12. Soft robotics¶
This week was all about BREATHING ! 
USE YOUR BRAIN
ThermoVinyl Inflatables¶
This week we started exploring with much more common ingredients: thermo vynil baking paper and heat By cutting out air channels by hand from baking paper, and creating little pockets by welding together two parts of vinyl with heat (using a heat press or iron), we were able to explore some movements and dynamics. Two layers of vinyl are welded together unless there's baking paper between the layers. Where there's baking paper, air can circulate (the baking paper is the air channels).
How to think about design (before cutting on vinyl cutter)¶
- Think of simple symmetric paper cutting techniques (manual)
- Look at origami (try to replicate folds by welding and creating air pockets)
- Make simple shapes and iterate with small variations
THERMOVINYL INFLATABLES (HEAT-TRANSFERABLE)¶
Design a shape on a vectorial software or Cut out manually on baking paper Use a Vinylcutter or a LaserCutter to be more precise ( but remember NOT to cut Vinyl with the laser!) Working on layers : Bottom Layer-> Vinyl Sheet Middle Layer-> Baking paper shape/design Top Layer-> Vinyl Sheet ( cover it up with another baking paper sheet to protect the iron from the glue) Heat-press with an Iron (or a heatpress) trying to welding the two vinyl layers
AIR MUSCLES¶
New we experimented with folded thin cardboard Tips: * Do not use paper or baking paper, it is too thin. * For the tubing we used some drip tubes
Cut the cardboard Make even spread lines to create zigzag and punch holes. Fold the cardboard. Cut vinyl shorter by length and wider to fit folded cardboard. Add a piece of long baking paper for the tube Place matte vinyl sides inside Hold tight and slowly iron in between baking sheets one line at a time. Take off protective film
INFLATABLES SILICON OR NOT SILICON? THAT’S THE QUESTION!¶
“Silly”CONE METHOD: (USING ECOFLEX 00-30)
BIOSILICONE METHOD:
