ABSTRACT

The project aims to prototype a braiding machine targeting the construction indusrty, the idea behind it is, in the end, to build actual structures out of different materials using the better performance that braiding can give to weaker matter. We started from already existing examples to figure out the logic behind it and then we tried to translate it to a slightl different type of machine that better adapts to materials different from fabric.

TEST 1

As a first prototype we tried to go through a flat braid direction with two gears that were sharing a coil in the middle.

PROBLEM

 Several problems were connected to the fact that the coil was not moving from a gear to the other due to the shape of the directional gear on the top.

TEST 2

For the second prototype we went for a more industrial solution trying to replicate a proper industrial machine that could allow us to braid more cilindric shapes.

PROBLEM

We had many problems with tollerances, the whole prototype was moving but was not very precise.

SYSTEM OPERATING PRINCIPLE

The operating system for the final prototype consists in two half circles shifted that work as grippers for the coils, they work on different layers to be able to intersect their movements.

ELECTRIC SCHEME

Two stepper motors that work in parallel to allow the coils to switch between the two loops.

PROTOTYPE

With the two gears intersecting principle we were able to develope a tool that is able to braid three wires in a flat braid. The whole thing is powered by two stepper motors that move the whole system.

BRAIDING MACHINE 

A project of IaaC, Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia developed at Master in Robotics and Advanced Construction (M.R.A.C.) in 2018 by:

STUDENTS

Mohamad Owaze Ansari, Riccardo Mura, Ardeshir Talaei, Hazal Yilmaz

FACULTY

Angel Muñoz