Soft robotics is a rapidly growing field of robotics where the robots are fundamentally soft and elastically deformable. Various 3D printing techniques and materials have been used for soft robotics, including elastomers, flexible materials, shape memory materials, and smart composites. Here are some of the most common ones:
1. Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE): TPE is a common material used in Fused Deposition Modeling or Fused Filament Fabrication for fabricating soft robotics.
2. Shape Memory Polymer (SMP): SMP is another type of material that can be formed into filaments and be printed.
3. Silicone: Silicone is a simple 3D construct that can be printed using Direct Ink Writing.
4. Hydrogels: Hydrogels are suitable for digital light processing (DLP) based 3D printing of soft robots.
5. Elastomers: Elastomers, including high-performance flexible and stretchable materials, are suitable for 3D printing of soft robots.
6. Self-Healing Materials: Self-healing materials have also been used for 3D printing of soft robots.
7. Shape Memory Polymers: Shape memory polymers have an increasing trend of being printed for soft robotics.
