Fabrication of Dielectric Elastomer Actuators Made of an Organogel by Light-Cured Fabrication Method

Abstract

In this study, we report a fabrication method of dielectric elastomer actuators (DEA) made of an organogel by using a 3D printer. DEAs made of an organogel are expected to increase displacement of the DEA because the organogel has low Young’s modulus and high relative permittivity. In our laboratory, we have studied fabrication methods of three-dimensional (3D) shaped DEAs made of an organogel to realize heart models and 3D shaped tactile presentation devices. However, previous fabrication methods are not suited for fabricating intricate structures or complex shapes. Therefore, we fabricate a DEA made of an organogel by using a light-cured 3D printer to realize complex shapes.