AIM 2026 Workshop | July 7, 2026 

Overview 

The objective of this workshop is to establish a systematic, research-driven methodology for robot design and development using 3D printing and additive manufacturing technologies. Conventional robot prototyping and manufacturing have relied heavily on machining, sheet-metal forming, and die casting. While these methods remain essential, they can restrict design flexibility, increase cost, and lengthen development cycles. Recent advances in additive manufacturing are changing this situation by enabling rapid fabrication of lightweight, complex, and customized components, supporting faster iteration in robotic system development.

Despite these advantages, the use of 3D-printed parts in robotics has often remained limited to external shape verification or early-stage prototyping. Improvements in material properties, printing resolution, fiber reinforcement, and multi-material fabrication now make it possible to produce functional and load-bearing components. However, systematic design methodologies that exploit the capabilities of additive manufacturing while accounting for its limitations have not yet been sufficiently established. Much practical knowledge remains fragmented among individual research groups and industrial practitioners.

This workshop will bring together researchers and engineers from robotics, mechanical design, mechatronics, and composite materials to discuss a shared design framework tailored to 3D printing technologies. Key topics include material anisotropy, stiffness limitations, creep, durability, and their implications for structural design at both component and system levels. The workshop will also address fastening, joining, and integration strategies, including hybrid designs that combine printed parts with conventionally manufactured components.

Through case studies and ongoing research examples, the workshop will highlight how additive manufacturing can enable new robot architectures, including lightweight large-scale structures, compliant mechanisms, and multifunctional designs. Ultimately, the workshop seeks to bridge the gap between prototyping and real-world deployment, and to establish 3D printing as a core technology for next-generation robotic systems.

Scope 

Topics include:

• Material anisotropy, stiffness, and durability

• Mechanical design using 3D-printed components

• Fastening, joining, and modular integration

• Hybrid structures combining printed and conventional parts

• Real-world robotic applications

Note: This workshop focuses on polymer- and composite-based 3D printing.

Highlights

・Full-day workshop at AIM 2026

・Invited talks, organizer talks, and poster session 

・Discussion on future research directions

List of Invited Speakers

・Zhongkui Wang (Ritsumeikan University)

"Liquid Silicone 3D Printing for Soft Robotics: Road to Industrial Implementation"

・Junyu Chen (ETH Zurich)

“Additive Manufacturing-Facilitated Blow Molding for Functional Thin-Walled Polymeric Structures”

List of Speakers

・Gen Endo (Institute of Science Tokyo)

"Robotic Applications of High-Strength 3D-Printed Components Fabricated from POTICON Filament"

・Naoyuki Takesue (Tokyo Metropolitan University)

"Toward a Method for Constructing Lightweight Robots with Sufficient Strength"

・Yusuke Ota (Chiba Institute of Technology)

"Mechanical Properties of Design Methodologies for Plastic-based Lightweight Robots by 3D Printing"

・Takeshi Takaki (Hiroshima University)

"Design and Vibration Characteristics of a Lightweight Structure Fabricated by 3D Printing"

・Yuji Yamaguchi (Gutenberg Co., Ltd. )

"High-Speed FFF 3D Printing with POTICON Filament: Printer Development and Material Characteristics"

Acknowledgement

・This workshop is supported by a project, JPNP14004, commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).