Universal joint brings project to a head
An
Abssac product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Nov 24, 2005
Abssac was recently faced with the novel challenge of how to securely fix the head of a large five foot tall puppet to its body, but allow full lateral movement.
Working closely with a manufacturer and designer of human sized animatronic puppets, Abssac had a unique challenge of how to securely fix the head of a large five foot tall puppet to its body, but allow full lateral movement.
Another design criterion was the importance to have the head move in a fluid, life-like motion and any mechanism used would have to allow a cable version of a spinal cord to join the operator's controls.
Using a unique one piece helical beam universal-joint allowed, the physical movement, of +/-45 degrees of lateral bending, from the vertical position, in a total 360 degree orbit, but also restricted axial travel to only +/-1mm.
Manufacturing from high strength aluminium ensured that the part remained competitively priced and saved weight.
Teaming this one piece universal joint with several micro-air actuators, to provide the required movement, the resistance to bend exhibited by the flexure produced the "life-like" flowing movement against the air actuators.
Lastly the helical U-joint had a hollow centre, which enabled all controls wires to be easily ducted in the required manner, saving design space and making the neck portion of the puppet even more realistic.
Most importantly with this project, only 4 weeks passed from the original contact, to design, supplying a trial sample and receiving the first order.
Abssac's universal joint range uses the original helical beam technology that is exploited in its range of unique machined spring products.
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Tel +44 1386 833301
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