The silicone structure could be infused with metals particles, and magnetized (to align the orientation), thus enabling electromagnetic manipulation of each individual vetices of the artificial muscle
I don't understand why they shrink with the balloon. Shouldn't the inflated state be their natural state, since that's how they were printed? Is it because they get cold, maybe? If whatever you're using to print expands a lot when it gets hot, that could explain it.
Both materials are Silicone and so they bond together. The stretched membrane is a very soft silicone, and the printed pattern is a very hard & incompressible one. The idea was to print a structure where there is both tension and compression elements that balance each other at a minimum energy state (sometimes called a Tensegrity). Such structures are useful when making artificial muscles such as "Dielectric Elastomer Actuators"
I use Grasshopper3d which is a generative design plugin for Rhino3d. This allows me to create algorithms which generate the geometry from the scan data, and output it to CNC GCode. It's a great tool!
@@fergalcoulter A lot can be done with this. Now thinking about soft machines, since circuitry can be laid on so precicely. Thanks again, and good 2023!
It is also a Silicone, but a much higher hardness than the balloon - (technically it's Shore A73 as opposed to Shore 00-30 for the inflatable membrane)
The silicone structure could be infused with metals particles, and magnetized (to align the orientation), thus enabling electromagnetic manipulation of each individual vetices of the artificial muscle
I don't understand why they shrink with the balloon. Shouldn't the inflated state be their natural state, since that's how they were printed?
Is it because they get cold, maybe? If whatever you're using to print expands a lot when it gets hot, that could explain it.
Both materials are Silicone and so they bond together. The stretched membrane is a very soft silicone, and the printed pattern is a very hard & incompressible one.
The idea was to print a structure where there is both tension and compression elements that balance each other at a minimum energy state (sometimes called a Tensegrity).
Such structures are useful when making artificial muscles such as "Dielectric Elastomer Actuators"
@@fergalcoulter Ah, so it's the balloon that shrinks the whole structure down. Thanks for the explanation. Much appreciated! :)
Hello Fergal, what is the name of this type of geometric pattern? I understand you programmed it in rhino. Thank you in advance!
Hi Deborah. The pattern is called a Hexachiral Honeycomb. It's a type of Auxetic pattern.
Yes, I programed it in Grasshopper, within Rhino3D
Lovely print
I have the sudden urge to decorate eggs.
What is the purpose of this? Very cool whatever it is!
What is that modelling software youre using to generate the pattern?
I use Grasshopper3d which is a generative design plugin for Rhino3d. This allows me to create algorithms which generate the geometry from the scan data, and output it to CNC GCode. It's a great tool!
@@fergalcoulter Thank you for your video and your reply. It give me ideas.
@@cherylm2C6671 thank you! I'm glad you like it!
@@fergalcoulter A lot can be done with this. Now thinking about soft machines, since circuitry can be laid on so precicely. Thanks again, and good 2023!
What material is being deposited on the silicone balloon?
It is also a Silicone, but a much higher hardness than the balloon - (technically it's Shore A73 as opposed to Shore 00-30 for the inflatable membrane)
@@fergalcoulter Thank you!
This is quite amazing!
what is the material you are using?
only drawback... it's only actually useful at easter
what is the laser measuring device being used?
Hi Jason. It's a "Banner LG10" measurement laser. In retrospect it's not the best device in this situation, but it did the job!
Holy shit, $1000 measuring device, you had to have this laying around
2 years later its $490.00
fantastic!
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