Professor Yong-Gu Lee's research team has developed a force measurement device for shape-memory material used in 4D printing

□ A research team led by Professor Yong-Gu Lee of the School of Mechanical Engineering at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST, President Seung Hyeon Moon) has developed a measurement device called "Hephaistus 1" * that can measure the actual driving force of the shape memory material used in 4D printing.

* Hephaistus 1 : A measuring device that can measure the operating data of the Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) * and Shape Memory Polymers (SMP) ** to build a material database.

* Shape memory alloy (SMA) : An alloy that is returned to its original state from a temporary strain given a particular temperature or stimulus.

** Shape memory polymer (SMP) : a polymer that returns to its original state from temporary deformation caused by a particular temperature or stimulus.

□ Recently, the idea of a new technology that can self-assemble has drawn attention because it can overcome the limitations of 3D printing. Accordingly, this measuring device is expected to gain research interest by actually predicting the behavior of  materials used for 4D printing.

* 4D printing technology : This is a field that the government is developing as a future strategic business. It applies the 4-dimensional concept of 'time' to 3D printing.

∘ "Hephaistus 1" is a device that has been made by Professor Lee's research team to make real-time measurement of the forces generated when shape memory material is actually being used. The measured data is then used in a database to predict the shapes of materials used in 4D printing.

∘ The core technology of "Hephaistus 1" is to measure in real time the forces generated when shape memory material is actually being used. This measured data is then used in a database to predict the shape of a material during 4D printing.

∘ "Hephaistus 1" is capable of measuring the strength of SMA springs as well as the resilience of the SMP, making it possible to measure two types of materials with a single device. It is also capable of measuring minute variations during measurements as it is designed to reduce vibrations to the maximum extent possible.

□ Professor Yong-Gu Lee said, "By using the measurement equipment and by the measuring the driving force of materials used for 4D printing, it is possible to construct data that simulates the deformations of the actual 4D printing model. Other researchers working on 4D printing and materials plan to standardize this measurement method to measure the driving force of shape memory alloy (SMA) and shape memory polymer (SMP) under various conditions to build a huge database."

□ On the other hand, Professor Lee Yong-koo's team has been selected as the developer of the 4D Printing simulator technology by the Science, ICT and Future Planning Ministry and the Information Technology Promotion Center. In this regard, it has received a prize from the Science, ICT and Future Minister at the Global SW Competition Exhibition organized by the Korean Software Industry Association for the creation of the software called " SMA 4D Printing. "