Method for Producing Models of Living Objects from Elastomers
2010
Andris Martinovs, Andris Ivagens, Edgars Kovals, Jānis Vība, William Megill

This study uses the existing technology of casting plastic parts in silicone and develops a new method that allows replicating shapes of the living objects and produces their models from plastics and elastomers. The method offers way to replicate and investigate energy efficient movement mechanisms from animal world and transfer them to technology. Description of the method: a container is filled with 5 cm thick layer of liquid silicone which has been kept for 30 minutes in vacuum under pressure 10hPa, a living object is placed in it and covered with another layer of liquid silicone. After silicone has hardened (24 hours) acquired casting mold is cut in half, remains of the living object are removed, and the mold is washed under strong running water and dried. Holes are drilled in the mold – one on top with diameter 10mm for inflow of elastomer and few more with diameter 3mm in the middle and bottom parts for air to escape. Actuator leads are placed in the mold and carefully aligned parts of the mold are tied back together. The model is produced using 2-component elastomer, e.g., Altropol base Neukadur ProtoFlex 150-05N and hardener PTG8. The mold is placed in plastic casting vacuum chamber and filled with liquid elastomer. If a model with empty void in the middle is required, the mold has to be filled with elastomer only up to half, then taken out of the chamber and turned in different directions (for about 15 minutes) in order to spread liquid elastomer around the mold where it will stick to the walls and harden leaving middle of the mold empty where later actuator, electronic components and power supply can be placed. Mechanical tests (bending and tension) of the acquired model of fish were performed.


Atslēgas vārdi
elastomer, bionics, model, prototype, living objects

Martinovs, A., Ivagens, A., Kovals, E., Vība, J., Megill, W. Method for Producing Models of Living Objects from Elastomers. Mehānika. Nr.33, 2010, 61.-65.lpp. ISSN 1407-8015.

Publikācijas valoda
English (en)
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