fabricademy2017:students:cheung:week_10_-_soft_robotics [Textile Academy]

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--- fabricademy2017:students:cheung:week_10_-_soft_robotics [2018/02/21 17:50]
wei-ying.cheung
+++ fabricademy2017:students:cheung:week_10_-_soft_robotics [2018/03/02 16:57]
wei-ying.cheung [Week 11: Soft robotics]
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 ====== Week 11: Soft robotics ======
-This week I designed and 3D printed a mould similar to the soft gripper mould in the presentation, which I used to create a soft gripper out of silicone rubber. I attempted to inflate the gripper but because of a tear in the side of the gripper, it did not inflate well.
+This week I designed and 3D printed a mould similar to the soft gripper mould in the presentation, which I used to create a soft gripper out of silicone rubber. I attempted to inflate the gripper but because of a tear in the side of the gripper, it did not inflate much. To download the file for the mould, visit: [[https://oscircularfashion.herokuapp.com/project/-L6SSksUvEhCAW8dIZ4v|https://oscircularfashion.herokuapp.com/project/-L6SSksUvEhCAW8dIZ4v]]
+===== First experiment =====
+Firstly, as a group we explored a different inflatable design - a pneumatic wrist brace. We used the pre-designed template, as below:
+{{:fabricademy2017:students:cheung:soft_robotics:wrist_template.jpg?nolink&600x412}}
+We cut this design in the vinyl cutter, the outer part twice in heat transfer vinyl, and the inner part once in baking paper. After cutting, we layered the vinyl pieces on top of each other with the baking paper in the middle. We then used the heat press (temperature 110 degrees, 15 seconds) to seal the vinyl pieces together, leaving the baking paper part unsealed - thereby forming the air channel. After this, we added ties through the holes and inflated
 ===== The Process =====
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 As well as the mould, it was necessary to create a flat silicone layer to be placed over the top of the gripper in order to seal it. For this, I poured the Ecoflex mixture onto a flat plate with a thickness of a few milimeters.
-{{:fabricademy2017:students:cheung:soft_robotics:mixing.jpg?nolink&341x256|mixing.jpg}}{{:fabricademy2017:students:cheung:soft_robotics:pouring_into_mould.jpg?nolink&341x256|pouring_into_mould.jpg}}
+{{:fabricademy2017:students:cheung:soft_robotics:mixing.jpg?nolink&400x300|mixing.jpg}}{{:fabricademy2017:students:cheung:soft_robotics:pouring_into_mould.jpg?nolink&400x300|pouring_into_mould.jpg}}
 I placed both the mould and the plate into the oven at 70 degrees for 15 mins in order to speed up the drying process. Once out of the oven, I tried to remove my gripper from the mould. However, the gripper was very stuck to the mould and it tore and came off in pieces. I assume this was because the ratio of Ecoflex wasn't exactly 50:50, perhaps due to a human error or the weighing scales were faulty.
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 {{:fabricademy2017:students:cheung:soft_robotics:second_gripper.jpg?nolink&800x600|second_gripper.jpg}}
+For the inflation, I inserted a needle with a tiny air passage into the centre of the gripper - where the main chamber is situated. The needle was attached to a bigger air tube that would then connect to the air pump motor.
 {{:fabricademy2017:students:cheung:soft_robotics:putting_in_pin.jpg?nolink&800x600|putting_in_pin.jpg}}
+I connected the air tube to a DC air pump motor and attached the legs of the motor to VCC and GND of the external power supply.
 {{:fabricademy2017:students:cheung:soft_robotics:connect_motor.jpg?nolink&800x600|connect_motor.jpg}}
-{{:fabricademy2017:students:cheung:soft_robotics:inflate_1.jpg?nolink&800x539|inflate_1.jpg}}
+I tried a number of times to inflate the gripper but nothing seemed to happen - it seemed there was a hole somewhere in the gripper. I located a tear on the side of the gripper, which probably accounted for the non inflation.
+{{:fabricademy2017:students:cheung:soft_robotics:tear.jpg?nolink&800x600|tear.jpg}}
+I tried to close the tear by holding it down whilst trying again to inflate it. However, the gripper inflated very slightly as it seemed the air was still escaping. Here is a video of the inflation attempt.
+[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qlr-pWjhv5Q|{{:fabricademy2017:students:cheung:soft_robotics:inflate_1.jpg?nolink&800x539|inflate_1.jpg}}]]
+[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qlr-pWjhv5Q|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qlr-pWjhv5Q]]
+//**Impressions** //
-{{:fabricademy2017:students:cheung:soft_robotics:tear.jpg?nolink&800x600}}
+I would say that it's very important to take care when pouring the silicone into the mould and ensure there are no holes forming. And also to be careful when handling the gripper once dry, to make sure that it doesn't tear.