NITINOL P2 P3 Nitinol SHORTENS in length when current flows through it:
Nitinol
is a SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY made of nickel and titanium that
SHORTENS
in length when
current flows through it.
Nitinol changes shape when heated but returns to its original shape
when cooled. Nitinol requires a "retuning force" to return it to its
original length after current has been turned off. It does not return to its
original length by itself.
PROCEDURE
Sources of Flexinol
/ Nitinol:
SHAPE MEMORY APPLICATIONS inc http://www.sma-inc.com/ Nitinol Engineering Kit: Intended for design and development engineers and students. The Nitinol Engineering Kit contains "Using Shape Memory Alloys" (a simple design guide), 1 to 2 ft. of actuator wire, three demo wires, 1 foot of super-elastic wire, 1 tension spring, and 1 compression spring. Cost: $49.95 plus tax and shipping Mondo-tronics Inc. http://www.mondo.com/ (other kits available too) MW Super Sample Kit view kit A quick and economical way to try a wide range Muscle Wires sizes. The Super Sample Kit includes 20 centimetres each of five diameters (037, 050, 100, 150, 250) in both low temp (LT) and high temp (HT) formulations. That's ten separate Muscle Wires, two meters total, and includes crimps and technical specifications for all the wires. Cost: $29.95 plus $4.95 postage. (plus CA tax) SW Wire & Wingbases view kit A minimal kit for making your own Space Wings-like creations, or for repairing or upgrading old Space Wings. With two wingbase strips, and 14 cm of Flexinol 100 HT Muscle Wire - enough for two complete Space Wings. Cost: $10.00 plus $4.95 postage. (plus CA tax) Space Wings Kit view kit Now Variable Speed! Sleek silvery mylar wings flap silently using only five centimetres of Muscle Wire. Perches on you computer, annoys cats, amuses babies. Space Wings stands 15 centimetres tall and flaps up to 36 times per minute. Includes a printed circuit board, parts, & detailed instructions. Assembly requires soldering iron, solder, screw driver, wire cutters and two "AA" batteries. For ages 14 and up. A great first electronics kit & excellent hands-on introduction to electronic construction & Muscle Wires. Cost: $19.95 plus $4.95 postage. Electric Piston Demo Kit view kit Includes one piston, one high capacity Polapulse battery, two connecting leads, and complete instructions with plans for four complete projects. Cost: $19.95 plus $4.95 postage. (plus CA tax) IMAGES SI Inc http://www.imagesco.com/catalog/nitinol/index.html (other kits available too) Nitinol Rolling Ball Demo This very simple device rolls a small ball back and forth inside a clear straw. It was made to demonstrate how Nitinol actuator wires continue working over a fixed range of motion for years. It operates about 20,000 cycles per day. It also happens to be a good way to introduce the theory of actuator wires. Cost: $24.95 plus $8.50 postage Nitinol Air Valve This is a fully functional electric valve made with Nitinol. It permits proportional control of the air or fluid flow. When voltage is applied the Nitinol inside contracts, opening the valve. Cost: $17.95 plus $8.50 postage Nitinol Butterfly Another Nitinol demonstration of long life and durability, its beautiful lifelike motion makes it a great gift as well. It may be used with flowers in a lifelike setting or as a stand alone somewhere, perhaps a computer top. Cost: $34.95 plus $8.50 postage Nitinol Wire (plus $8.50 postage)
Monarch Butterfly Stock Number: CR30825-34 Edmund Scientific A unique way to draw attention to your display. Elegant Aliforms™ are lifelike noiseless, motorless animated butterflies. The lifelike open-and-close motion is created by use of memory wire called Flexinol™. Simply plug in the 6V adapter (included) and the heat of the electricity contracts the Actuator Wire like a muscle. The Actuator Wire then relaxes when it cools. Aliforms™ can be attached to flower displays, plants, or anything else, to draw attention. Comes in Monarch version only. Note: the 6v adapter is INCLUDED! Cost: $29.95 plus $7.75 post Monarch Butterfly also called: Nitinol Butterflies (4 different types) These authentic-looking butterflies really flap their wings! The wings move once every two seconds, just like a resting butterfly. Just attach these butterflies to plants, picture frames, or your computer monitor. The wings move thanks to nitinol, the muscle of Stiquito. Comes with a 115v transformer and long cable. Cost: $33.00 incl post (Pay by PayPal) Experinmental Flexinol (Nitinol) 30 cm long (1ft) Flexinol is great for experiments. ST-004 is 0.004” diameter. ST-005 is 0.005” diameter. Prices include shipping: (Pay by PayPal) (International orders 50˘ extra!!)
Read the first chapter of "Advanced Experiments with a Simple and Inexpensive Robot" by James M. Conrad and Jonathan W. Mills. Chapter 2 has detailed assembly instructions for constructing the Stiquito robot, so it looks like this is the best book to get. It comes with a Stiquito kit. Cost is $48.00 plus postage (for book and kit). Standard post is $8.00 If you are a member of IEEE Computer Society, the cost is $36.00 Click HERE to order. To understand more about Stiquito and the books on Muscle wires, click HERE. (very good info) THIRD STIQUITO BOOK See details of the third book in the series: "Stiquito Controlled." It is written by James Conrad, and his website is: (http://www.stiquito.com). The book comes with all components to build the robot and is based on a Texas Instruments MSP430F1122 processor. The board will make the robot walk and comes with instructions to reprogram the board, to do other things. You can use the board for almost any application. The board is 3.3" by 0.75", and has a small prototyping area on it. For an example of a similar
model (NITLEMITE) you can build yourself from Lego blocks, click HERE. Crimped Flexinol (nitinol) (ST-006). 4-inch long Flexinol (0.004” diameter) and is crimped onto 4” of wire wrap wire at both ends. Cost: $4.50 including post (International orders 50˘ extra!!) FEATURES:
Nitinol straightens out when heated. It can also be "trained" by shaping it within a flame to produce a new shape such as a square. It can then be bent to another shape when it is cold. It will return to a square when placed in hot water.
Livewire is a fun little toy. According to the
directions, you place it in cold water, bend the wire into any shape you want,
then place it in hot water and the wire pops back into shape.
PROPERTIES OF NITINOL by
John Iovine
Note: One micron = one
micrometre. 1 micron =
1/1,000,000metre 1 micron =
1µ
LT = low temp 70°C, HT high temp 90°C Page 2 covers the characteristics of Nitinol. 01-03-03 |