3D Printed snakeskin structure shows Potential for Industrial Use in Mechanical Traction

Nature offers a broad spectrum of sophisticated designs, forms and structures which proved to be useful through evolution. To study efficient locomotion, snakes are of particular interest as they survived in harsh conditions without extremities.

In an ambitious endeavour, US researchers studied the mechanical traction of snake-skin. By using laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF) they 3D printed different ventral hexagonal scales textures (responsible for the unique walking pattern of the python regius species) in 420 stainless steel and studied the frictional performance. The production without any post-processing

The research team demonstrated the ability of frictional anisotropic 3D printed textures to manipulate physical traction by the management of the coefficient of friction concerning the orientation of relative motion.