The original McKibben type pneumatic muscle can contract like muscles. We can also make an extensible pneumatic artificial muscle with same materials. A difference is using a braided sleeve with shorten state.
Video
Materials
- Expandable braided cable sleeving (adaptive size from 6mm – 1/4″ to 13mm – 1/2″)
MacMaster-Carr, Expandable Polyester Sleeving, 9284K2 - Soft Latex rubber tubing (outer diameter: 6mm – 1/4″, inner diameter: 4mm – 5/32″)
McMaster-Carr, Super-Soft Latex Rubber Semi-Clear Tubing, 5234K962 - Barbed tube fittings
- Cable ties (zip ties) (width: 2.5mm)
Tools and Equipments
- Metal rod (diameter: 6mm, length: about 150mm)
- Air tube (outer diameter: 3.2mm – 1/8″, inner diameter: 2mm – 5/64″)
SMC, Polyurethane Tubing, TIUB01 - Scissors
- Ruler
- Syringe
- Cable tie gun (optional)
Directions
1Prepare sleeving
Cut the braided sleeve in the four times the length of the desired muscle length, for example 320mm (=80m x 4).
2Make the bellows
Insert a metal rod into the braided sleeve. Tie up the end of the rod and sleeve together with a cable tie. Push the sleeve along the rod and make bellows until no more shortening.
3Tie up
Then tie up the other end of the sleeve.
4Bake the sleeving
Bake in an oven at 120°C (248°F) for 20 minutes to fix the shorten state.
5Prepare the sleeving
Put marks with tapes on the shortened sleeve with rod in the desired length, for example 80mm. Release the sleeve from the rod and cut the sleeve according to the marks.
6Prepare the rubber tube
Cut the rubber tube in the same length.
7Insert plug
Insert the barbed plug into the end of rubber tube.
8Bundle
Insert the rubber tube into the braided sleeve.
9Tie up
Tie up the end of the tube and sleeve together with a cable tie over the barbed plug. Tighten the cable tie to prevent air from leaking. Cut off the excess strap of the cable tie.
10Insert connector
Insert the barbed connector into the other end of the rubber tube.
11Finishing
Tie up the end of tube and sleeve together with a cable tie over the barbed connector. Tighten the tie to prevent the tubes from slipping off. Cut off the excess strap of the cable tie.
12Test
Connect the air tube and syringe to inflate the rubber tube and contract the artificial muscle.
13Test other muscles
Test other recipes, too.
Bon Appétit! (but don’t eat)
