Over the summer we received a sample kit of 5 different nylon threads from the Sheildex Statex thread company. These threads are materials that have been previously used as materials for artificial muscles. We were able to meet with a grad student in the ECE department who has been working with artificial muscles in order to learn from his experience. We discovered three out of the five sample threads were unusable due to being very thin. We concluded that the most effective statex thread for our application was the (235/34 dtex HC+B, PT# 20012223534HCB, < 500Ω/m) thread.
We videotaped the student’s entire development process for artifical muscles and we plan on using this method. The steps to developing artifical muscles are below:
Using a ring stand with a stepper motor attached to it along with an Arduino for control, the thread will be cut and attached to paper clips from both ends. One end will have been attached to a coupler and the other end weighs. We will then apply 12V voltage and begin coiling the material until the thread is properly coiled.
Since we didn’t yet have a ring stand nor could borrow one from departments at the university, we found online that you can use a drill with a coupler to coil muscles. We then designed a custom fit coupler for our drill and began making artificial muscles.