but why do Skylar call it 4D printing... When it's just a normal 3D printing process with smart material. It's just me with grouses on the way this conversion technique is being marketed...
In the market , EPP , Foaming materials (just a few examples) for injection , extrusion processes are already commercialised where the materials properties change after processing for lightweight down gauge applications .
You are right though for highly complex design materials, 3D printing is the way to go in the long run, assuming the cycle time can be cut down drastically.
Because the final product can move. That's the time dimension - movement through time, rather than an objcet that stays in a static state once it's printed. The material is part of the printing process, so stating that it's "4D printing technology" isn't technically all that misleading.
Good marketing is good marketing ;-)