New hinge design for fibrous metamaterial enables for filament 3D printing

Fibrous metamaterials exhibit remarkable mechanical properties. For their experimental study, additive fabrication is frequently employed. The main problem one faces, when trying to produce by 3D printing a specimen to test, lies in the realization of elements connecting the fibers. This has been achieved using selective laser sintering (SLS) techniques, but appears to be very hard to perform with other printing techniques, like the filament-based one. In this work, we show, within the framework of the particular class of fibrous metamaterials known as pantographic metamaterials, a novel design for connecting hinges specifically optimized for filament-based 3D printing. This has a first fundamental advantage with respect to SLS: filament printing is extremely cheaper and can be accessible nowadays to everybody. Moreover, this hinge design enables faster prototyping, broader customization, and greater reliability in fibrous metamaterial structures. • New hinge mechanism that can be 3D printed through filament 3D printers. • Experimental measure of biased extension. • Bridges experimental findings and theoretical modeling, providing valuable insights for researchers in mechanics, materials science, and metamaterial design. • Opens avenues for designing innovative metamaterials with tunable properties, suitable for engineering applications requiring customized mechanical responses.