SLA-Based Fabrication of Anisotropic Magnetic Soft Composites for Actuator Applications

Recent research has drawn growing attention to magnetic soft composites for use in artificial muscles and actuators because they offer flexible design, can be controlled remotely, and show a large magnetostriction compared to traditional magnetic thin films [1]. 3D printing is becoming a useful way to make these soft magnetic materials, allowing for custom shapes and better performance. Here we used stereolithography (SLA) to print hard magnetic soft composites by mixing strontium ferrite powder (0.5–2 wt%) into Elastic 600 resin and printing them using a Photon Mono M7Pro LCD-based printer. To create anisotropic composites, where the magnetic particles are aligned in a specific direction, we placed a permanent NdFeB magnet on top of the build plate during printing, resulting in a 700 Oe field perpendicular to the VAT's FEP film. The magnetic dipole moment density and anisotropy of the samples printed in the field and away from the field were analyzed through angle-dependent hysteresis measurements using a biaxial MicroSense vibrating sample magnetometer. The sample's anisotropy and homogeneity will be presented and discussed in terms of Magnetic Field Assisted Additive Manufacturing with an SLA printing.