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Pellegrino Lab - Caltech | Mentored by Yang Li | Winter 2019
Introduction
Introduction
The goal of this project is to design a bistsable origami structure for application to a universal electromagnetic surface (i.e. satellites, space structures). This structure has three stable configurations and transitions between these low-energy states with minimal actuation. The stable configurations are flat, cylindrical, and spherical in shape.
Research and Design Process
Research and Design Process
These structures used torsional springs as hinges as shown in the AutoCAD drawings (pictured), which were used to laser cut prototypes and compliant models out of several materials like wood veneer, stainless steel, and spring steel.
Stainless steel proved to fatigue easily after some bending. The wood veneer models were too flexible, while 3D printed models behaved as expected despite movement limitations. The hinges on the 3D printed model did not transition well between configurations.
The final compliant design used spring steel with torsional springs as hinges in the mountain and valley folds. The stoppers allowed for the model to keep its general shape.
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