製紐プロセスによる形状記憶合金ワイヤの集積構造の試作

抄録

Shape memory alloy (SMA) wires, which contract by heating, are lightweight and flexible actuators. In general, the generated force of SMA is proportional to the cross-sectional area, therefore realization of high force brings high rigidity. In this study, two types of actuators were fabricated by braiding multiple SMA wires into round and flat strings using a braiding machine to enhance the generated force. The structural advantages of the fabricated actuators were demonstrated by calculating their cross-sectional secondary moments, and the characteristics of each actuator were measured. The fabricated actuators implied higher flexibility than a single SMA wire with the same cross-sectional area. Flexible structure can be achieved by weaving into a string.