First demonstration of monolithically 3D-printed stacked dielectric actuators (SDEAs) in a single fabrication process
date: 26.07.2022
category: Sporočila za javnost
Researchers from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering UL report the first demonstration of monolithically 3D-printed stacked dielectric actuators (SDEAs) in a single fabrication process utilising a commercially accessible extrusion 3D printer and thermoplastic filaments. Neither single-layer nor stacked dielectric actuators have been 3D printed with thermoplastic filament extrusion in a single process until now.
The widespread filament extrusion technology enables the scaling, individualisation, embedding, and combining of funtional printed structures (actuators, sensors, generators, etc.) into multi-functional structures without modifications to the fabrication technology.
Four actuators with different active areas and a number of stacked active layers were 3D printed. The functionality of the 3D-printed actuators was demonstrated with dynamic electromechanical characterization in a free-displacement and blocked-force configuration in a broad frequency range (up to 5 kHz). The actuators show promise for applications that require high-frequency resonators or high controllability in the sub-resonance region.
The fabrication and characterization methods were published in one of the leading scientific journals in the field of mechanical systems International Journal of Mechanical Sciences (IF = 6.772).
Link to the article: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2022.107555
