Towards fully 3D printed dielectric elastomer actuators—A mini review
Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) have attracted the interest of researchers in soft robotics and biomimetics, due to their versatile capabilities, explored through numerical analysis and experimentation. Advances in computational simulation techniques have accelerated numerical studies on DEAs,...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Additive Manufacturing Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772369025000374 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849232649471655936 |
|---|---|
| author | Rollo Pattinson Nathan Ellmer Mokarram Hossain Rogelio Ortigosa Jesús Martínez-Frutos Antonio J. Gil Anil Bastola |
| author_facet | Rollo Pattinson Nathan Ellmer Mokarram Hossain Rogelio Ortigosa Jesús Martínez-Frutos Antonio J. Gil Anil Bastola |
| author_sort | Rollo Pattinson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) have attracted the interest of researchers in soft robotics and biomimetics, due to their versatile capabilities, explored through numerical analysis and experimentation. Advances in computational simulation techniques have accelerated numerical studies on DEAs, enabling even design optimisation for improved performance. However, as computational models grow in sophistication, the fabrication methods required often exceed the capabilities of traditional manufacturing. Additive manufacturing, in particular 3D printing, offers a promising solution to the challenges of realising intricate multi-functional designs developed through topology optimisation. Its precision and ability to create complex geometries make it well-suited for translating computational designs into functional DEA devices. This mini-review examines recent progress in 3D printing for DEA fabrication, emphasising its role in bridging the gap between computational design and physical devices. It also highlights emerging technologies and key challenges that must be addressed to fully realise topologically optimised DEA designs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c17b96a5137040c3a53cdbf6a338bb49 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2772-3690 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Additive Manufacturing Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-c17b96a5137040c3a53cdbf6a338bb492025-08-21T04:17:55ZengElsevierAdditive Manufacturing Letters2772-36902025-07-011410030410.1016/j.addlet.2025.100304Towards fully 3D printed dielectric elastomer actuators—A mini reviewRollo Pattinson0Nathan Ellmer1Mokarram Hossain2Rogelio Ortigosa3Jesús Martínez-Frutos4Antonio J. Gil5Anil Bastola6Materials and Manufacturing Research Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Bay Campus, SA1 8EN, United Kingdom; Corresponding authors.Zienkiewicz Institute for Modelling, Data and AI, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Bay Campus, SA1 8EN, United Kingdom; Corresponding authors.Zienkiewicz Institute for Modelling, Data and AI, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Bay Campus, SA1 8EN, United KingdomTechnical University of Cartagena, Campus Muralla del Mar, Cartagena, 30202 Murcia, SpainTechnical University of Cartagena, Campus Muralla del Mar, Cartagena, 30202 Murcia, SpainZienkiewicz Institute for Modelling, Data and AI, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Bay Campus, SA1 8EN, United Kingdom; Corresponding authors.Materials and Manufacturing Research Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Bay Campus, SA1 8EN, United Kingdom; Corresponding authors.Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) have attracted the interest of researchers in soft robotics and biomimetics, due to their versatile capabilities, explored through numerical analysis and experimentation. Advances in computational simulation techniques have accelerated numerical studies on DEAs, enabling even design optimisation for improved performance. However, as computational models grow in sophistication, the fabrication methods required often exceed the capabilities of traditional manufacturing. Additive manufacturing, in particular 3D printing, offers a promising solution to the challenges of realising intricate multi-functional designs developed through topology optimisation. Its precision and ability to create complex geometries make it well-suited for translating computational designs into functional DEA devices. This mini-review examines recent progress in 3D printing for DEA fabrication, emphasising its role in bridging the gap between computational design and physical devices. It also highlights emerging technologies and key challenges that must be addressed to fully realise topologically optimised DEA designs.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772369025000374Dielectric elastomer actuatorsAdditive manufacturingTopology optimisationElectro-active polymers |
| spellingShingle | Rollo Pattinson Nathan Ellmer Mokarram Hossain Rogelio Ortigosa Jesús Martínez-Frutos Antonio J. Gil Anil Bastola Towards fully 3D printed dielectric elastomer actuators—A mini review Additive Manufacturing Letters Dielectric elastomer actuators Additive manufacturing Topology optimisation Electro-active polymers |
| title | Towards fully 3D printed dielectric elastomer actuators—A mini review |
| title_full | Towards fully 3D printed dielectric elastomer actuators—A mini review |
| title_fullStr | Towards fully 3D printed dielectric elastomer actuators—A mini review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Towards fully 3D printed dielectric elastomer actuators—A mini review |
| title_short | Towards fully 3D printed dielectric elastomer actuators—A mini review |
| title_sort | towards fully 3d printed dielectric elastomer actuators a mini review |
| topic | Dielectric elastomer actuators Additive manufacturing Topology optimisation Electro-active polymers |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772369025000374 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rollopattinson towardsfully3dprinteddielectricelastomeractuatorsaminireview AT nathanellmer towardsfully3dprinteddielectricelastomeractuatorsaminireview AT mokarramhossain towardsfully3dprinteddielectricelastomeractuatorsaminireview AT rogelioortigosa towardsfully3dprinteddielectricelastomeractuatorsaminireview AT jesusmartinezfrutos towardsfully3dprinteddielectricelastomeractuatorsaminireview AT antoniojgil towardsfully3dprinteddielectricelastomeractuatorsaminireview AT anilbastola towardsfully3dprinteddielectricelastomeractuatorsaminireview |