Juncheng Qian
Biaxial Stretching Device
June. 2018 – July. 2018
Client: Professor Yanhang Zhang
This compact biaxial stretcher is a portal device that allows my fellow biomechanics researchers to quickly observe and study the stretching of bio-samples under microscopes. Being fully mechanical, this device is easy to operate and still retains high precision and reliability.
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A beautiful miniature torture device
Design Evolution
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I started the device design by considering the optimal stretching mechanism. The stretching mechanism need to have high precision, high resolution and a robust structure to prevent the stretched sample from retracting.
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In the first prototype, I chose the gear and gear rack mechanism due to its high reliability and simplicity, and implemented a lock mechanism to stop the read racks from retraction. This prototype worked well for a while but is still relatively fragile due to the thin 3D printed moving parts.
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In the second prototype, I implemented a lead screw driven mechanism for more refined movements. By coupling a left handed and right handed threaded rods, I can achieve equi-biaxial stretching with no center shift. the robust lead screw system also eliminated the need for a lock mechanism.
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V1
Prototype
V2 Prototype
