3D Printing: Making Competitive Robots Lighter, Stronger, and Faster!
With the opportunity from the Spring Festival Gala, the dancing robot gained massive attention overnight.
In recent years, the concept of robotics has gained immense popularity. Large-scale robotics competitions in universities provide platforms for young students to develop their interests and enhance their skills.
Works from China University of Petroleum (Beijing) SPR Robotics Team
In competitive robotics, speed, weight, durability, and innovation are all crucial. The development of 3D printing technology, coupled with a wide variety of high-performance materials, provides unprecedented freedom for the design and fabrication of competition robots.
In practice, 3D printing technology is used to rapidly customize structural components, brackets, motion parts, and electronic device protective covers. Common materials include PLA, ABS, PETG, PET, PA-CF, PA, TPU, as well as other materials like fiberglass, carbon fiber, high-temperature resistant, flame-retardant, or anti-static materials.
Different materials are applied with varying focuses in competition robots. Users can select materials flexibly based on their robot’s design requirements.
For example, during the competition, robots may face high-intensity collisions. High-strength materials like carbon fiber-reinforced nylon and ABS fiberglass can provide protection for the robot, preventing key components from breaking, improving durability, and enhancing the robot’s performance in competitions.
Carbon fiber composites, nylon, and other high-strength, low-density materials can reduce the robot’s weight, improve its speed, and decrease the motor load, extending battery life.
Flexible materials play an important role in protecting PCB boards and other critical components.
Some Printing Application Examples
1.3D Printed Competition Robot Rotating Wheel
This material comes from eSUN’s U.S. partner AndyMark, and the component is printed using nylon carbon fiber material.
2.3D Printed Competition Robot Ball Flicker
This material comes from the BOF Robotics Team at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
As shown in the image, the component is predominantly made using 3D printing, with the upper shell protecting the motor and connecting the flicker. The bottom is designed as a hexagonal dial for stable flicking, and small bearings are added to the end of the flicker to reduce friction during ball transfer, ensuring smooth and stable output during the competition.
3.3D Printed Competition Robot Structural Parts
This material comes from the SPR Robotics Team at China University of Petroleum (Beijing). As shown in the image, the direct-output flicker consists of three printed parts, including the upper and lower flicker walls and the middle flicking fork. The fork is printed using eSUN’s ABS-GF material to increase structural strength and prevent flicker breakage during ball flicking.
4.3D Printed Competition Robot Structural Parts
This material comes from the TRoMaC Robotics Team at Taiyuan University of Technology. As shown in the image, TPU-95A, a material with excellent flexibility, high hardness, and good resilience, is used in the production of shock-absorbing protective parts for the robot to reduce damage and protect critical areas.
Additionally, TPU-95A is used to make dart bodies in dart systems, where its excellent toughness and resilience prevent breakage from high-intensity, instantaneous impacts, and allow quick recovery after short-term compression.
5.3D Printed Competition Robot Structural Parts
This material comes from the TUP Robotics Team at Shenyang Aerospace University. The images above show the flight control quick-release bracket and UV light strip enclosure, both printed using eSUN’s flame-retardant ABS.
The quick-release flight control bracket is easy to install, highly reliable, and offers vibration and shock resistance, improving versatility and interchangeability.
In application, the excellent flame-retardant properties, high heat distortion temperature, high toughness, and impact resistance of ABS flame-retardant material provide safety assurance for optimizing the robot’s performance.
In addition to competitive robots, 3D printing can also be applied to the design and fabrication of other types of robots. As equipment and printing technologies continue to improve, 3D printing will likely become a driving force in related industries.
3D Printed Moon Rover Functional Parts and Structural Components
This material comes from the Monash Nova Rover team at Monash University, primarily using TPU-95A for printing the rover tires and mechanical arm, with PLA+ used for some of the body parts.
TPU-95A printing the moon rover tires perfectly meets the Nova Rover team’s need for “strength and lightweight” performance.
3D Printed Robotic Dog Structural Parts
The material above comes from @RZtronics, with the red parts of the robotic dog printed in PLA+ (Fire Red) and TPU-95A.
3D printing technology provides a convenient channel for robot design, production, and performance optimization, while the diverse range of 3D printing materials ensures a stable foundation for creative projects.
eSUN actively supports the projects of young students and related teams. In 2025, eSUN will sponsor multiple university robotics teams, including those in the RoboMaster 2025 competition. We wish all participating teams the best of luck!
Sincere thanks to all our partners for their support and assistance in this article.