Clever idea using flexible filament. Has anybody made one? http://gizmodo.com/this-simple-3d-printed-door-handle-works-without-any-mo-1786538138?utm_campaign=socialflow_gizmodo_twitter&utm_source=gizmodo_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow
It looks brittle and flimsy. Might be seen in novelty use.
Good for a dollhouse, maybe…
i wouldn’t call it brittle or flimsy without knowing what sort of plastics were used to print it. i’d like to see the latch printed from a strong and solid material (ABS?) and the shearing cells printed from something designed to be flexible (ninja flex?).
with a dual extruder printer and some care taken in design to ensure effective bonding of the materials i can see this being potentially useful in plenty of applications, for example latch mechanisms on RVs and boats; this would function well ni places where common latches would degrade over time (sticking, corroding, etc)
They used flexible filament, as mentioned in the OP and in the source paper : http://alexandraion.com/wp-content/uploads/2016UIST-Metamaterial-Mechanisms-authors-copy.pdf
I am not sure that is really improving the concept of ‘handle’ or ‘latch’… also, that pink color…
I am not feeling this design and implementation.
It’s not about the handle, it’s about engineering mechanical properties and macro mechanisms from a substructure. In this case, because of how they designed the materials, all of the cell’s joints do not experience fatigue since they are operating within their materials limits while the bulk is capable of motions well beyond what a solid piece of material is capable of.
These demonstrations are not final products but proof of concepts for technique refinement and further miniaturization.
Like how the hinge also looks like it’s using a similar approach.
@James like a base isolation structure? I am aware of the concept, I think damping of vibration using it is far more interesting than this mechanism which is not going to be functional with actual random users. People will turn it till they feel resistance in the form of material strain on the primary mechanism versus a stopping mechanism that is not also the pivot axle and the draw bar. Having parts that do each thing well has its advantages both in user tactile feedback and maintenance. I like the concept of trying new things, sorry if I did not relate that, but I also like the appropriate use of materials. I feel this is a demonstration that could have been more thought out, the product class, the material, the implication of use those viewing should consider for the material. It’s all a little rushed and not thought through as far as ‘why?’. It indicates a possible final product to much, if it’s not intended to be used to make the product demonstrated.
its ‘nice’ ok, didn’t mean to step into the ‘defend the 3d printing against all perceived slights’ debate.
When compared to a steel spring, which can easily withstand decades of repeated use (and abuse) this is a poor solution.
The fatigue stresses will accumulate very quickly in the plastic leading to failure much earlier than the far simpler and cheaper steel spring solution.
@AlohaMilton @Paul_Gross You’ve missed the point. This isn’t about ‘defending 3d printing’, base isolation, or about a final product design for use in everyday life.
As far as the researchers are concerned, the sole purpose of these items is as experimental verification of the theoretical equations used in engineering material properties. Just like optical metamaterials, where patterns of holes and shapes can change which colors a material reflects, this paper describes how the physical arrangement and design of a single material can lead to a variety of material properties. 3d printing is a mere tool to allow them to not just have equations on a paper, but to also be able to test their equations and show they work.
Once the physics is developed, then it moves to engineers and designers who step in to make actual real world applications. Imagine the equations applied to printing technologies like: http://engatech.com/metal-3d-printing/ Imagine being able to design an ultra-lightweight automobile frame whose properties are designed so that it’s strong in all the right directions yet crumbles and absorbs crash energy in key locations.
@James I’m happy that the researchers are looking at solving mechanical equations, but the linked article does not say that is their sole purpose at all.
From the article:
“Instead of just working on improving what 3D printers are capable of, researchers at the Hasso-Plattner-Institut are also finding ways to make everyday objects more 3D printer-friendly…”
My criticism of the durability of this 3D printed handle mechanism is valid in this context.
@Paul_Gross Congrats on criticizing a Gawker owned blog for how they chose to editorialize some actual scientific work. Here’s 5 internet points for you.
@James Do I need to notify you each time I post a comment anywhere, just in case I miss out on some of your very valuable Internet points?
I’d hate for you to think your new hobby was useless…
Hey James. +1 and great job with your analysis. That’s the direction comments should flow and dont let wasted inputs get in the way of that. The ability of a material to be solid but behave like there are moving parts it impressive. Imagine a central hub affixed to an outer ring via swept involute branches that would collapse upon rotation. A crude description but another process of translating motion through a material with rotational inputs and linear outputs.
While this may be technically interesting, Gawkers attempt to re-frame it as actually useful /as a door handle/ (which it’s almost certainly not) and to write a click bait headline is worthy of derision. My first thought was “in what fantasy does that not have moving parts?”
As to the actual work, I’m sure it has valuable application somewhere… perhaps in nano structures? Or very low cost, low duty cycle, applications?