![]() The team printed several soft electronic devices, including a small, rubbery electrode, which they implanted in the brain of a mouse. The team transformed this normally liquid-like conducting polymer solution into a substance more like viscous toothpaste - which they could then feed through a conventional 3D printer to make stable, electrically conductive patterns. The devices are made from a type of polymer, or soft plastic, that is electrically conductive. ![]() Led by Xuanhe Zhao, a professor of mechanical engineering and of civil and environmental engineering, the research team has now developed a way to 3D print neural probes and other electronic devices that are as soft and flexible as rubber. Such flexible electronics could be softer alternatives to existing metal-based electrodes designed to monitor brain activity, and may also be useful in brain implants that stimulate neural regions to ease symptoms of epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and severe depression. MIT engineers are working on developing soft, flexible neural implants that can gently conform to the brain’s contours and monitor activity over longer periods, without aggravating surrounding tissue. Brain implants, on the other hand, are typically made from metal and other rigid materials that over time can cause inflammation and the buildup of scar tissue. The brain is one of our most vulnerable organs, as soft as the softest tofu. 3D Printing Servo Controlled Valves You can 3D print your own valves that are easy to control with a microcontroller. 3D Printing Forms For Casting Muscles If you want to cast muscles in 3D printed forms using silicone or other flexible materials see here: It should eventually be possible to print the muscles, bones, and skin of a robot in one print. This will minimize the number of expensive servos and gear-motors that will necessary. The Future Of Robotics I believe that the future of robotics, if it is to become more affordable and useful, will involve the 3d printing of soft robot muscles and skin teamed up with 3d printed stiff bones and shells. The largest blue elbow muscle is 1" x 1" x 3" long. I have barely scratched the suface of what is possible in the 3D printing of artificial muscles. Step 2: Designing 3D Printable Artificial MusclesĮxperimental Muscle Types Step 8 pic shows just a few of the muscle types I have experimented with. Step 1 pic shows the flower opening when all six muscles are pressurized at 22 PSI. A flower robot like this could be printed assembled in one piece. More intricate air channels and unusual shapes that do not need supports could also be printed. A Stereo-lithography printer using flexible resins, would make it possible to produce smaller and more precise types of muscles and robot skin that a filament printer cannot. This will make them considerably less expensive and when used in soft robots, make them more human friendly to touch and be around. This is still at the early stage of experimentation, but it shows great promise for producing muscles that can replace servos and gear-motors in robots. I used a Makerbot Replicator 2 to make these muscles, but other filament printers that can print Ninjaflex can be used. This allows them to hold air pressure of 22 PSI or higher. So, after printing, the muscles are dip-coated in an flexible elastomeric glue to seal the holes. The printing pattern of a 3D filament printer leaves many microscopic holes that will not hold air pressure. This is a more direct method where the muscles themselves are directly 3D printed using a flexible filament called Ninjaflex. That is a fairly involved method and does not produce the same precision as directly 3d printing. Previously I have made artificial muscles using a 3D printer by printing molds and casting silicone in them.
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