time being the fourth axis), 3D printed optics, robots, soft electronics, and wearable haptics and thermoelectric devices. We also work on developing new automated techniques combining manufacturing and in-line and near-line material characterization to accelerate materials discovery and development. Many of these projects integrate a variety of disciplines ranging from chemistry and materials science (for designing and characterizing inks), robotics (for integrating instrumentation and automating processes), fluids (for understanding 3D printing processes), characterization, and design and modeling (developing simulations that describe results from our experiments). The broad goal of this REU project will be to introduce the student to our multimaterial 3D printing projects and then focus on set of aims tailored specifically for the REU’s background and interest, which can be accomplished within a 10 week period of time.

 Mentor

J. William Boley, PI     

Graduate Student Mentors

Xing Ye, Nicole Bacca, Chloe Kekedjian, Anissa Benzaid-Williams, and Amin Montazeri
The goals for this project will be to introduce the REU student to all active projects in the group focused on multimaterial 3D printing of multifunctional materials, as well as all specialized equipment in the lab. The student will then work with the team to scope out a project that contributes to the group, utilizes the REU’s skills and interests, and exhibits a scope that can be completed within the 10 week time frame.
The REU student will learn about the various projects in the lab that focus on multimaterial 3D printing of multifunctional materials, as well as all specialized equipment. The student will then, with the help of myself and my team, learn how to design and execute a study that integrates their background and interests to contribute to one of the active projects, or to benefits the entire group (e.g., integrating existing instrumentation to gain added automated characterization capabilities).
Timeline
Week 1: Orientation and safety training
Week 2: Learning each active project in the group
Week 3: Project selection
Week 4: Training on all necessary equipment for specific project
Weeks 5-8: Work on primary objectives of project
Week 9: Wrap up and document
Week 10: Present work and integrate feedback for future work