A review of 3D printing processes and materials for soft robotics

• Main Authors: Yap, Yee Ling, Sing, Swee Leong, Yeong, Wai Yee
• Other Authors: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: Engineering::Manufacturing::Polymers and plastics; Engineering::Mechanical engineering::Robots; Additive Manufacturing; Soft Robotics
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/143753
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Soft robotics is currently a rapidly growing new field of robotics whereby the robots are fundamentally soft and elastically deformable. Fabrication of soft robots is currently challenging and highly time- and labor-intensive. Recent advancements in three-dimensional (3D) printing of soft materials and multi-materials have become the key to enable direct manufacturing of soft robots with sophisticated designs and functions. Hence, this paper aims to review the current 3D printing processes and materials for soft robotics applications, as well as the potentials of 3D printing technologies on 3D printed soft robotics.