A team of researchers at the University of Edinburgh has developed a modular 3D printing system that can be used to produce soft robots without electronic components. The system, called the “Flex Printer”, enables the production of pneumatically operated, flexible structures made of soft plastics and is explicitly aimed at a wider range of users – even without any special prior knowledge of robotics or production technology.
The Flex Printer is based on commercially available components and, according to the developers, can be assembled for less than 400 pounds. The robots produced consist entirely of an elastic plastic material that is activated via external compressed air lines. After the printing process, the roughly palm-sized devices can be set in motion directly without being equipped with motors or control electronics.
The underlying research, published in the journal Device (Cell Press), addresses the previous challenges of soft robotics, such as high costs, lack of standardization and lengthy development cycles.
“It used to take years to figure out how to print using these materials. Using our new platform, anyone can now easily print things which were previously thought to be impossible. This is a game-changer for engineers and artists alike. Our hope is that this technology will help drive the next wave of research breakthroughs. Without the long-standing manufacturing and design bottlenecks holding it back, we believe soft robotics is ready to make a major real-world impact”, said Maks Gepner University of Edinburgh’s Schools of Engineering and Informatics.
The research group makes both construction plans and software freely available in order to promote the transfer of knowledge in research and teaching.
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