3D-printing allows for fluid-controlled linear actuators with unconventional shapes

3D-printing allows for fluid-controlled linear actuators with unconventional shapes

Zillen, Eva (Student TU Delft)
van der Windt, B. (TU Delft Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology)
Vallery, H. (TU Delft Biomechatronics & Human-Machine Control; Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule)
Smit, G. (TU Delft Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology)

2024

Background: Pneumatic actuators are widely used in applications like (medical) robots, or prostheses. Pneumatic actuators require a complex manufacturing process and are produced in standardized dimensions to reduce costs. Over the last decade 3D-printing has emerged as a cost-effective and efficient production method in medical applications. 3D-printing can also function as a cost-efficient alternative production method for pneumatic actuators. Objective: The goal of this research is to study the possibility of creating a pneumatic linear actuator with 3D-printing. Furthermore, the aim is to use the advantage of 3D-printing to create pneumatic actuators with non-circular cross-sections. Methodology: To evaluate the performance of a 3D-printed pneumatic actuator, a test setup was designed and built to measure the leakage and sliding friction force. Furthermore, two pneumatic actuators with a non-conventional cross-sectional shape were designed and their performance was tested and compared with a 3D-printed cylindrical pneumatic actuator, since these tests only ran once, the results are more a guideline. During the manufacturing of the cylinders, no post-processing techniques were used. Results: The functioning of a 3D-printed circular pneumatic actuator was proven with low static leakage rates of 2.5%, low dynamic leakage rates of approximately 1%, and a maximum friction force of [Formula presented]. Furthermore, the results show that it is possible to print functioning pneumatic cylinders with a non-cylindrical concave cross-section. The non-conventional cylinders were tested up to [Formula presented] with maximum dynamic leakage of [Formula presented]. Conclusion: This study demonstrates a method to create functional pneumatic linear actuators with 3D-printing. It was possible to create 3D-printed actuators with a conventional shape, e.g. circular and unconventional shapes e.g. stadium/oval shape and a kidney shape. The leak rates for conventional and unconventional shapes were in the same range. This opens up the world for more design freedom in pneumatic actuators.

3D-printing
Additive manufacturing
Gas springs
Hydraulic actuators
Piston-cylinder systems
Pneumatic actuators
Shape-independent pneumatic actuators

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:906c207d-1f64-46dd-b601-56cefa947f37

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26497

2405-8440

Heliyon, 10 (5)

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2024 Eva Zillen, B. van der Windt, H. Vallery, G. Smit