This article introduces the concept of Impact Printing, a new additive manufacturing (AM) method that aggregates malleable discrete elements (or soft particles) by a robotic shooting process. The bonding between the soft particles stems from the transformation of kinetic energy, gained during the acceleration phase, into plastic deformation upon impact. Hence, no additional binding material is needed between the soft particles; the cohesion and self-interlocking capacities of the material itself acts as the primary binding agent. Shooting, and consequent impacting, forces can be modulated and result in distinct compaction ratios. By linearly shooting material, we decouple the deposition apparatus from the produced parts and provide flexibility to the deposition process to potentially build in any directions or onto uncontrolled surfaces. Impact Printing produces parts with formal characteristics standing between brick laying—assembly of discrete building blocks—and 3D Printing—computer-controlled depositioning or solidifying of material. It brings forward a novel digital fabrication method and an alternative to the conventional continuous AM process. This article validates the Impact Printing approach with a series of prototypical experiments, conducted with a robotic fabrication setup consisting of a six-axis robotic arm mounted with a material shooting apparatus, that forms, orients, and projects the soft particles. We will explain and demonstrate its principles and define the fabrication parameters, such as shooting force, shooting distance, and the resulting aggregations' characteristics.

中文翻译：

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冲击印刷

本文介绍冲击打印的概念，这是一种新的增材制造 (AM) 方法，通过机器人射击过程聚合可延展的离散元素（或软颗粒）。软颗粒之间的结合源于在加速阶段获得的动能转化为冲击时的塑性变形。因此，软颗粒之间不需要额外的粘合材料；材料本身的内聚力和自联锁能力充当主要的粘合剂。可以调节射击和随之而来的冲击力，并产生不同的压实比。通过线性射击材料，我们将沉积设备与生产的部件分离，并为沉积过程提供灵活性，以潜在地在任何方向或在不受控制的表面上构建。Impact Printing 生产的部件具有介于砌砖（离散积木的组装）和 3D 打印（计算机控制的材料沉积或固化）之间的形式特征。它提出了一种新颖的数字制造方法和传统连续 AM 工艺的替代方法。本文通过一系列原型实验验证了冲击印刷方法，这些实验使用机器人制造装置进行，该装置由安装有材料发射装置的六轴机械臂组成，用于形成、定向和投射软粒子。我们将解释和演示其原理并定义制造参数，例如射击力、射击距离和由此产生的聚合体的特性。