# @stem_antics on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DVrChQ4D1v8
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/61935800-stem-antics-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/33944e0bc0.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-03-09T17:44:15.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Stem Antics (@stem_antics) — https://gondola.cc/stem_antics

## Caption

Researchers at the National University of Singapore developed a technique called CHARM3D, which forms metal structures not by pushing material out, but by pulling molten metal into shape using surface tension.

The process uses Field’s metal, a low-melting-point alloy composed of bismuth, indium, and tin that liquefies at roughly 62°C. Because the metal melts at such a low temperature, it can be manipulated in liquid form without the extreme heat typically required for metal additive manufacturing.

Instead of extruding a filament, the system forms a droplet of molten alloy at the nozzle. As the print head moves away, surface tension pulls the metal into a thin continuous filament, creating a suspended microwire that rapidly solidifies as it cools in air.

This tension-driven mechanism enables something unusual in additive manufacturing: free-standing conductive structures printed directly in space.

Researchers demonstrated several geometries, including:
	•	Helical coils and springs
	•	Cubic lattice frameworks
	•	Interconnected 3D conductive paths

Because the wires solidify quickly, the structures can remain suspended without scaffolding or sacrificial support materials. That dramatically simplifies fabrication compared with traditional metal printing techniques, which often require complex support removal steps.

Another notable capability is speed. The CHARM3D method can reach fabrication speeds approaching 100 millimeters per second, which is significantly faster than many microscale conductive printing methods.

the printed components can also be recycled and reprinted, potentially reducing waste in rapid electronics prototyping.

More broadly, CHARM3D illustrates how physical forces like surface tension can be engineered as fabrication tools. Instead of forcing materials through pressure or lasers, this method harnesses the natural behavior of liquids to construct functional structures.

#STEMeducation #AdditiveManufacturing #3DPrinting #MaterialsScience #ElectronicsEngineering

## Stats

- **Views:** 13,142
- **Likes:** 231
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 2

## Tags

3dprinting, materialsscience, electronicsengineering, additivemanufacturing, stemeducation

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