3D Printing-Assisted Soft Capacitive Inclinometers for Simultaneous Monitoring of Tilt Angles and Directions

This study presents capacitive-type inclinometers composed of flexible polymer pillars and dome-shaped roof frames that were manufactured using the three-dimensional (3D) printing method. Polylactic acid (PLA) filaments acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) printed by fused deposition modeling type 3D printer to fabricate curing molds, respectively. The operating principle inclinometer was detect change in capacitance between helix-shaped electrode coiled around pillar built-in frame. When tilted, bent, physical distance each changed with respect tilt angle direction. Therefore, angles directions simultaneously estimated distinguishing peak capacitance, results experiments revealed electrically connected a standard weight frame 45° exhibited higher sensitivity (1.391 pF at 40°) compared those 90° 135°. supports use technology for facile manufacturing can simultaneously, which is not achievable conventional inclinometers.