3D-Printing: a promising technology to design three-dimensional microsystems

System miniaturization remains an important challenge in the field of microrobotics. Several works have been raised in this context. Maybe the most known and widespread are MEMS devices based on clean room technologies. Although they give option to design small systems with mico/nano features, such technologies are limited to planar structures with two or three degrees of freedom (DOF). To tackle this limitation, a new approach is proposed in this paper. Instead of planar construction, we proposed here to design three-dimensional micro-systems by taking advantages of additive manufacturing technology, namely 3D printing. The final objective consists to design a monolithic structure in one operation without assembly. Then functionalization could be achieved by equipping the structure with actuators and sensors. Starting from the fact that any complex structure could be decomposed into basic elements such as articulations or flexures, this paper will focus on how articulations could be fabricated without assembly using 3D printing facilities. Combining those articulations which are considered as fundamental bricks will make possible to design complex monolithic structures. As an illustration, a pivot articulation is experimentally demonstrated using 3D printing.