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12. Soft robotics

Overview

This week we dove into the world of soft robotics and inflatables. I was really excited about this week because I've been wanting for learn how to make inflatable wearables for a while now.

So what are soft-robotics? Soft Robotics is a field of robotics where the design and fabrications of the robots are composed of compliant, flexible, or soft materials instead of ridid bodies.

Inflatables Moodboard

Examples of soft robots from our lecture this week lead by Lily Chambers and Adriana Cabrera.


References & Inspiration

Inflatables Moodboard

Check out these alumni pages for cool references:



Process and Workflow

Vinyl Infltables

Inflatable Slide / Slipper

Slides Design My initial design was based from a slipper which looks like a bunch of golf balls glued together. I designed the bottom of the slipper first in Rhino3D and tested it first, and then later designed the entire slipper once the bottom worked..

First Design
Slides Design Slides Design Slides Design

First Slipper Test by olivia cueva


Final Design

Slides Design

Slipper Design by olivia cueva

Slipper Design with Foot by olivia cueva


Inflatable Hearts

Slides Design

Hearts Inflating by olivia cueva

Slides Design Slides Design



Silicone

For this project I wanted to create a bikini triangle top with round cirlces that inflated with different color liquids. But my mold looked kind of like a pizza.

Silicone Mold Silicone Design Silicone

Assembled Acrylic and Casted Silicone Molds by olivia cueva

Inflating Silicone with Air and Liquid by olivia cueva

Inflating Silicone with Spirulina by olivia cueva

How to Make Vinyl Inflatable 1

* Iron on Vinyl
* Baking / Parchment Paper
* Iron or Heat Press
  • Scissors
  • Syringe and/or Plastic Tube (optional)
  • Laser Cutter or Vinyl Cutter (optional)
  • Design Software: Adobe Illustrator, Rhino3D, etc. (optional)
* Design your infltable paying attention to the area you want to inflate and leaving an area for an opening. 
* Use a laser cutter, vinyl cutter, or scissors to cut out your shape on parchment paper.  
* Place the cut out shape between two pieces of vinyl, making sure the shiny parts are facing the outside. 
* Iron or heat press quickly until there both vinyl pieces are closed completely. 
* Trim down your shape with scissors and peel off the plastic coating.
* Insert syringe or plastic tube into your opening and press or blow air inside. 
* Watch your shape inflate and deflate.

How to Make a Silicone Mold Inflatable 2

* Silicone (Smooth-On Silicone Rubber)
* Plastic Mold OR Acrylic
  • Super glue
    • Gloves
  • Syringe
  • Laser Cutter (for making mold)
  • Design Software: Adobe Illustrator, Rhino3D, etc. (optional)
* Using your design software design your design software to design your mold making sure there is a border at least twice as high as the base. 
* Use a laser cutter to cut your acrylic pieces. 
* Assemble your acrylic pieces according your design and super glue in place. 
* Mix silicone according to the instructions, equal parts of each solution.  
* Pour silicone into your mold and let it dry for at least 4 hours.
  • Once dry, connect the front and back pieces with more silicone and let dry for 4 hours.
    • Using a syring, inflate with air or liquid of your choice.
    • Watch your shape inflate and deflate.

Reflection

I had fun this week when I saw my designs working and learned there are a lot parameters that you have to factor in to make sure your inflatable will work in the way you want it to. I want to experiment with more inflatable footwear (maybe an inflatable air jordan sneaker?) as well as more silicone inflated with liquid. I didn't have time this week to experiment with bio silicone but I definitely want to experiement with that too, maybe for my final project.

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Guides

Fabrication Files


  1. Vinyl Inflatable Step-by-Step 

  2. Silicone Inflatable Step-by-Step 

  3. How-to Inflatables with Thermo Transfer by Adriana Cabrera. 

  4. File: Bubble Slipper 

  5. File: Hearts Inflatable 

  6. File: Acrylic Mold for Silicone 


Last update: 2023-05-09