Flexinol Blog Posts

All blog posts below are about Dynalloy’s Flexinol wire. Click on the image to see the whole post.

Advanced Low Profile SMA Actuator

Advanced Low Profile SMA Actuator

Advanced Low-Profile SMA Actuator

-Our custom MOSFET/Protection Circuit is on each PCB-Actuator
-Typical 3-wire interface: Power, Ground, and Enable. When you raise the Enable line logic level HIGH, we energize until you lower the Enable. The actuator moves to the end of stroke, and ‘holds’ there safely until you release it (set Enable to Low).
-The actuators typically operate from 3 to 12 volts
-Typical stroke is in the 0.1″ to 0.25″ range
-Typical force is in the 0.5# to 5.0# range (more…)

Intel Chromat Adrenaline Dress powered by Flexinol

Intel Chromat Adrenaline Dress powered by Flexinol

Intel Chromat Adrenaline Dress

We designed the complex Nitinol actuating mechanism behind this dress that was worn on the runway at NY Fashion Week 2015 and at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2016.

The Chromat Adrenaline Dress powered by Intel is composed of printed panels designed in an interlinked, expandable carbon fiber framework. When the garment senses adrenaline, the dress’s framework mimics the fight-or-flight mode and extends the wearer’s sensory system to form an imposing hourglass shape- signaling an augmented, empowered silhouette.

Intel’s Curie processor and a sweat sensor controlled the Nitinol actuating linkages to expand the dress.

Intel Chromat Adrenaline Dress powered by Flexinol shape memory alloy wire nitinol actuators

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Hydramax Exhibit using 60 Nitinol Actuators

Hydramax Exhibit using 60 Nitinol Actuators

Hydramax Exhibit using 60 Nitinol Actuators

Hydramax was an architectural model created by Future Cities Lab and installed in the San Francisco MOMA for 6 months.  The model was designed to respond to museum goers with soft illumination and gentle organic operation of the roof panels.  The silent organic operation was made possible by 60 of our Nitinol actuators embedded in the base of the model.

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Oceanic Safety Systems Advanced Lifesaving Diver Vest SMA Actuator

Oceanic Safety Systems Advanced Lifesaving Diver Vest SMA Actuator

Oceanic Safety Systems Advanced Lifesaving Diver Vest SMA Actuator

We assisted inventor, Dr. Terry Maas, with the actuating technology for his patented, lifesaving vest. Originally designed to protect Freedivers, it soon became apparent the lifesaving vest had a much broader appeal among all those in danger of drowning.

 

  • Oceanic Safety Systems (OSS) is currently working with two well-known life vest manufacturers—one for the Navy SEALS, the other for surfers.
  • OSS continues to improve its own line of programmable, submersible, life vests for mariners, freedivers, and surfers.
  • One of the uses of the OSS actuator is to protect valuable goods from sinking—from small equipment to larger items, such as jet skis.

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Laptop lid Nitinol actuator latch

Laptop lid Nitinol actuator latch

Laptop lid Nitinol actuator latch

Originally developed for a European laptop manufacturer.  The SMA actuator electronically releases the tablet from keyboard/CPU, so you can have a stand alone tablet/touchscreen.  SMA is able to provide high-force motion even in the extremely tight spaces within a laptop computer.  This actuator, like all of our newer actuators, has an on-board MOSFET switching and protection circuit.

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Nitinol Properties

Nitinol Properties

Nitinol Properties

Transformation Temperature -200 to 110 deg. C
Latent Heat of Transformation 5.78 cal/g

Transformation Strain
for a single cycle 8%
for 100,000 cycles 4%
Hysteresis 30 to 50 deg. C (more…)

Bluetooth controlled security latch for a Medical Cart

Bluetooth controlled security latch for a Medical Cart

Bluetooth controlled security latch for a Medical Cart

This latch was designed for use for applications where security is needed in very tight spaces like a medical cart.  This actuator provides motion along the short axis of the PC board.  It’s shown operating with a 3.7 Volt Lithium-Ion cell.

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Shape Memory Alloy Actuator Bounce Rotating Control

Shape Memory Alloy Actuator Bounce Rotating Control

Shape Memory Alloy Actuator Bounce Rotating Control

This is a rotary Nitinol actuator bouncing between end limits. This actuator was designed to move the eyelids in a volume ready toy doll – Baby Bright Eyes. We called her Baby Fright Eyes, because it was so scary to look into her eyeballs, thus the failure of the product. Rotation was 60 degrees back and forth with a couple of ounces of force, using 0.003″ diameter Nitinol wire approximately 6″ long. Realistic eye movement was achieved drawing 2.4 Watts at 3.7 Volts. Our Enhanced Nitinol Actuation Model predicted a stress in the wire of 26 KSI, which closely matched experimental data.

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Latch Release Actuator

Latch Release Actuator

Latch Release Actuator

Latch Release with 1.5 pounds of force using shape memory alloy wire. This was used as a payload release mechanism for a large military drone.

 This is a payload release on a life-cycle test fixture. Cycling against a 2-pound spring, powered by a 9V Duracell Lithium battery. An Arduino-based controller provides power for 0.150 seconds, then resting for 10 seconds before repeating. The onboard MOSFET switching and protection circuit senses the End Of Stroke position, and cuts power to the SMA wire to prevent overheating.

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Indianapolis, IN  USA

Portland, OR  USA

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Sun: Closed