Additive Manufacturing of Flexible Material for Pneumatic Actuators Application

João Bravo Pinto,Fernando Gomes De Almeida,Achim Frick,Miranda Fateri,João Falcão Carneiro

doi:10.3390/act10070161

João Bravo Pinto, Fernando Gomes De Almeida + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/act10070161

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Abstract

In this paper, endurance of peristaltic linear pneumatic actuators was studied using different hose geometries. Towards this goal, different hose geometries were additively manufactured using Fused Layer Manufacturing techniques of Thermoplastic Polyurethane Elastomer. Material properties of the elastomer were studied using Differential Scanning Calorimetry and the tensile test. The relations between the sample’s print temperature and build direction on the actuator endurance were investigated. Lastly, the relation between the geometry design of the PLPA actuator and its endurance is also discussed. Based on this methodology, authors present results showing that the use of a customized shaped hose with geometrical reinforcement at sides leads to a considerable rise in the hose endurance, when compared with the conventional circular design.

Highlights

The use of robots that are capable of coworking with humans has been receiving increasing attention from both industrial and academic partners
There has been an increasing interest in the development of pneumatic actuators built with flexible materials [1,2,3], hybrid actuators that simultaneously take advantage of the ease of control of electrical actuators and the pneumatic compliance [4,5] and even an innovative piston configuration that increases the efficiency of conventional cylinders [6] has been presented in literature recently
Folcrack formation in the hose folded sides that were exposed to the roller forces lowing thesethese studies, this paper focuses on developing new geometries in order invesFollowing studies, this paper focuses on developing new geometries into order to tigate the endurance of the of hose in a peristaltic linear pneumatic actuators (PLPA)

Summary

Introduction

The use of robots that are capable of coworking with humans has been receiving increasing attention from both industrial and academic partners. One crucial characteristic of these types of robots is its high compliance, as it ensures that in the event of a collision with the operator, safety is still guaranteed. This has in turn sparked a renewed interest in pneumatic actuated systems, as they are inherently compliant. Among the recent developed actuation systems, peristaltic linear pneumatic actuators (PLPA) have been reported to be a simple, accurate and cost-efficient alternative to other actuators [7,8,9,10] These actuators are driven by pneumatic energy. When air is pumped into one of the chambers, a force is developed that pushes the rollers in the direction of the opposite chamber

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