Apple’s new foldable phone, the Duo, features a hinge constructed with artificial intelligence and 3D printing technology. This component addresses the typical durability issues found in current foldable devices, where repeated flexing often leads to significant degradation. Johny Srouji, chief hardware officer at Apple, explained that manufacturing teams use AI algorithms to match each individual hinge to its specific housing for perfect alignment. A confocal laser scans the topology of every unit before the system 3D prints up to 25 micro layers of custom photopolymer to remove residual waviness. The device also includes a custom nano-texture finish to reduce glare and a multi-layer lamination strategy to increase structural strength. While these measures aim to protect the phone from wear and tear, the long-term effectiveness of such protections remains unproven in daily use.
- The 3D printing process adds 25 micro layers to eliminate surface waviness
- AI algorithms match each hinge unit to its specific housing
- A confocal laser scans the topology of every single unit
