Metamaterials create mechanisms from a single piece of plastic

As shown in this video, a door latch and a pair of pliers are among the mechanisms created without screws, bolts or other fixings by researchers working with metamaterials. The team at the Hasso Plattner Institute’s Human Computer Interaction Lab design objects that move despite being 3D printed as one single part. Specifically, the objects have controlled directional movement, which means they can perform set mechanical functions, like gripping something or latching a door.