We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Automated Fabrication of Elastomeric Prepregs for Soft Robotics Applications.
- Authors
Wienzek, Tristan; Seibel, Arthur
- Abstract
Fluidic elastomer soft robots typically consist of a top and a strain‐limiting bottom part. Both parts are usually cast and then glued together. Elastomeric prepregs, which can be stored at low temperatures for several months without significant cross‐linking, simplify this manufacturing process. A cured top part of an arbitrary shape is placed on the wet prepreg, which later forms the strain‐limiting layer, and the actuator is finally cured in an oven. Herein, a machine is designed and developed that automatically produces prepregs. Three different concepts are realized in a modular prototype: direct roller application, reverse roller application, and application with slot dies. Experiments show that the direct and the reverse roller application concepts are both suitable for the automated production of prepregs, where the latter one may be preferred due to the smaller number of contact surfaces. Three different textiles (polyester/cotton‐blended fabric, nylon fabric, and fleece) are impregnated with the reverse roller application concept using Sylgard 184 and stored at −25 °C for 12 days. Using these prepregs, soft bending actuators are manufactured and tested for their functionality. Long‐term fatigue tests show that only actuators produced with fleece prepregs are durable, without any signs of delamination.
- Subjects
SOFT robotics; MANUFACTURING processes; MATERIAL fatigue; NYLON; LOW temperatures; MACHINE design
- Publication
Advanced Engineering Materials, 2020, Vol 22, Issue 4, p1
- ISSN
1438-1656
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/adem.201900854