3D Printing Ultraflexible Magnetic Actuators via Screw Extrusion Method. Issue 16 (28th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cao, Xufeng; Xuan, Shouhu; Gao, Yinduan; Lou, Congcong; Deng, Huaxia; Gong, Xinglong
• Is Part Of: Advanced science. Volume 9:Issue 16(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-03-28
• Subjects: 3D print -- actuators -- magnetic actuation -- magnetic materials; Science -- Periodicals; 505
• DOI: 10.1002/advs.202200898
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2198-3844

Abstract

Abstract: Soft magnetic actuators with programmable structure design and controllable deformation ability based on 3D printing technology have attracted extensive attention. In this paper, a novel 3D printing strategy is developed to manufacture the ultraflexible magnetic actuator, in which the printed material is composed of magnetic particles and thermoplastic rubber materials. Different from the traditional fused deposition printing, this printing strategy introduces screw extrusion technology to the heating components of the printer to overcome the problem of filament buckling in the flexible material. Thus, the tensile modulus of the printed products can be reduced to as low as ≈2 MPa. Based on the above method, biomimetic magnetic actuators of the sucker and the pump are constructed for adhering and releasing object and pumping liquid. The contraction performance of the magnetic actuator is studied via a series of experiments and the magnetic field‐induced deformation is analyzed by the multiphysics‐based finite element model. This work proves that ultraflexible magnetic actuators fabricated by this 3D printing strategy show broad prospects in the fields of soft robotics and bionics. Abstract : Different from the traditional fused deposition printing, this 3D printing strategy based on the screw extrusion method can effectively overcome the problem of filament buckling in the flexible material. The tensile modulus of printed products can be reduced to as low as ≈2 MPa. Thus, the ultraflexible magnetic actuators fabricated by this 3D printing strategy show broad prospects in the fields of soft robotics and bionics.