New Delhi: Led by an Indian-American student Apoorva Kiran, scientists at Cornell University in New York have 3D-printed a working loudspeaker - seamlessly integrating the plastic, conductive and magnetic parts - that is ready for use almost as soon as it comes out of the printer.
The successful implementation of the new 3D printing technique implies that rather than assembling consumer products from parts and components, complete functioning products could be fabricated at once, on demand.
Kiran and Robert MacCurdy, graduate students in mechanical engineering, worked with Hod Lipson, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, to develop this unique technique, said a press release by Cornell University.
"Everything is 3D-printed," said Kiran, as he launched a demo by connecting the newly-printed mini speaker to amplifier wires.
For the demo, the amplifier played a clip from US president Barack Obama's 'State of the Union' speech that touch on 3D printing.
"A loudspeaker is a relatively simple object. It consists of plastic for the housing, a conductive coil and a magnet. The challenge is coming up with a design and the exact materials that can be co-fabricated into a functional shape," Kiran said.
