Comments on: Scratch built air muscles

By: Taylor Alexander

Taylor Alexander — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 07:29:58 +0000

I’ve made these before too, they’re super simple. Some free used bike tubes from a bike shop (just ask) and some of that finger-trap style expandable sheathing for running wires and such (frys, mcmaster, etc) and they’re pretty simple. Bike tires run at 60psi or so (mountain bike) so I’d stay under that, but they’re not hard to make.

Why has the tech not taken off? Air powered stuff still needs a pump and valves and possibly a tank, which makes it a pain to setup, and not very compact. That’s why I’ve never done anything with them anyway.
-Taylor

By: Wwhat

Wwhat — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:06:14 +0000

Seems on wikipedia they are known as PAM:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumatic_artificial_muscles

I quote:
PAMs were first developed (under the name of McKibben Artificial Muscles) in the 1950s for use in artificial limbs.
–
1950’s eh, bit slow in development for such a simple useful invention?

By: zinguvok

zinguvok — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 20:57:30 +0000

i believe i saw these in the book “gadgeteer’s goldmine”… and that came out a _while_ ago. very similar execution.

By: Triffid Hunter

Triffid Hunter — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 20:16:25 +0000

They’re called McKibben Muscles (sometimes McKibbon)

By: Tachyon

Tachyon — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 19:55:55 +0000

Old news is SO EXCITING! I first read that ‘anthroform arm’ project (it’s the one with the white colored sleeve) in the late nineties for g-d’s sake.

By: Ali Raheem

Ali Raheem — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 17:39:10 +0000

Awesome translation.

By: Prowler50mil

Prowler50mil — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:37:23 +0000

Here is a better guide on how to make air muscles.
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-air-muscles!/

By: Solenoidclock

Solenoidclock — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:35:16 +0000

http://www.imagesco.com/articles/airmuscle/AirMuscleDescription02.html

There is your source.