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3D printing

3D Printing Breakthrough: Magnetic Muscles for Soft Robotics

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new 3D printing technique that creates paper-thin "magnetic muscles" that can be applied to origami structures to make them move. This innovation has significant potential in robotics, particularly in areas like biomedicine and space exploration.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new technique uses 3D printing to infuse rubber-like elastomers with ferromagnetic particles, creating a thin magnetic film that can act as an actuator.
  • The magnetic "muscles" can be applied to origami structures without interfering with their motion, allowing for precise control and flexibility.
  • The technique has been successfully demonstrated in two applications: a non-invasive drug delivery system for stomach ulcer treatment and a robotic crawler capable of traversing obstacles up to 7 millimeters high.
  • The magnetic actuators can be controlled wirelessly using external magnetic fields, enabling flexible and scalable actuation.
  • The researchers achieved a breakthrough by using a hot plate to augment UV light, allowing for the use of a higher concentration of ferromagnetic particles, which generated more magnetic force.
  • The technique combines the folding capabilities of origami with the compliance of soft materials, creating a powerful and highly versatile platform for robotics and biomedical applications.
  • The paper, "3D-Printed Soft Magnetoactive Origami Actuators," was published in Advanced Functional Materials on September 12 (DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202516404).

Statistics:

  • Up to 75 wt.% ferromagnetic particles can be incorporated into the printing ink.
  • The resulting films exhibit strong magnetic response, flexibility, and programmable polarity.
  • The robotic crawler can traverse obstacles up to 7 millimeters high with adjustable speed using magnetic field strength and frequency.
  • The researchers achieved a high folding-to-deployment ratio, precise guidance, and secure fixation to the ulcer site in the non-invasive drug delivery application.
  • The technique has the potential to solve problems in fields such as biomedicine, space exploration, and more.

Sources:

  • "3D-Printed Soft Magnetoactive Origami Actuators," Xiaomeng Fang et al., Advanced Functional Materials, September 12 (DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202516404)

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