• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 2020

In this paper, the performances of the electrical characteristics of the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D-printed flexible resistance sensor was evaluated. The FDM 3D printing flexible resistive sensor is composed of flexible-material thermoplastic polyurethane and a conductive PLA (carbon black conductive polylactic acid) polymer. While 3D printing, polymer filaments heat up quickly before being extruded and cooled down quickly. Polymers have poor thermal conductivity so the heating and cooling causes unevenness, which then results in internal stress on the printed parts due to the rapidity of the heating and cooling. Electrical resistance measurements show that the 3D-printed flexible sensor is unstable due to internal stress, so the 3D-printed flexible sensor resistance curve does not match the increases and decreases in the displacement curve. Therefore, annealing was performed to eliminate the mismatch between electrical resistance and displacement. Annealing eliminates residual stress on the sensor, so the electrical resistance of the sensor increases and decreases in proportion to displacement. Additionally, the resistance is lowered in comparison to before annealing. The results of this study will be very useful for the fabrication of various devices that employ 3D-printed flexible sensor that have multiple degrees of freedom and are not limited by size and shape.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.198-204
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• 2019

In this study, we propose a wearable force sensor using 3D printed mold and liquid metal. Liquid metal, such as Galinstan, is one of the promising functional materials in stretchable electronics known for its intrinsic mechanical and electronic properties. The proposed soft force sensor measures the external force by the resistance change caused by the cross-sectional area change. Fused deposition modeling-based 3D printing is a simple and cost-effective fabrication of resilient elastomers using liquid metal. Using a 3D printed microchannel mold, 3D multichannel Galinstan microchannels were fabricated with a serpentine structure for signal stability because it is important to maintain the sensitivity of the sensor even in various mechanical deformations. We performed various electro-mechanical tests for performance characterization and verified the signal stability while stretching and bending. The proposed sensor exhibited good signal stability under 100% longitudinal strain, and the resistance change ranged within 5% of the initial value. We attached the proposed sensor on the finger joint and evaluated the signal change during various finger movements and the application of external forces.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.279-285
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• 2022

Recently, 3D printing technology has gained increased attention in the manufacturing industry because it allows the manufacturing of complex but sophisticated structures as well as moderate production speed. Owing to advantages of 3D printers, such as flexible design, customization, rapid prototyping, and ease of access, can also be advantageous to sensor developments, 3D printing demands have increased in various active device fields, including sensor manufacturing. In particular, 3D printing technology is of significant interest in tactile sensor development where piezoelectric materials are typically embedded to acquire voltage signals from external stimuli. In regard with piezoelectricity, researchers have worked with various piezoelectric materials to achieve high piezoelectric response, but the structural approach is limited because ceramics have been regarded as challenging materials for complex design owing to their limited manufacturing methods. If appropriate piezoelectric materials and approaches to design are used, sensors can be fabricated with the improved piezoelectric response and high sensitivity that cannot be found in common bulk materials. In this study, various 3D printing technologies, material combinations, and applications of various piezoelectric sensors using the 3D printing method are reviewed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2020

Recently, to improve convenience, flexible electronics are quickly being developed for a number of application areas. Flexible electronic devices comprise characters such as being bendable, stretchable, foldable, and wearable. Effectively manufacturing flexible electronic devices requires high efficiency, low costs, and simple processes for manufacturing technology. Through this study, we enabled the rapid production of multifunctional flexible bending sensors using a simple, low-cost Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printer. Furthermore, we demonstrated the possibility of the rapid production of a range of functional flexible bending sensors using a simple, low-cost FDM 3D printer. Accurate and reproducible functional materials made by FDM 3D printers are an effective tool for the fabrication of flexible sensor electronic devices. The 3D-printed flexible bending sensor consisted of polyurethane and a conductive filament. Two patterns of electrodes (straight and Hilbert curve) for the 3D printing flexible sensor were fabricated and analyzed for the characteristics of bending displacement. The experimental results showed that the straight curve electrode sensor sensing ability was superior to the Hilbert curve electrode sensor, and the electrical conductivity of the Hilbert curve electrode sensor is better than the straight curve electrode sensor. The results of this study will be very useful for the fabrication of various 3D-printed flexible sensor devices with multiple degrees of freedom that are not limited by size and shape.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.1-7
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• 2023

The ability of 3D/4D printing technology to create arbitrary 3D structures provides a greater degree of freedom in the design of printed structures. This capability has influenced the field of electronics and biomedical applications by enabling the trends of device miniaturization, customization, and personalization. Here, the current state-of-the-art knowledge of 3D printed electronics and biomedical applications with the unique and unusual properties enabled by 3D/4D printing is reviewed. Specifically, the review encompasses emerging areas involving recyclable and degradable electronics, metamaterial-based pressure sensor, fully printed portable photodetector, biocompatible and high-strength teeth, bioinspired microneedle, and transformable tube array for 3D cell culture and histology.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.272-281
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• 2020

Three-dimensional (3D) selfie services, one of the major 3D printing services, print 3D models of an individual's face via scanning. However, most of these services require expensive full-color supporting 3D printers. The high cost of such printers poses a challenge in launching a variety of 3D printing application services. This paper presents a stencil-based 3D facial relief creation method employing a low-cost RGBD sensor and a 3D printer. Stencil-based 3D facial relief is an artwork in which some parts are holes, similar to that in a stencil, and other parts stand out, as in a relief. The proposed method creates a new type of relief by combining the existing stencil techniques and relief techniques. As a result, the 3D printed product resembles a two-colored object rather than a one-colored object even when a monochrome 3D printer is used. Unlike existing personalization-based 3D printing services, the proposed method enables the printing and delivery of products to customers in a short period of time. Experimental results reveal that, compared to existing 3D selfie products printed by monochrome 3D printers, our products have a higher degree of similarity and are more profitable.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.187-192
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• 2017

This paper presents an ongoing study to develop a novel pressure sensor by means of a Nano Carbon Piezoresistive Composite (NCPC). The sensor was fabricated using the 3D printing process. We designed a miniaturized cantilever-type sensor electrode to improve the pressure sensing performance and utilized a 3D printer to build a small-sized body. The sensor electrode was made of 2 wt％ MWCNT/epoxy piezoresistive nano-composite, and the sensor body was encapsulated with a pipe plug cap for easy installation to any pressure system. The piezoresistivity responses of the sensor were converted into stable voltage outputs by using a signal processing system, which is similar to a conventional foil strain gauge. We evaluated the pressure-sensing performances using a pressure calibrator in the lab environment. The 3D-printed cantilever electrode pressure sensor showed linear voltage outputs of up to 16,500 KPa, which is a 200％ improvement in the pressure sensing range when compared with the bulk-type electrode used in our previous work.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2003.11b
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• pp.291-294
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• 2003

In this paper, 2D and 3D inspection algorithm for printed solder on PCB is introduced. The aim of inspection is the detection of error such as rich solder poor solder and missing solder. For Inspection, laser distance sensor is used. For 2D inspection, laser image that is created by normalizing laser data between 0 and 255 are used. Reference Image is made using gerber file. Image processing algorithm is used for 2D inspection. By adding thickness of metal stencil to laser image, volume for solder can be calculated and 3D inspection is carried out.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.177-181
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• 2021

Scaffolds protect the sensor in the body. Scaffolds are made of a bioabsorbable polymer. The polymer process is sensitive to humidity. Inside of the 3D printer has been improved to control the humidity. Specimens were produced by injection molding and 3D printer. 3D printed specimens were printed under various humidity conditions. We measured tensile strength of the injection-molded specimen and tensile strength of the 3d printing specimen. We compared tensile strength of the injection-molded specimen and tensile strength of the 3d printing specimen. Tensile strength of the injection-molded specimen is 557 kgf/cm². We confirmed tensile strength of the specimen was highest at 741 kgf/cm² when the humidity was 10 %. We confirmed lower the humidity, higher tensile strength of the polymer product.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.388-394
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• 2021

The conventional microelectromechanical system (MEMS) process has been used to fabricate sensors with high costs and high-volume productions. Emerging 3D printing can utilize various materials and quickly fabricate a product using low-cost equipment rather than traditional manufacturing processes. 3D printing also can produce the sensor using various materials and design its sensing structure with freely optimized shapes. Hence, 3D printing is expected to be a new technology that can produce sensors on-site and respond to on-demand demand by combining it with open platform technology. Therefore, this paper reviews three standard 3D printing technologies, such as Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Direct Ink Writing (DIW), and Digital Light Processing (DLP), which can apply to the sensor fabrication process. The review focuses on strain/load sensors having both sensing material features and structural features as well. NCPC (Nano Carbon Piezoresistive Composite) is also introduced as a promising 3D material due to its favorable sensing characteristics.