h o w > t o > m a k e :
sam calisch
cba
9/27 guest lecture: inflatables
What are inflatables good for?
- Capable of incredible strength-to-weight ratios
- Safe to use around humans
- Conformable to external geometric constraints
- Packable
- Actuatable in novel ways
Should note that inflatables are not good for everything. To maximize strength-to-weight, need large diameters or exotic materials.
What do inflatables look like?
Two requirements:
- Air/water-tight
- Strong enough to keep geometry under own weight and external loads
Impermeable materials tend to be stretchy or heavy. Fabrication puts holes in things.
Deterministic, lightweight, fab-able inflatables use a two layer system is nice.
- Polyurethane bladder: extensible, airtight, oversized.
- PVC Coated polyester: relatively inextensible, durable, sewable.
How to make inflatables that work?
- Hoop and Axial Stress determine operating pressures
- Simulating performance under load is hard.
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- Fabrication geometry vs. Design geometry.
How to design inflatables?
- Cut open a stuffed animal.
- NURBS (e.g., Rhino, rhinoscript)
- Solidworks and Inventor ("sheet metal part")
- otherstuff
How to fabricate inflatables?
Instructable
Files:
coming soon
