Product category:
Gears, brakes, couplings and engines
News Release from: Abssac | Subject: Universal joints
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 24 November 2005
Universal joint brings project to a head
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
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 4 Jul 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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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. Request a free brochure from Abssac ...
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