Biomimicry
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Mimicking Nature's Cellular Architectures Via 3-D Printing

Mimicking Nature's Cellular Architectures Via 3-D Printing | Biomimicry | Scoop.it

"Nature does amazing things with limited design materials. Grass, for example, can support its own weight, resist strong wind loads, and recover after being compressed. The plant's hardiness comes from a combination of its hollow, tubular macrostructure and porous microstructure. These architectural features work together to give grass its robust mechanical properties. Inspired by natural cellular structures, researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, and MIT have developed a new method to 3D print materials with independently tunable macro-and microscale porosity using a ceramic foam ink."

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MIT Researchers to 3D Print a Pavilion by Imitating Silkworms

MIT Researchers to 3D Print a Pavilion by Imitating Silkworms | Biomimicry | Scoop.it
MIT researchers headed by Mediated Matter Group founder Neri Oxman to 3D print a pavilion by imitating silkworms.
Sam McCormick's curator insight, March 20, 2013 9:08 AM

This article relates to possible techniques for large scale 3D printing of self supporting structures for architectural applications. If this proves a cost effective method of creating extremely strong, lightweight materials, it could be applied to prosthetics, exoskeletons and the casings of implant peripherals that need to be carried by the host.