3D Printed Sensors to detect Strain

[Brian_Krassenstein]

It's so amazing how much can be 3D printed already. Only a few years ago, most people never even heard of the technology. Not it seems to be making it's way into every industry there is. Researchers have recently found a way to efficiently 3D print strain sensors into objects. The sensors can then be used to sense movements and needless to say, the strain of an object. The process is detailed in the following 3DPrint.com article: http://3dprint.com/6754/3d-print-strain-sensors/

The ink they use for the conductive sensors is extremely cheap, and is environmentally friendly. What do you guys think this will eventually lead to. If sensors can be 3D printed, what other electronic components will be next? Below is a picture of one of these 3D printed strain sensors:

[Roxy]

I've been looking at the patterns printed. I suspect there are 3 different strain gauges printed on that piece in the photograph. The article doesn't say, but it looks like the 'conductive ink' doesn't care about the shape it is printed in, only that it will get stretched a little bit.