3D-printed sensors: pioneering the future of industrial innovation

The origins of what is now known as micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) can be traced back to 1954, when piezoresistance was recorded in silicon and germanium. Researchers began wondering if the same technology that in the past years allowed miniaturization of transistors and circuits could be applied to sensors. And by the late 1960s several pioneering companies emerged commercializing the first silicon pressure sensors. But it is in the 1990s that MEMS took over the world of sensor manufacturing. Since then, MEMS gained momentum in the sensing industry for all kinds of applications.

Currently sensor production is limited by complex steps and expensive machinery. 3D-printing offers a simpler, cheaper alternative with diverse materials and fewer geometric constraints. This enables the creation of advanced sensors with higher sensitivities, novel sensing methods, multimodal sensing, and miniaturization. Moreover, techniques like digital light projection can quickly produce multisensory arrays or multiple sensor iterations in reduced time. The growing interest and investigation into 3D-printed sensors promises to enhance the next industrial revolution with improved sensing capabilities, paving the way for innovative applications and more efficient production processes