Conformal 3D Printing of Sensors

Abstract

A sensor is unobtrusive if it doesn’t interfere with the design, mechanical properties, and the functionality of the structure it is integrated with. This paper discusses the development of unobtrusive piezo-resistive sensors and their production using additive manufacturing. Short carbon fibers were dispersed in an acrylate resin and subsequently cured with UV DLP 3D printer to be used as a strain-sensing device. Varying the amount of carbon fiber resulted in resistivity variation of the composite. The composite was found to be piezo-resistive, and gauze factor at a concentration of 12% carbon fiber by volume was obtained through mechanical load testing.