If your jealousy for Festo robots is festering, worry not! [mikey77] has shown us that, even without huge piggy banks, we can still build some great soft robotics jobs with a 3D printer as well as a go to to the hardware store. To get started, just step with the process with this 3D printed synthetic Muscles: Erector set job on Instructables.
In a nutshell, [mikey77] generously provides us a system for developing soft robots developed around a base joint mechanism: the Omega Muscle. Fashioned after its namesake, this base system includes an inflatable membrane that expands with pressure as well as works in tandem with one more Omega muscle mass to create upward as well as downward angular movement. Each muscle mass likewise includes two endpoints to link to a base, a gripper, or much more Omega Muscles. just scale them as needed as well as stack them to create a customized soft robot limb, or utilize the existing STLs to make an articulated soft gripper.
This job really is available in two parts for robot brawns as well as brains. Not only does [mikey77] take us with the process for making Omega muscles, we likewise get a guide for building the pressure system developed to manage them. Taken together, it’s a feature-complete configuration for checking out your own soft robotics jobs with a fantastic starting project. stay tuned after the break for a demo video in action. There’s no audio, however we’re sure you’ll be letting off an audible pssssh in complete satisfaction to comply with along.
It’s not daily that we see FFF-based 3D printers making parts that requirement to be airtight. as well as [mikey77’s] success has us optimistic for seeing much more air muscles in future jobs down the road. In the meantime, have a look at the silicone-silicon half-breeds that we’ve previously caught pumping iron.
And thanks to [Mr. Hobbit] for the tip.