Maria Khoushi
Research Mentor: Mariana Masteling Pereira
Mentor Department: Mechanical Engineering, Engineering
Author(s): Maria Khoushi, Mariana Masteling
Session: Session 3 (11:00 AM – 11:50 AM)
Presentation Type: Poster 77
Abstract
As part of the development of a novel women’s health medical device, a calibration device has to be created to ensure force and pressure safety standards are met. Whereas current force output measurement devices rely on an axial or biaxial loading configuration, our goal is to measure radial force distribution in cylindrical components, which current existing force output devices are not well suited for. To address this issue, we developed a cylindrical device that can measure force output. This calibration device is designed through embedding force sensors into a hollow cylindrical silicone mold, such that it allows us to measure the force output by inserting any components into the mold for force output testing. The cylindrical molds were designed using Solidworks and printed in a Formlabs Form 3 3D printer. Ecoflex 00-30 silicone with varying amounts of thinner was cured at room temperature to create the silicone cylinders. Force and Pressure sensors were calibrated against a known weight using a custom calibration system previously developed by the research group. Incorporating the sensors into the cylindrical silicone molds is challenging. However, using increasing amounts of silicone thinner improved the readings of the sensors. This device allows for a new way of measuring cylindrical force output data, with strong applications in biomechanics, soft robotics, and mechanical component testing. It allows for more accurate, consistent, and repeatable force measurement in cylindrical testing configurations.
