Machines/Devices
Vacuum Fiber Molding machine
A device for molding thermo-actuated Liquid Crystal soft actuators. The device has an interchangeable mold system, a thermostat for controlling the molding temperature, and can be connected to a vacuum pump to force the Liquid Crystals in the mold.
Actuated Glaucoma Valve
A test setup exploring novel mechanisms for manually releasing pressure caused by glaucoma. The mechanism consists of a light actuated Liquid Crystal film coated with magnetic PDMS that serves as a valve. At a fixed distance of the valve a small magnet is placed, exposing the valve to the right wavelength causes the film to bend towards the magnet, bringing the magnetic coating in range of the magnet causing it to snap open. After the pressure is released the light source is removed causing the film to bend back, closing the valve.
LC Injection Molding Machine
This device enables molding arrays of thermo-actuated soft robotic actuators directly on PCB control substrates. From top down the device houses the mechanism for the injection, a heating stage for the Liquid Crystals, the PCB & mold, and a UV-curing stage.
Film compression device
This experimental prototype was made to explore mechanically flipping the alignment of molecules in a Liquid Crystal film perpendicular on its axis. Precisely machined blocks of Teflon can be arranged to create channels of different sizes to accommodate the thickness of the film. Two metal plates compress the film from the side, while two metal plates perpendicular to the film expand to allow the material to propagate outwards.
Liquid Crystal Dosing Machine
Obtaining and knowing the precise amount of material used is vital when conducting experiments in a lab setting. This device is used to create a bar of Liquid Crystals to a precise and even thickness throughout, which can then be cut to cylinders of the same length using spaced knives. This allows usage of equal dose of material for repeated experiments. The machine rolls a large amount of Liquid Crystals between two heated surfaces to increase malleability, can roll at different speeds and temperatures, and a mechanism that allows precise adjustment of cylinder thickness.
Hyrel Printer Substrate & Material Cooler
This device is custom made for a Hyrel 3D printer to cool both the printing substrate and printing syringe to allow printing at sub-zero temperatures. Printing specialised thermo-actuated Liquid Crystals at low temperatures allows a drastic decrease of actuation temperatures, thus increasing energy efficiency.
Light Driven Pupil Mold
This device was made to craft a light driven actuator to serve as a dilating pupil inside an ocular prosthetic. The device consists of a water cooled mold to allow molding at sub-zero temperatures (decreasing the amount of energy needed for actuation), and has a rotation stage to allow for mechanically aligning the molecules inside the mold through applying a shear-force.
Robotics
Shapewheel
Shapewheel is an exploration in using physical motion to draw the attention of the driver to the steering wheel in level 3 self driving cars.
BULB
Bulb is an experimental social robot exploring work-life balance of students during covid. The robot consist of a silicone outer shell that houses all its electrical and mechanical components. It can move and light up its eyes and wiggle its body from left to right using various mechanisms. In collaboration with Charlotte Bording & Simone Ooms
Displays
Display stand
A laser-etched acrylic display stand, using an integrated LED-bar to highlight text and samples.