« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Nitinol  (Read 310 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

rotornuts

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 537
Nitinol
« on: December 31, 2005, 09:53:29 AM »
This stuff has been around awhile but it's new to me. Sounds like fun, can be activated with heat at 50 - 70 degrees celcius to assume it's memory shape. Electric currents will generate the heat required for activation.


One link of many, do a google search for Nitinol.


http://www.imagesco.com/catalog/nitinol/nitinol.html


What kind of uses can you think of?


Mike

« Last Edit: December 31, 2005, 09:53:29 AM by (unknown) »
Logged

dinges

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1294
  • Country: nl
Re: Nitinol
« Reply #1 on: December 31, 2005, 06:28:17 AM »
Yes, I remember reading about it in the early eighties. Was also used for space antennas: you could simply fold it together for small volume. When in space, it would get heated by an electric current and voilà, a perfect parabolic antenna!


Remember it also being used in medical applications. Can't think rightaway for a use in RE, but maybe it's like the laser: when it was invented, no one knew what to do with it (a solution looking for a problem). Nowadays, we wouldn't know how to do without :-)


I wonder if it can be purchased by consumers; I'd like to play around a bit with it too.


Peter,

The Netherlands.

« Last Edit: December 31, 2005, 06:28:17 AM by dinges »
Logged
“Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing.” (W. von Braun)

dinges

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1294
  • Country: nl
Re: Nitinol
« Reply #2 on: December 31, 2005, 06:30:18 AM »
Next time I'll check the link BEFORE posting...


Apparently it's available for sale :-)


Peter,

The Netherlands.

« Last Edit: December 31, 2005, 06:30:18 AM by dinges »
Logged
“Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing.” (W. von Braun)

wooferhound

  • SuperHero Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 2288
  • Country: us
  • Huntsville Alabama U.S.A.
    • Woofer Hound Sound & Lighting Rentals
Re: Nitinol
« Reply #3 on: December 31, 2005, 11:17:42 AM »
and then there is always

Terbium and Dysprosium Metal, which can be used for possible power generation

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2003/11/2/19218/0898

« Last Edit: December 31, 2005, 11:17:42 AM by wooferhound »
Logged

wooferhound

  • SuperHero Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 2288
  • Country: us
  • Huntsville Alabama U.S.A.
    • Woofer Hound Sound & Lighting Rentals
Re: Nitinol
« Reply #4 on: December 31, 2005, 11:24:08 AM »
In the link for Nitinol above, halfway down the page, is a motor that runs from heat. It also has a PDF file with the plans to make the machine.
« Last Edit: December 31, 2005, 11:24:08 AM by wooferhound »
Logged

windstuffnow

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1065
  • Country: 00
Re: Nitinol
« Reply #5 on: December 31, 2005, 12:34:34 PM »
  I had completely forgoten all about it.  I remember way back when, reading an article about the stuff and found it very interesting.   It was quite expensive back then but now it looks like you can get some fair lengths of it for a few bucks.  I might order some to play with, looks like fun!   To bad is has such a long cycle time, also the fact that it has to be continuously loaded to return could put a dampner on some projects.    


  Thanks for sharing that and refreshing my memory about the stuff.  I can think of lots of uses for it!  


.

« Last Edit: December 31, 2005, 12:34:34 PM by windstuffnow »
Logged
Windstuff Ed

zap

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1107
  • There's an app for that
Re: Nitinol
« Reply #6 on: December 31, 2005, 06:21:16 PM »
I like the looks of the little windmill kit.  I wonder if it could be scaled up to mimic a simpler Minto wheel?  There wouldn't be the need for the working fluid or the associated plumbing.
« Last Edit: December 31, 2005, 06:21:16 PM by zap »
Logged

wpowokal

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1271
  • Country: au
  • Far North Queensland (FNQ) Australia
Re: Nitinol
« Reply #7 on: January 01, 2006, 02:26:43 AM »
I believe it has found uses in bras, like remember your shape in under wired bras.


OK way of topic, sorry I could not help it.


allan down under

« Last Edit: January 01, 2006, 02:26:43 AM by wpowokal »
Logged
A gentleman is man who can disagree without being disagreeable.

pyrocasto

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 600
Re: Nitinol
« Reply #8 on: January 01, 2006, 02:57:01 AM »
I'm very interested in that as well. It says it spins up to 400 rpm! I kinda figured it would be extremely slow, just showing it works. I would be quite interested to put on on my stove. :-)
« Last Edit: January 01, 2006, 02:57:01 AM by pyrocasto »
Logged

windstuffnow

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1065
  • Country: 00
Re: Nitinol
« Reply #9 on: January 01, 2006, 08:44:03 AM »
  It looked fun and my curiosity overtook my normal thinking so I ordered a couple feet of the smallest and largest wires.   Also I couldn't help but want a couple springs... we'll see what comes out of it...


.

« Last Edit: January 01, 2006, 08:44:03 AM by windstuffnow »
Logged
Windstuff Ed

rotornuts

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 537
Re: Nitinol
« Reply #10 on: January 01, 2006, 11:56:38 AM »
Please do tell how it behaves Ed. I found the springs interesting to. like you said it's too bad the cycle times are so slow.


Mike

« Last Edit: January 01, 2006, 11:56:38 AM by rotornuts »
Logged

rotornuts

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 537
Re: Nitinol
« Reply #11 on: January 01, 2006, 12:16:37 PM »
Thats some extreamely cool stuff woof.


http://www.etrema.com/


Mike

« Last Edit: January 01, 2006, 12:16:37 PM by rotornuts »
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »