Additive manufacturing of smart insole by direct printing of pressure sensitive material

• Published in: Journal of mechanical science and technology Vol. 33; no. 12; pp. 5609 - 5614
• Main Authors: Kim, Hochan, Park, Sungchul, Lee, Inhwan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers 01.12.2019; Springer Nature B.V; 대한기계학회
• Subjects: 3-D printers; Conductors; Control; Dynamical Systems; Engineering; Industrial and Production Engineering; Insoles; Manufacturing; Mass production; Mechanical Engineering; Sensors; Three dimensional printing; Vibration; 기계공학; Wiring; Additive manufacturing; Flexible part; Pressure sensor; Multifunctional 3D printing; Smart insole
• ISSN: 1738-494X; 1976-3824
• DOI: 10.1007/s12206-019-1101-8

3D printing technology is gaining attention as one of the key technologies that will lead the fourth industrial revolution. In addition, the field of application is from trial production to mass production of products. However, in many cases, the application area is limited to the geometrical shape building of products. This paper shows an example of application technology for manufacturing the smart insole by applying 3D printing technology for the purpose of giving various functions as well as making geometric shape. In the production of smart insole, 3D printing technology is applied to direct printing of pressure sensitive sensor and highly conductive wire as well as flexible insole object itself. The materials used in the production of flexible products, conductors and sensor are different, and in order to produce the sensor by 3D printing, suitable materials have been directly manufactured and used. This paper shows that the 3D printing technology can be directly applied to the manufacturing of multi functional products through the above manufacturing process as well as the experimental results after the actual production.