SMAs

The field of material science have been advanced through the past decades. We can prove it if we observed the infinite types of things we used and the properties they involve. The demand of light and stronger materials has motivated engineers to create multifunctional materials (including sensing, actuation, electromagnetic shielding,etc)

I have recently read an article about a prototype of a human hand that have been made of SMA wires. (SMA means Shape Memory Alloys). The design of this hand is mature. It is mobile and adaptable and the interaction between muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves and bones  represents a huge tool.

Some universities like the University of Utah has developed this hand and it shows a very soft movement and good efficiency.

The world of materials is helpful and intersting. If we are eager to know more about this world, for sure we can be incredible inventors and creators of new needs.

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THE MAKER FAIRE-An opportunity for designers and engineers

About 4 months ago I was checking my facebook and looked at some interesting but unknown event which attracted me because of its photos published. One of them was about a guy who invented the popular Bionic Boots, thus I got curious about how he could make an exhibition about his invention, so here it is! It could be possible through the most famous event around the world, The Maker Faire. The maker faire is a part science faire, part county faire, in fact something totally new. Educators, scientists, students, artists and crafters show what they have done and what they have learned about it.

WalterPaaMakerFaire_8633574135_d23c88dce9_oThe Maker Faire’s objective is to showcase people who are exploring new forms and new technologies. Also, The Maker Faire wants to make people, especially children to participate and get interested in invention and creativity.

What did I get interested in the Bionic Boots? Well, the reason is simply: Those boots make us move as fast as a wild animal and the mechanical properties were so simple. The idea of  the Bionioc Boots came from a guy whose name is Keahi Seymour, a lover of design and invention. Since he was 12 years old, he wanted to run like a cheetah in the African savanna, so by this, the ideas came into his mind and accomplished his dream. The best part of this is that it is environmentally friendly.

mLy4UuLThe Bionic Boots are made from alluminium and carbon fiber, which is very good at resistance. Elastic tendons are also included. If you wear them, you can stand 7 feet tall and run 25 mph.

If you want to know more details about how the mechanics works in those boots, I give the link: http://makezine.com/magazine/make-43/the-fastest-man-on-earth/

Another interesting invention which got my attention was a 3D printer that works with different types of polymers. Cute, isn’t it? According to the inventor, if we change the plastics we’re using, we can get better prints.

Since Wolrd War II, we really started understanding the chemistry of plastics. Nowdays, our world is covered with plastics, we can proved that if we look around and see our cellphones, our folders, chairs, there are plastics everywhere! Also there are hundreds of different types of plastics, we have got PLA (Polylactic Acid), we have got nylon varieties, PVA ( Polyvinyl Alcohol, a water-soluble synthetic polymer) and so on,which are now starting to come to the market and they all give us different functionalities based on their own physical  and chemical properties. Being now able to work with these properties, makes us pushing forward and doing a lot more with our printers.

The purpose of this invention is to build objects made from at least two types of polymers. As an example, we can get from two polymers a monochromatic plastic which reacts to heat and change of color.It could sound a little bit silly but it could be useful too. Toys production could be one applicaction. Another example is a piece of Lawood.  Lawood is a mixture of PLA and wood fiber. This was created more for aesthetic reasons because you are able to create objects with a wood appearance.

500-IMG_2632In order to got an idea, look at the image given. This is the MakerBot Replicator. It is one of the most popular personal 3D printers. It works with PLA and ABS polymers.

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INTRODUCTION

Throughout history, human beings who have dedicated their lives to change nature according to necessity,expressed as an explotion of ideas, the improvement in life’s quality. Civil constructions, communication, electric generators, analysis of materials, 3D printing and other big contributions are still important in our days.

We don’t have to be genious to be engineers, but! we must have discipline and power of intention.

In some books, for example, «Introduction to Engineering, An approach through design» of Pablo Grench, mentions some aspects to consider in an engineer’s profile, and they are:

  • Creativity
  • Analitical Hability
  • Practical Sense
  • Problem Solving

As you can see, the last three characteristics have to keep in touch with discipline, without it, engineering wouldn’t have sense.

Another fact to consider is that, the engineer lives in a society under norms that have to be accomplished, thus as citizens we have to follow ethical standards, which in most cases they’re over public laws.

In this world where changes are continuously impacting standards of design, an engineer also have to keep researching and looking for more information in their area of interest. If new needs come, new ideas should be created soon, and projects are the arrangements for those solutions.

I hope that in this blog you can get updated with some news about engineering, and remmember that the base of engineering is design, and as a requirement, it depicts a process, and as a process, students of engineering follow notable steps necessary to take out order and obtain good conclusion about people needs.

«Creativity is contagious, pass it on» -Albert Einstein

«Be less curious about people and more curious about ideas»- Marie Curie

 

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