3D printed sensors have attracted significant interest with the advancements in polymer additive manufacturing (AM).
Within the NIFTy group, there have been several studies on the development and understanding of capacitive sensors by means of Multi-Material Fused-Filament-Fabrication (MM-FFF).
3D-printed capacitive sensors have shown improved linearity relative to piezo-resistive sensing, due to the reduced influence of viscoelastic effects in their response.
However, the design of the infill patterns of the dielectric may significantly affect the response. Under compression, the properties of the dielectric are subject to change as trapped air is being compressed or escapes due to material porosity. Understanding the magnitude and impact of such effects is important as to further optimise and clearly define the expected operating range of such sensors.
Finding how the mechanical and dielectric properties of the dielectric in capacitive sensing under compression of the device may depend on infill effects. By doing so, understanding the magnitude and impact of such effects as to further optimise and clearly define the expected operating range of such sensors.