Fiber encapsulation additive manufacturing (FEAM) and thermoplastic elastomer additive manufacturing (TEAM) are combined to create a composite capacitive force sensor. This work presents analysis on a capacitive force sensor developed by combining the advantages of FEAM and TEAM. The capacitive sensor consists of a 3D printed rigid frame with embedded wires in a tight spiral pattern that emulates a flat plate capacitor and a thermoplastic elastomer dielectric spacer that compresses under applied force. An approximately linear response for the corresponding capacitance change versus applied load is obtained to evaluate the printed capacitor effectiveness as a force sensor.
ShemelyaC. Multi-functional 3D printed and embedded sensors for satellite qualification structures. Sensors, 2015IEE, Busan, 2015, 1–4.
3.
ChenL, TeeB, ChortosA, et al.Continuous wireless pressure monitoring and mapping with ultra-small passive sensors for health monitoring and critical care. Nat Commun, 2014. DOI:10.1038/ncomms6028.
4.
LeT, SongB, LiuQ, et al.A Novel Strain Sensor Based on 3D Printing Technology and 3D Antenna Design. IEEE 2015 Electronic Components & Technology Conference.
5.
MuthJ, VogtD, TrubyR, et al.Embedded 3D printing of strain sensors within highly stretchable elastomers. Adv Mater, 2014; 26:6307–6312, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co, DOI:10.1002/adma.201400334.
6.
PuersR, ReyntjensS, De BruykerD. The NanoPirani-an extremely miniaturized pressure sensor fabricated by focused ion beam rapid prototyping. Sensors Actuators A, 2002; 97–98:208–214.
7.
SwensenJ, OdhnerL, ArakiB, et al.Printing three-dimensional electrical traces in additive manufactured parts for injection of low melting temperature metals. J Mech Robot, 2015; 7. [ASME Transactions. 021004-1–021004-10].
8.
KesnerS, HoweR. Design principles for rapid prototyping forces sensors using 3-D printing. IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, 2011; 16:5.
9.
SaariM, CoxB, RicherE, et al.Fiber encapsulation additive manufacturing: an enabling technology for 3D printing of electromechanical devices and robotic components. 3D Print Addit Manufac, 2015; 2:32–39.
10.
SaariM, GallaM, CoxB, et al.Additive Manufacturing of Soft and Composite Parts from Thermoplastic Elastomers. Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium. Austin, TX: University of Texas at Austin, 2015; pp. 949–958.
11.
SaariM, CoxB, RicherE, et al.Multi-Material Additive Manufacturing of Robot Components with Integrated Sensor Arrays. Proc. SPIE 9494, Next-Generation Robotics II; and Machine Intelligence and Bio-inspired Computation: Theory and Applications IX, 949404. Baltimore MD: SPIE, 2015.
MillerK. Testing Elastomers for Finite Element Analysis. 2012 International ANSYS Conference 147, Axel Products, Inc.
16.
KanyantaV, IvankovicA. Mechanical characterization of polyurethane elastomer for biomedical applications. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater, 2019; 3:51–62.
17.
PuersR. Capacitive sensors: When and how to use them. Sensors Actuators A, 1993; 37–38:93–105.
18.
BrochuP, PeiQ. Advances in dielectric elastomers for actuators and artificial muscles. Mol Rapid Commun, 2010; 31:10–36.
19.
GreenH. A Simplified Derivation of the Capacitance of a Two-Wire Transmission Line. IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, vol. 47, no. 3, pp. 365–366, Mar1999.
20.
Da SilvaM, SchleicherE, HampelU. Capacitance wire-mesh sensor for fast measurement of phase fraction. Meas Sci Technol, 2007; 18:2245–2251.
