Consistent Manufacturing Device for Coiled Polymer Actuators

Abstract

Coiled polymer actuators are fabricated by heating a twisted nylon fishing filament. This paper provides a detailed review of their manufacturing process and proposes a method which manufactures these actuators consistently to improve the predictability of their behavior. Two devices are presented: a device that prepares consistent filament sections, and another that twists and coils the filament. Seven successful actuators are produced using the proposed method and compared with seven actuators produced using a method featured in other studies. The behavior of both sets of actuators is then compared using tensile tests on an Instron universal testing machine. The actuators manufactured using the device demonstrate a lower fail rate and produce more force on average. However, the average force produced by each actuator using the proposed method varied slightly. It is believed this fluctuation is due to inconsistent resistance wire lengths and the actuator end loop creation technique. Both of which would require additional improvement.