Magnetic Field-Assisted Manufacturing of Groove-Structured Flexible Actuators with Enhanced Performance

38 Pages Posted: 11 Oct 2023

See all articles by Haonan Sun

Haonan Sun

Zhejiang University

Chengqian Zhang

Zhejiang University

Chengfeng Pan

Zhejiang University

Zhezai Hu

Zhejiang University

Yujie Huang

Zhejiang University

Daofan Tang

Zhejiang University

Jun Xie

Zhejiang University of Technology

Huangzhe Dai

Zhejiang University

Hao Hu

Zhejiang University

Tiefeng Li

Zhejiang University

Peng Zhao

Zhejiang University - State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems

Abstract

Magnetic flexible actuators have attracted widespread attention due to their small size, adaptability, and wireless control capability. The manufacturing method of these actuators plays a crucial role in their functionality. Vat photopolymerization (VPP) offers the ability to manufacture precise structures and the capability of selective area curing. Based on these characterizations, we propose a magnetic field-assisted manufacturing method based on VPP to produce magnetic flexible actuators with 3D architecture in both geometry structure and magnetization arrangements, with accuracy of 200 μm. In addition, we construct groove structure to enhance the actuators' deformation, which is confirmed by both theoretical and experimental analyses, and successfully reduce the content requirement of magnetic particles. Flexible actuators with a low magnetic particle content (10 wt%) can be fabricated and fulfill intended functionality. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method by manufacturing multi-arm grippers, showcasing their transportation capabilities. Moreover, we construct a 2-DOF joint for a crawling robot, significantly improving its motion performance and increasing the average step length to 6.8 times. Finally, we design and manufacture a magnetic diaphragm with complex structure and 3D magnetization arrangements, which is applied to a micro pump, demonstrating its pumping process with a rate of about 3.6 mL/min. These results highlight the potential of the magnetic field-assisted manufacturing method in designing complex structures and magnetization arrangements of flexible actuators, expanding their functional boundaries.

Keywords: magnetic field-assisted manufacturing, vat photopolymerization, flexible actuators, magnetic actuation, groove structure

Suggested Citation

Sun, Haonan and Zhang, Chengqian and Pan, Chengfeng and Hu, Zhezai and Huang, Yujie and Tang, Daofan and Xie, Jun and Dai, Huangzhe and Hu, Hao and Li, Tiefeng and Zhao, Peng, Magnetic Field-Assisted Manufacturing of Groove-Structured Flexible Actuators with Enhanced Performance. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4598644 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4598644

Haonan Sun

Zhejiang University ( email )

38 Zheda Road
Hangzhou, 310058
China

Chengqian Zhang

Zhejiang University ( email )

38 Zheda Road
Hangzhou, 310058
China

Chengfeng Pan

Zhejiang University ( email )

38 Zheda Road
Hangzhou, 310058
China

Zhezai Hu

Zhejiang University ( email )

38 Zheda Road
Hangzhou, 310058
China

Yujie Huang

Zhejiang University ( email )

38 Zheda Road
Hangzhou, 310058
China

Daofan Tang

Zhejiang University ( email )

38 Zheda Road
Hangzhou, 310058
China

Jun Xie

Zhejiang University of Technology ( email )

China

Huangzhe Dai

Zhejiang University ( email )

38 Zheda Road
Hangzhou, 310058
China

Hao Hu

Zhejiang University ( email )

38 Zheda Road
Hangzhou, 310058
China

Tiefeng Li

Zhejiang University ( email )

38 Zheda Road
Hangzhou, 310058
China

Peng Zhao (Contact Author)

Zhejiang University - State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems ( email )

38 Zheda Road
Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058
China

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