Soft Skeletons
MacKibben Muscles
Artificial muscles
In the figure below, the link explains that the increase in volume by means of the increase in pressure in the internal body (latex tube) in a radial manner. This body contracts in a linear movement of 20 to 40% depending on the material used. Thus the braided mesh has a scissor-like movement between its fibres helping to contract the muscle by 75% of its total initial length.
![](img/projects/SoftSkeletons/IMG_0184.jpg)
MATERIALS
Braid
tube latex
L connector
Cable ties
bulb
CUTTING
thermo trasfer TPU
the idea of this experiment is to see the movements and directions of diferent fibers
BRAID
principle of artificial muscle
the principle of macKibben muscle with a weave in 45° direction of the fibers
Contraction: 80%
expansion in X axis:
KNITTING 1
bending
in this example the one of the rows if the stitchs is brocken missing these stitches cause a free zone in which the balloom is taking space
Constraining the space in one side and expanding in the missing area.
Contraction:
bending:
KNITTING 2
Expansion in X and Y
as we see in the first picture, this fabric is extending in two directions c.a. x:300% y:100%
In this fabric ,including more stift yarns, I was expecting to have a higher contraction, but it start to move in in the Z direction. while inflating
movement Z: 30°
bending:
KNITTING 2.0
Expansion in X higher than Y
when totally inflate reduce the size
Notes: because I am constraining the fabric in one side, doe to the sewing could cause changes in the deformation
movement Z: 30°
bending:
Knitting sport
this is a lycra or spandex textile 50% extation in 2 directions
Movement c.a 45° Z
bending:
Diagonal
direction fibers Diagonal 30° less contratcion
Movement : torsion
bending:
Modules
I used some tubes 4/6 mm diammeter to separt and create pressure.expecting some changes in shape.
Knitting 6 channels
I used the Knitt 2.0 fabric to build a bigger construction with 6 channels to see ther interaction.
on the lateral channels ech has a Valve to se tuhe cahnges in inflation.
notes: the contrains due sewing and Zig-Zag stitches.
![](img/projects/SoftSkeletons/img/6tubes.jpeg)
![](img/projects/SoftSkeletons/img/6tubes1.jpeg)
Interlocking 4 ballooms
here diferent line were cut in diferent ranges
distance : 5 mm,
Fabric: spandex lycra.
![](img/projects/SoftSkeletons/img/weaving2.jpeg)