FFD IPAS version 1
7 messages in this thread
What muscle wire is is just pre-stressed nitinol wires. Nitinol is a dual shap
memory metal which means if you heat it, it will assume one shape, cool it and
it will form its other shape.
You can harness this by applying current to the wire which heats it, and causes
the wire to contract or shrink, much like muscle fibre in action. removing
current causes the wire to assume its original (longer) state. Attach the wire
to somthing and you create movement.
One of the companies doing this stuff and selling kits and so-on is called
Mondo-tronics, but I havent found where I put their number yet.
I will keep looking though,….
Peter
>muscle wire
cool. I've never heard of this before. I'd love to see something using it.
The kits sound expensive though. Nitinol doesen't sound like something you
could buy at Radio Shack.. I'd love to get some info on the kits. Let me know
the # (if you find it), and what kinds of things the kits can do.
JNJ
As soon as I find the # I will pass it on.
The kits are well under $100.00 and the wire is relatively cheap.
Peter
>The kits are well under $100.00 and the wire is relatively cheap.
sounds great. How is everything controlled? Is it PC controllable, or done by
a dedicated controller? What kind of examples have they shown?
Thanks
JNJ
There is a PC controller interface circuit that you can build, plus a few that
dont require it.
They have a six legged walking thingie called BORIS, a butterfly and many other
bits such as ratchet motors and all sorts of nasty time consuming things!
If I could only find the bloody book! I fould my spool of nitinol wire, but I
am having trouble digging the book out of the depths of my computer room (aka
le brea tar pit)
As soon as I find Mondotronics details I will post em here.
Regards
Peter
Cool! that 6 legged thing sounds fun. Does the butterfly actually fly? FIND
THE BOOK!! <g> Just kidding, take your time. I don't have the extra cash, nor
the time to play right now.. but I will want the info in a few months. I've
been thinking about another hobby, one away from my PC.. This might be good.
Either this, or RC cars. I had one years ago and loved it. Actually, I
thrashed it, but you get the picture. 🙂
Later-
JNJ
Ayyy yi yi!
Computers, robots, RC Cars..all the hobbies that are bottomless money pits! (I
should know…I waste my wages on all 3 <BG>)
I found the address and the book, but left it at home, so I will drop the
details tomorrow.
I had a look at the pricing and it is all wayyy under $100.00 so you should be
able to have lots of miniature fun on a budget.
Peter