Towards Printing Mechatronics: Considerations for 3D-printed conductive coupling

This paper has investigated the integration of 3D-printed conductive paths into 3D-printed non-conductive structures, with the goal of exclusively combining standard off-the-shelf components with additive manufactured pieces in order to build a mechatronic device. To this end, a chosen conductive material has initially been mechanically and electrically characterized through measuring the elasticity by dynamic mechanical analysis, and performing tests on conductivity with respect to influencing parameters such as contact pressure and macroscopic time-dependent effects. This has been further correlated with deflection calculations used for designing a conductive coupling which integrates a conventional DC motor into a 3D-printed holder. The housing has then been manufactured and operational testing of the assembly was performed. Considerations concerning the manufacturing process of a 3D-printed mechatronic assembly have been presented, along with potential further applications relying on the obtained results.