Printing of Low Cost Sensors by Additive Manufacturing

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (AM) techniques has vast future in electronics, soft-robotics, 3D/4D printing, and bio-applications. Fabricating high resolution printed structures by avoiding the extreme processing conditions required advanced AM techniques. Printed sensors are surpassing due to their cost efficiency, ease of fabrication, flexibility, and environmental friendly operation. Advancement in additive manufacturing based technology, the resolution and performance efficiency is increasing rapidly. In this paper manufacturing techniques like Electrohydrodynamics (EHD) and Direct Ink Writing are highlighted along with the fabricated sensors. Printing of strain gauge, flex, temperature and humidity sensors were done, with minimum printed width using variety of conductive inks on flexible substrates. Electrical characterization and morphology were carried out to check the sensors response and roughness of the film. These printed sensors has applications in monitoring food, agriculture, medical and industrial environments. The performances of the fabricated sensors can further be enhanced considering industrial environmental monitoring and other related applications.