Laboratory for Dynamics of Machines and Structures 
Single-process 3D-printed stacked dielectric actuator
 T. Barši Palmić and J. Slavič
International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 2022

download pdf   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2022.107555

More research on: 3D printing,
Abstract
Single-process additive manufacturing provides fully functional 3D-printed structures in a single 3D printer without the need for additional manufacturing processes. The 3D-printed parts can be scaled, individualised, embedded, and combined into multi-functional structures without modifications to the fabrication technology. This manuscript reports 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. To achieve single-process fabrication, this research successfully addresses the main challenges: single-process fabrication of the dielectric layer and electrodes, repeatability and reliability of the 3D-printed thin dielectric layer, and layer stacking. 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.
Authors

Researcher

Tibor Barši Palmić, PhD

  Ladisk, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana
  tibor.barsi@fs.uni-lj.si
  +386 1 4771 228
tibor-barsi    
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Professor

Janko Slavič, PhD

  Ladisk, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana
  janko.slavic@fs.uni-lj.si
  +386 1 4771 226
jankoslavic     jankoslavic    
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