scholarly journals A Sensorized Soft Pneumatic Actuator Fabricated with Extrusion-Based Additive Manufacturing

Actuators ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 102
Author(s):  
Antonia Georgopoulou ◽  
Lukas Egloff ◽  
Bram Vanderborght ◽  
Frank Clemens
Keyword(s):  
Fused Deposition Modeling ◽  
Thermoplastic Elastomers ◽  
Pneumatic Actuator ◽  
Shore Hardness ◽  
Sensing Element ◽  
Channel Network ◽  
Pneumatic Actuators ◽  
Conductive Composites ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
Deposition Modeling

Soft pneumatic actuators with a channel network (pneu-net) based on thermoplastic elastomers are compatible with fused deposition modeling (FDM). However, conventional filament-based fused deposition modeling (FDM) printers are not well suited for thermoplastic elastomers with a shore hardness (Sh < 70A). Therefore, in this study, a pellet-based FDM printer was used to print pneumatic actuators with a shore hardness of Sh18A. Additionally, the method allowed the in situ integration of soft piezoresistive sensing elements during the fabrication. The integrated piezoresistive elements were based on conductive composites made of three different styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) thermoplastic elastomers, each with a carbon black (CB) filler with a ratio of 1:1. The best sensor behavior was achieved by the SEBS material with a shore hardness of Sh50A. The dynamic and quasi-static sensor behavior were investigated on SEBS strips with integrated piezoresistive sensor composite material, and the results were compared with TPU strips from a previous study. Finally, the piezoresistive composite was used for the FDM printing of soft pneumatic actuators with a shore hardness of 18 A. It is worth mentioning that 3 h were needed for the fabrication of the soft pneumatic actuator with an integrated strain sensing element. In comparison to classical mold casting method, this is faster, since curing post-processing is not required and will help the industrialization of pneumatic actuator-based soft robotics.

scholarly journals A Soft Pneumatic Actuator with Integrated Deformation Sensing Elements Produced Exclusively with Extrusion Based Additive Manufacturing

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Antonia Georgopoulou ◽  
Lukas Egloff ◽  
Bram Vanderborght ◽  
Frank Clemens
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Fused Deposition Modeling ◽  
Thermoplastic Elastomers ◽  
Robotic Systems ◽  
Pneumatic Actuator ◽  
Sensing Element ◽  
3D Print ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
Bending Actuator ◽  
Wide Range

In recent years, soft pneumatic actuators have come into the spotlight because of their simple control and the wide range of complex motions. To monitor the deformation of soft robotic systems, elastomer-based sensors are being used. However, the embedding of sensors into soft actuator modules by polymer casting is time consuming and difficult to upscale. In this study, it is shown how a pneumatic bending actuator with an integrated sensing element can be produced using an extrusion-based additive manufacturing method, e.g., fused deposition modeling (FDM). The advantage of FDM against direct printing or robocasting is the significantly higher resolution and the ability to print large objectives in a short amount of time. New, commercial launched, pellet-based FDM printers are able to 3D print thermoplastic elastomers of low shore hardness that are required for soft robotic applications, to avoid high pressure for activation. A soft pneumatic actuator with the in situ integrated piezoresistive sensor element was successfully printed using a commercial styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPS) and a developed TPS/carbon black (CB) sensor composite. It has been demonstrated that the integrated sensing elements could monitor the deformation of the pneumatic soft robotic actuator. The findings of this study contribute to extending the applicability of additive manufacturing for integrated soft sensors in large soft robotic systems.

scholarly journals Preparation and Characterization of 3D Printed PLA-Based Conductive Composites Using Carbonaceous Fillers by Masterbatch Melting Method

Polymers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Guo ◽  
Zechun Ren ◽  
Xin Jia ◽  
Hongjie Bi ◽  
Haiying Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fused Deposition Modeling ◽  
Sodium Dodecylbenzene Sulfonate ◽  
Melting Method ◽  
Conductive Composites ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
Dodecylbenzene Sulfonate ◽  
Interfacial Compatibility ◽  
Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Deposition Modeling ◽  
Walled Carbon Nanotubes

This study was aimed at improving the conductivity of polylactic acid (PLA)-based composites by incorporating carbonaceous fillers. The composites with the addition of graphene nanoplatelets (rGO) or multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were fabricated by the masterbatch melting method in order to improve the dispersion of the two kinds of nano-fillers. The results showed that, with the addition of 9 wt % rGO, the volume electrical resistivity of the composite reached the minimum electrical resistance of 103 Ω·m, at which point the conductive network in the composites was completely formed. The interfacial compatibility, apparent viscosity, and the thermal stability of the composite were also good. The rGO functionalized by sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) was an efficient method to further improve the electrical conductivity of the composite, compared with tannic acid and MWCNTs. The resistivity was reduced by an order in magnitude. Patterns printed onto different baseplates by fused deposition modeling illustrated that the functionalized composite had certain flexibility and it is suitable for printing complex shapes.

scholarly journals Resistance Temperature Detectors Fabricated via Dual Fused Deposition Modeling of Polylactic Acid and Polylactic Acid/Carbon Black Composites

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 1560
Author(s):  
Jei Gyeong Jeon ◽  
Gwang-Wook Hong ◽  
Hong-Geun Park ◽  
Sun Kon Lee ◽  
Joo-Hyung Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Black ◽  
Polylactic Acid ◽  
Fused Deposition Modeling ◽  
Wheatstone Bridge ◽  
Resistivity Change ◽  
Sensing Element ◽  
Structural Support ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
Deposition Modeling ◽  
Laminated Structures

Planar-type resistance temperature detectors (P-RTDs) were fabricated via fused deposition modeling by dual nozzle extrusion. The temperature-sensing element of the fabricated sensor was printed with electrically conductive polylactic acid/carbon black (PLA/CB) composite, while the structural support was printed with a PLA insulator. The temperature-dependent resistivity change of PLA/CB was evaluated for different stacking sequences of PLA/CB layers printed with [0°/0°], [−45°/45°], and [0°/90°] plies. Compared to a PLA/CB filament used as 3D printing source material, the laminated structures exhibited a response over 3 times higher, showing a resistivity change from −10 to 40 Ω∙cm between −15 and 50 °C. Then, using the [0°/90°] plies stacking sequence, a P-RTD thermometer was fabricated in conjunction with a Wheatstone bridge circuit for temperature readouts. The P-RTD yielded a temperature coefficient of resistance of 6.62 %/°C with high stability over repeated cycles. Fabrication scalability was demonstrated by realizing a 3 × 3 array of P-RTDs, allowing the temperature profile detection of the surface in contact with heat sources.

3D Printed Segmented Flexible Pneumatic Actuator

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Gonzalez ◽  
Jose Garcia ◽  
Brittany Newell
Keyword(s):  
Fused Deposition Modeling ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Continuous Process ◽  
Pneumatic Actuator ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
Mold Casting ◽  
Deposition Modeling ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Soft Actuators

Abstract Soft actuators have been studied and analyzed as a new solution for soft robotic technologies. These types of actuators have many advantages due to their predictable deformations and their ease of control, enabling them to hold and move delicate objects performing complex movements in confined spaces. Soft actuators can be made using different manufacturing processes, but the most common is mold casting. However, this manufacturing process involves several steps, increasing the manufacturing time and hindering changes in the design. This paper presents a novel design of a 3D printed soft pneumatic actuator based on additive manufacturing, achieving design versatility and performance. The produced actuator has seven that can be individually controlled. The actuators were made using fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology in one continuous process and without support material. The mechanical performance of the soft actuators was demonstrated, analyzing the deformation in the z-axis based on input pressure.

Biodegradable 3D Printed Polymer Microneedles for Transdermal Drug Delivery

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Luzuriaga ◽  
Danielle R. Berry ◽  
John C. Reagan ◽  
Ronald A. Smaldone ◽  
Jeremiah J. Gassensmith
Keyword(s):  
Drug Delivery ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Transdermal Drug Delivery ◽  
Fused Deposition Modeling ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
Modeling Software ◽  
Deposition Modeling ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Microfabrication Technique ◽  
Mechanical Strengths

Biodegradable polymer microneedle (MN) arrays are an emerging class of transdermal drug delivery devices that promise a painless and sanitary alternative to syringes; however, prototyping bespoke needle architectures is expensive and requires production of new master templates. Here, we present a new microfabrication technique for MNs using fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing using polylactic acid, an FDA approved, renewable, biodegradable, thermoplastic material. We show how this natural degradability can be exploited to overcome a key challenge of FDM 3D printing, in particular the low resolution of these printers. We improved the feature size of the printed parts significantly by developing a post fabrication chemical etching protocol, which allowed us to access tip sizes as small as 1 μm. With 3D modeling software, various MN shapes were designed and printed rapidly with custom needle density, length, and shape. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that our method resulted in needle tip sizes in the range of 1 – 55 µm, which could successfully penetrate and break off into porcine skin. We have also shown that these MNs have comparable mechanical strengths to currently fabricated MNs and we further demonstrated how the swellability of PLA can be exploited to load small molecule drugs and how its degradability in skin can release those small molecules over time.

An Update on the Use of Alginate in Additive Biofabrication Techniques

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 1249-1264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amoljit Singh Gill ◽  
Parneet Kaur Deol ◽  
Indu Pal Kaur
Keyword(s):  
Fused Deposition Modeling ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Selective Laser Sintering ◽  
Layer By Layer ◽  
Three Dimension ◽  
Anionic Polymer ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
The Status ◽  
Deposition Modeling ◽  
Extrusion Printing

Background: Solid free forming (SFF) technique also called additive manufacturing process is immensely popular for biofabrication owing to its high accuracy, precision and reproducibility. Method: SFF techniques like stereolithography, selective laser sintering, fused deposition modeling, extrusion printing, and inkjet printing create three dimension (3D) structures by layer by layer processing of the material. To achieve desirable results, selection of the appropriate technique is an important aspect and it is based on the nature of biomaterial or bioink to be processed. Result & Conclusion: Alginate is a commonly employed bioink in biofabrication process, attributable to its nontoxic, biodegradable and biocompatible nature; low cost; and tendency to form hydrogel under mild conditions. Furthermore, control on its rheological properties like viscosity and shear thinning, makes this natural anionic polymer an appropriate candidate for many of the SFF techniques. It is endeavoured in the present review to highlight the status of alginate as bioink in various SFF techniques.

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