# 111. Biomimicry From The Ground Up Via Multi-material 3D Printing

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2023-02-28
- Length: 18m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-02-28-111-biomimicry-from-the-ground-up-via-multi-material-3d-printing
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/111-biomimicry-from-the-ground-up-via-multi-material-3d-printing-LtPnPqoO

## Summary

Daniel and Forbode discuss a Harvard research team's development of a rotating multi-material 3D printing nozzle that extrudes up to four materials simultaneously in a double-helix pattern. They explain how this biomimetic approach creates artificial muscles using dielectric elastomers that contract with electricity, enabling precise tuning of stiffness and actuation for soft robotics. The hosts explore applications ranging from prosthetics and neural interfaces to replacing biological cartilage in joints, highlighting the technology's ability to mimic the helical protein structures found in nature.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-02-28-111-biomimicry-from-the-ground-up-via-multi-material-3d-printing#t=0) Introduction: Additive Manufacturing and Mouser Electronics Primer
- [2:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-02-28-111-biomimicry-from-the-ground-up-via-multi-material-3d-printing#t=166) Harvard's Rotating Multi-Material 3D Printing Nozzle
- [6:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-02-28-111-biomimicry-from-the-ground-up-via-multi-material-3d-printing#t=389) Tuning Material Properties and Helical Geometry
- [10:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-02-28-111-biomimicry-from-the-ground-up-via-multi-material-3d-printing#t=651) Applications in Soft Robotics and Prosthetics
- [13:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-02-28-111-biomimicry-from-the-ground-up-via-multi-material-3d-printing#t=822) Neural Interfaces and Artificial Cartilage

## Topics

- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Medical & health devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/medical-devices)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Harvard (company)
- Neuralink (company)
- Wevolver (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Yonas Tadesse: 4D Printing, Humanoid Robots, Bionic Humans, AI for Engineers | Hard Tech Podcast #19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2024-05-26-yonas-tadesse-4d-printing-humanoid-robots-bionic-humans-ai-for-engineers-hard-te) (Hard Tech Podcast)
- [495: Shortcut the Difficulties of Reality](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-02-21-495-shortcut-the-difficulties-of-reality) (Embedded.fm)
- [Episode Seventeen – Bioinspired Robots: learning from nature](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-06-13-episode-seventeen-bioinspired-robots-learning-from-nature) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode 96: Soft robots in medicine and healthcare - Maria Elena Giannaccini](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-11-01-episode-96-soft-robots-in-medicine-and-healthcare-maria-elena-giannaccini) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode 147: Miniature living robots - Maria Guix](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-03-06-episode-147-miniature-living-robots-maria-guix) (Robot Talk)

## Citing this page

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