40,081 research outputs found
Quick-cast: A method for fast and precise scalable production of fluid-driven elastomeric soft actuators
Fluid-driven elastomeric actuators (FEAs) are among the most popular
actuators in the emerging field of soft robotics. Intrinsically compliant, with
continuum of motion, large strokes, little friction, and high power-to-weight
ratio, they are very similar to biological muscles, and have enabled new
applications in automation, architecture, medicine, and human-robot
interaction. To foster future applications of FEAs, in this paper we present a
new manufacturing method for fast and precise scalable production of complex
FEAs of high quality (leak-free, single-body form, with <0.2 mm precision). The
method is based on 3d moulding and supports elastomers with a wide range of
viscosity, pot life, and Young's modulus. We developed this process for two
different settings: one in laboratory conditions for fast prototyping with 3d
printed moulds and using multi-component liquid elastomers, and the other
process in an industrial setting with 3d moulds micromachined in metal and
applying compression moulding. We demonstrate these methods in fabrication of
up to several tens of two-axis, three-chambered soft actuators, with two types
of chamber walls: cylindrical and corrugated. The actuators are then applied as
motion drivers in kinetic photovoltaic building envelopes
From 3D Models to 3D Prints: an Overview of the Processing Pipeline
Due to the wide diffusion of 3D printing technologies, geometric algorithms
for Additive Manufacturing are being invented at an impressive speed. Each
single step, in particular along the Process Planning pipeline, can now count
on dozens of methods that prepare the 3D model for fabrication, while analysing
and optimizing geometry and machine instructions for various objectives. This
report provides a classification of this huge state of the art, and elicits the
relation between each single algorithm and a list of desirable objectives
during Process Planning. The objectives themselves are listed and discussed,
along with possible needs for tradeoffs. Additive Manufacturing technologies
are broadly categorized to explicitly relate classes of devices and supported
features. Finally, this report offers an analysis of the state of the art while
discussing open and challenging problems from both an academic and an
industrial perspective.Comment: European Union (EU); Horizon 2020; H2020-FoF-2015; RIA - Research and
Innovation action; Grant agreement N. 68044
Building real-time embedded applications on QduinoMC: a web-connected 3D printer case study
Single Board Computers (SBCs) are now emerging
with multiple cores, ADCs, GPIOs, PWM channels, integrated
graphics, and several serial bus interfaces. The low power
consumption, small form factor and I/O interface capabilities of
SBCs with sensors and actuators makes them ideal in embedded
and real-time applications. However, most SBCs run non-realtime
operating systems based on Linux and Windows, and do
not provide a user-friendly API for application development. This
paper presents QduinoMC, a multicore extension to the popular
Arduino programming environment, which runs on the Quest
real-time operating system. QduinoMC is an extension of our earlier
single-core, real-time, multithreaded Qduino API. We show
the utility of QduinoMC by applying it to a specific application: a
web-connected 3D printer. This differs from existing 3D printers,
which run relatively simple firmware and lack operating system
support to spool multiple jobs, or interoperate with other devices
(e.g., in a print farm). We show how QduinoMC empowers devices with the capabilities to run new services without impacting their timing guarantees. While it is possible to modify existing operating systems to provide suitable timing guarantees, the effort to do so is cumbersome and does not provide the ease of programming afforded by QduinoMC.http://www.cs.bu.edu/fac/richwest/papers/rtas_2017.pdfAccepted manuscrip
Micro-manufacturing : research, technology outcomes and development issues
Besides continuing effort in developing MEMS-based manufacturing techniques, latest effort in Micro-manufacturing is also in Non-MEMS-based manufacturing. Research and technological development (RTD) in this field is encouraged by the increased demand on micro-components as well as promised development in the scaling down of the traditional macro-manufacturing processes for micro-length-scale manufacturing. This paper highlights some EU funded research activities in micro/nano-manufacturing, and gives examples of the latest development in micro-manufacturing methods/techniques, process chains, hybrid-processes, manufacturing equipment and supporting technologies/device, etc., which is followed by a summary of the achievements of the EU MASMICRO project. Finally, concluding remarks are given, which raise several issues concerning further development in micro-manufacturing
Multiresolution Layered Manufacturing
PURPOSE: Two-photon polymerization (TPP) has become one of the most popular techniques for stereolithography at very high resolutions. When printing relatively large structures at high resolutions, one of the main limiting factors is the printing time. The goal of this work is to present a new slicing algorithm to minimize printing times. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Typically, slicing algorithms used for TPP do not take into account the fact that TPP can print at a range of resolutions (i.e. with different heights and diameters) by varying parameters such as exposure time, laser power, photoresist properties, and optical arrangements. This work presents Multiresolution Layered Manufacturing (MLM), a novel slicing algorithm that processes 3D structures to separate parts manufacturable at low resolution from those that require a higher resolution. FINDINGS: MLM can significantly reduce the printing time of 3D structures at high resolutions. The maximum theoretical speed-up depends on the range of printing resolutions, but the effective speed-up also depends on the geometry of each 3D structure.âRESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: MLM opens the possibility to significantly decrease printing times, potentially opening the use of TPP to new applications in many disciplines such as microfluidics, metamaterial research or wettability. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: There are many instances of previous research on printing at several resolutions. However, in most cases, the toolpaths have to be manually arranged. In some cases, previous research also automates the generation of toolpaths, but they are limited in various ways. MLM is the first algorithm to comprehensively solve this problem for a wide range of true 3D structures.NANO3D (a BEWARE Fellowship from the Walloon Region, Belgium, part of the Marie Curie Programme of the ERC). IAP 7/38 MicroMAST (Interuniversity Attraction Poles Programme from the Belgian Science Policy Office, the Walloon Region and the FNRS)
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