FURI | Summer 2023

3D Printing of Microrobots with Iron Hydroxide

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This project studies the effectiveness of how iron hydroxide impacts the rotations of the micro-helices and its structure’s durability. Iron hydroxide in liquid polymer resin is placed under a magnetic field to form the helix. The helix is printed one layer at a time. The magnetic field alignment varies by each layer, which results in the overall helix being able to both rotate and translate when surrounded by a magnetic field. Thus, this is what makes it a “microrobot.”

Student researcher

Angelina Bianca Ronquillo Barron

Mechanical engineering

Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Graduation date: Fall 2024