Actuation System Design for a 3 DoF Contactless Wafer Stage

Silicon wafers are getting bigger and bigger in the production line, aiming for faster manufacturing, lower cost and higher yield. The handling/transportation technique is becoming more and more critical during the production. As the wafer is being handled with physical contact there is always risk of damage and contemination coming from the...

Hygienic design of moving elements in the food and beverage industry: The development of a double-acting muscle actuator

The food and beverage industry often uses pneumatic cylinders to enable machinery in food processing plants to move. The requirements around hygiene are strict. This is to prevent consumer food from getting contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms. The food itself and the intensive chemical cleaning products used, form a harsh environment for...

Soft Robotics: 3D-printing air pressure sensors and actuators

A robotic hand to demonstrate how the 3D-printing of flexible air chambers to create air pressure sensors and actuators can be used to improve human-robot interaction.