3-dimensional printed load cell parts
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsSterling Chaffins, Cassady Roop, Kevin P. DeKam
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Abstract
A 3-dimensional printed load cell part can include a part body formed of fused thermoplastic polymer particles, and a plurality of strain sensors separately formed of a matrix of conductive particles interlocked with a matrix of fused thermoplastic polymer particles. The plurality of strain sensors can have a first electrical contact at a first end and a second electrical contact at a second end. The particles of the plurality of strain sensors can be continuously fused to the particles of the part body.
Claims20
A 3-dimensional printed load cell part, comprising:
- a part body formed of fused thermoplastic polymer particles;
- and
- a plurality of strain sensors separately formed of a matrix of fused conductive particles interlocked with a matrix of fused thermoplastic polymer particles, the plurality of strain sensors each having a first electrical contact at a first end and a second electrical contact at a second end,
- wherein the particles of the plurality of strain sensors are continuously fused to the particles of the part body.
A method of making a 3-dimensional printed load cell part, comprising:
- dispensing a conductive fusing ink onto a plurality of sensor areas of a layer of thermoplastic polymer particles, wherein the conductive fusing ink comprises conductive particles;
- dispensing a second fusing ink onto non-sensor areas of the layer of thermoplastic polymer particles, wherein the second fusing ink comprises a fusing agent capable of absorbing electromagnetic radiation to produce heat;
- and
- fusing the plurality of sensor areas and the non-sensor areas with electromagnetic radiation to form a plurality of strain sensors in the plurality of sensor areas and a part body in the non-sensor areas, wherein the plurality of strain sensors comprise a matrix of conductive particles interlocked with a matrix of fused thermoplastic polymer particles and the part body comprises fused thermoplastic polymer particles, and wherein the particles of each of the plurality of strain sensors are continuously fused to the particles of the part body.
A load cell, comprising:
- a first set of strain sensors electrically connected along a first current path, the first set of strain sensors being separately formed of a matrix of fused conductive particles interlocked with a matrix of fused thermoplastic polymer particles;
- and
- a second set of strain sensors electrically connected along a second current path, the second set of strain sensors being separately formed of a matrix of fused conductive particles interlocked with a matrix of fused thermoplastic polymer particles, wherein the first current path and the second current path are parallel current paths in a common electrical circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.