An output device is any piece of computer hardware equipment used to communicate the results of data processing carried out by an information processing system (such as a computer) which converts the electronically generated information into human-readable form.
A shape-memory alloy (SMA, smart metal, memory metal, memory alloy, muscle wire, smart alloy) is an alloy that "remembers" its original, cold-forged shape: returning to the pre-deformed shape when heated. This material is a lightweight, solid-state alternative to conventional actuators such as hydraulic, pneumatic, and motor-based systems. Shape-memory alloys have applications in industries including medicine and aerospace.
For this exercise I chose Flexinol LT 250um from MuscleWires and with Guillermo's help we got it to work with controled electrical impulses from a very simple script that we sent to the Arduino clone board. We also built a flexible circuit with copper tape.
What we did first was to understand what wire length and power we neede for the alloy we had. For this matter, Jie Qi's thesis and website documentation where really useful. (LINK HERE)
 |
 |
 |
Chosen Flexinol type from Muscle Wires. |
Length calcultation from Jie Qi's thesis. |
Target exercise. |
Our second step was to set up a power supply and a button switch to see how the wire behaved.
 |
 |
 |
Attaching silver crimps to the wire ends. |
Flexible circuit for the button. |
Aligator cables and power supply. |
The test for this first exercise was successful :) So we proceeded to a setup that better demonstrated the wire movement.
 |
 |
 |
Flexible circuit with mosfet. |
Circuit debugging... |
Final setup with wire pulling a piece of paper. |
 |
 |
 |
Results. |
The final test was to use the microcontroller board to send electric impuses with a controlled delay to the wire.
 |
 |
 |
Code through Arduino IDE. |
Pin matching... |
Final setup. |