Variable gripper, manufacturing method thereof, and operating method thereof

Variable Gripper Combining Shape-Memory Polymer 3D Printing and Heater Control

This technology is a variable gripper that uses a 3D-printed shape-memory polymer structure, an adhesive polymer layer, and a heater unit. By utilizing heat-induced glass transition to reversibly control the physical shape of the wings, it can grip and release objects.

Conventional grippers have faced challenges such as difficulty in controlling gripping and releasing performance, slow release times, and inefficiencies in manufacturing costs and time.

This technology optimizes shape recovery by controlling 3D printing process variables, such as unit layer thickness and wing edge width, and physically controls response time by combining heater temperature application with external force. It can be applied to precision component transport, micro-assembly, and medical device handling, enabling sophisticated grip control through low-cost manufacturing.

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Key Features:

• Manufacturing a carrier unit comprising a first surface with a recessed area and an opposing second surface
• Manufacturing a variable structure including wings bonded to the side adjacent to the second surface of the carrier unit
• Manufacturing an adhesive polymer layer by providing an adhesive polymer source within the recessed area of the carrier unit
• Manufacturing a heater unit to provide temperature to the variable structure and bonding the wings at a first angle

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This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT for the development of 3D printing-based, biosignal-responsive, customized implant devices for smooth urination in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms.