Name: application of design aspects in uniaxial loading machine development
Uploaded: 2018-09-19T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Application of Design Aspects in Uniaxial Loading Machine Development at JoVE.com

This work was supported by the National Institutes Health NIDCR [DE022664].

NOTE: The finished device is shown in Figure 2. The device enables pure uniaxial testing of specimens in a horizontal position.
1. Component Parts
<ol>
	<li>Prepare two programmable actuators with a 30 mm (1.2 in) travel per actuator capable of spanning 60 mm (2.3 in) when programmed to pull/push together. To accommodate a variety of potential uses, select actuators having a reasonable force capacity [67 N (15 lb)], peak thrust [58 N (13 lb)], speed resolution [...

<ol>
	<li>. ASTM E4-16. Standard practices for force verification of testing machines Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.astm.org/Standard/standards-and-publications.html">https://www.astm.org/Standard/standards-and-publications.html</a> (2016)</li><li>. ASTM E2309/E2309M-16. Standard practices for verification of displacement measuring systems and devices used in materials testing machines Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.astm.org/Standard/standards-and-publications.html">https://www.astm.org/Standard/standards-and-publications.html</a> (2016)</li><li>. ASTM E2428-15a. Standard practice for calibration and verification of torque transducers Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.astm.org/Standard/standards-and-publications.html">https://www.astm.org/Standard/standards-and-publications.html</a> (2015)</li><li>. ASTM E2624-17. Standard practice for torque calibration of testing machines Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.astm.org/Standard/standards-and-publications.html">https://www.astm.org/Standard/standards-and-publications.html</a> (2017)</li><li>. ASTM C39 &#8211; Standard test method for compressive strength of cylindrical concrete specimens Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.astm.org/Standard/standards-and-publications.html">https://www.astm.org/Standard/standards-and-publications.html</a> (2018)</li><li>. ASTM A370-17a. Standard test methods and definitions for mechanical testing of steel products Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.astm.org/Standard/standards-and-publications.html">https://www.astm.org/Standard/standards-and-publications.html</a> (2017)</li><li>. ASTM D4761-13. Standard test methods for mechanical properties of lumber and wood-base structural material Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.astm.org/Standard/standards-and-publications.html">https://www.astm.org/Standard/standards-and-publications.html</a> (2013)</li><li>Green, M. L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mechanical+properties+of+cheese,+cheese+analogues+and+protein+gels+in+relation+to+composition+and+microstructure.">Mechanical properties of cheese, cheese analogues and protein gels in relation to composition and microstructure.</a> Food Structure. 5 (1), 169-192 (1986).</li><li>. ASTM D76/D76M-11. Standard specification for tensile testing machines for textiles Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.astm.org/Standard/standards-and-publications.html">https://www.astm.org/Standard/standards-and-publications.html</a> (2011)</li><li>Papini, M., Zdero, R., Schemitsch, E. H., Zalzal, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+biomechanics+of+human+femurs+in+axial+and+torsional+loading:+comparison+of+finite+element+analysis,+human+cadaveric+femurs,+and+synthetic+femurs.">The biomechanics of human femurs in axial and torsional loading: comparison of finite element analysis, human cadaveric femurs, and synthetic femurs.</a> Journal of Biomechanical Engineering. 129 (1), 12-19 (2007).</li><li>Poulet, B., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intermittent+applied+mechanical+loading+induces+subchondral+bone+thickening+that+may+be+intensified+locally+by+contiguous+articular+cartilage+lesions.">Intermittent applied mechanical loading induces subchondral bone thickening that may be intensified locally by contiguous articular cartilage lesions.</a> Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 23 (6), 940-948 (2015).</li><li>Li, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Osteoblasts+subjected+to+mechanical+strain+inhibit+osteoclastic+differentiation+and+bone+resorption+in+a+co-culture+system.">Osteoblasts subjected to mechanical strain inhibit osteoclastic differentiation and bone resorption in a co-culture system.</a> Annals of Biomedical Engineering. 41 (10), 2056-2066 (2013).</li><li>Huang, A. H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Design+and+use+of+a+novel+bioreactor+for+regeneration+of+biaxially+stretched+tissue-engineered+vessels.">Design and use of a novel bioreactor for regeneration of biaxially stretched tissue-engineered vessels.</a> Tissue Engineering. Part C, Methods. 21 (8), 841-851 (2015).</li><li>Keyes, J. T., Haskett, D. G., Utzinger, U., Azhar, M., Van de Geest, J. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Adaptation+of+a+planar+microbiaxial+optomechanical+device+for+the+tubular+biaxial+microstructural+and+macroscopic+characterization+of+small+vascular+tissues.">Adaptation of a planar microbiaxial optomechanical device for the tubular biaxial microstructural and macroscopic characterization of small vascular tissues.</a> Journal of Biomechanical Engineering. 133 (7), 075001 (2011).</li><li>Brown, T. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Techniques+for+mechanical+stimulation+of+cells+in+vitro:+A+review.">Techniques for mechanical stimulation of cells in vitro: A review.</a> Journal of Biomechanics. 33 (1), 3-14 (2000).</li><li>. Zaber Console software download Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.zaber.com/zaber-software">https://www.zaber.com/zaber-software</a> (2018)</li><li>King, J. D., York, S. L., Saunders, M. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Design,+fabrication+and+characterization+of+a+pure+uniaxial+microloading+system+for+biologic+testing.">Design, fabrication and characterization of a pure uniaxial microloading system for biologic testing.</a> Medical Engineering and Physics. 38 (4), 411-416 (2016).</li><li>Saunders, M. M., Donahue, H. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Development+of+a+cost-effective+loading+machine+for+biomechanical+evaluation+of+mouse+transgenic+models.">Development of a cost-effective loading machine for biomechanical evaluation of mouse transgenic models.</a> Medical Engineering and Physics. 26 (7), 595-603 (2004).</li></ol>

The goal of this work was to design and fabricate a cost-effective and reliable uniaxial loader for its use with small-scale specimens such as tissue and fibers. A device was constructed that met the requirements set forth while also being flexible enough in design to allow for new attachments to be fabricated as the user needs grow. For example, the device will allow for the testing of dry and wet specimens in a uniaxial or fixed-end configuration.
Critical steps in the design and fabrication...

Mechanical testing has an interesting history that can be traced back to hardness testing equipment developed by Stanley Rockwell in the early in the twentieth century. While technology has grown to the extent that standard, documented practices guide everything from the verification of machine performance to the guidelines for carrying out specific tests1,2,3,4. Today, mechanical tests are conducted on everything from building materials such as concrete, steel, and wood to food and textile products5,6,7,8,9. Given that the fields of biomedical engineering and, more specifically, biomechanics utilize mechanical testing, loading machines are commonplace in biomechanics labs.
Loading machines run the range of scale in biomechanics. As an example, larger loading machines can be used to conduct full-body impact studies or determine human femoral mechanical properties, while smaller loading machines can be used to test murine bones or stimulate cells10,11,12,13,14. Two types of loading machines are found in the testing laboratory; those that are purchased commercially and those that are built by the user. Loading machines developed in-house are often favored for their personalization and customization options15.
In testing, a specimen is secured in the machine so that a displacement can be applied, generating a measurable force. If the load is used as the driving feedback, the test is load-controlled; if the displacement is used as the driving feedback, the test is displacement-controlled. Loading machines, in general, are built upon a frame that connects a mover to a fixed support. As such, testing generally involves one end of the specimen being moved while the other end remains fixed.
Shown in Figure 1 is a sketch of a simple loading machine demonstrating its basic components. Fundamental to all loading machines is a base or frame. Whereas the vast majority of commercial brands utilize a fixed base, the drawing depicts a platform that allows planar (XY) movement. The mover, in this case, is the upper arm that holds a load cell and is driven by a stepper motor. Attached to the frame are the fixtures which hold the specimen and dictate the type of test that is run. Shown in the drawing are three-point bend fixtures. The top fixture (the single contact) is mounted to the moving arm; the bottom fixture (the double contact) is mounted to the stationary base. During testing, the motor drives the upper fixture downward to where the center contact engages the specimen. As the contact engages the specimen, the load cell records the increase in resistance or the force placed upon the specimen.
There are occasions where machines are designed and built in-house to accomplish a motion not attainable with the existing machines in the laboratory. Here we describe in detail one such device. It is a loading platform that enables pure uniaxial specimen loading or equal and opposite motion at both ends. The device incorporates commercial load cells and actuators (movers); a frame is machined to hold the commercial parts and loading fixtures for specimen testing. Understanding the basic principles of testing machine construction can aid in the design of one&#39;s own machine. We have provided the drawing files we created as a starting point to assist researchers with their own machine development. The video will focus on the assembly of the device and the application of mechanical design principles to ensure alignment and reliable testing.

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application of design aspects in uniaxial loading machine development

In terms of accurate and precise mechanical testing, machines run the continuum. Whereas commercial platforms offer excellent accuracy, they can be cost-prohibitive, often priced in the $100,000 - $200,000 price range. At the other extreme are stand-alone manual devices that often lack repeatability and accuracy (e.g., a manual crank device). However, if a single use is indicated, it is over-engineering to design and machine something overly elaborate. Nonetheless, there are occasions where machines are designed and built in-house to accomplish a motion not attainable with the existing machines in the laboratory. Described in detail here is one such device. It is a loading platform that enables pure uniaxial loading. Standard loading machines typically are biaxial in that linear loading occurs along the axis and rotary loading occurs about the axis. During testing with these machines, a load is applied to one end of the specimen while the other end remains fixed. These systems are not capable of conducting pure axial testing in which tension/compression is applied equally to the specimen ends. The platform developed in this paper enables the equal and opposite loading of specimens. While it can be used for compression, here the focus is on its use in pure tensile loading. The device incorporates commercial load cells and actuators (movers) and, as is the case with machines built in-house, a frame is machined to hold the commercial parts and fixtures for testing.

In order to verify the use of the system, actuator speed and performance tests were conducted17. These tests consisted of measuring the actuator speed and distance in comparison to the input values. To verify the sample travel distance accuracy, arbitrary travel distances along the shaft between 254 - 2540 &#181;m (0.01 - 0.10 in) were selected. The device was run to these distances and compared to the actual distance measured using combinations of gauge blocks and...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Application of Design Aspects in Uniaxial Loading Machine Development at JoVE.com

Application of Design Aspects in Uniaxial Loading Machine Development

Here we present a protocol to develop a pure uniaxial loading machine. Critical design aspects are employed to ensure accurate and reproducible testing results.

In terms of accurate and precise mechanical testing, machines run the continuum. Whereas commercial platforms offer excellent accuracy, they can be ...

The information in this video is aimed at explaining some of the more important aspects of developing mechanical loading platforms. The information is intended for researchers who may be interested in developing their own platforms, but unfamiliar with some of the basic principles involved. This video is intended to demonstrate the two key features involved in developing a reliable testing platform, specifically, reproducible assembly and disassembly, and accurate alignment.Demonstrating the assembly of the platform will be Mr.Robby Thoerner. Robby Thoerner recently received his undergraduate degree at the University of Akron, from our department of biomedical engineering in the biomechanics track. The goal is to assemble the testing device.Here is an example of an assembled device which has two actuators, load cells, and a frame to support them. Gather the parts to construct the device. Use two programmable actuators, each with 30 millimeters travel, 60 millimeters when working together.Daisy chain the actuators to sync them for equal extension and retraction. Next, prepare two load cells suitable for confined spaces. To support the actuators, prepare one carriage for each of them along with a rail.Create the base from aluminum stock. Cut a piece to the appropriate size and use a mill to machine the plate accordingly to specifications. Machine two side plates according to specifications.The two should mirror one another, and each should have a slot and drilled holes to accommodate the rail. Drill and tap the bottom faces of the side plates. Mount the side plates in the track on the base.Be sure the mount points for the rail are near each other. Fasten the side plates to the base plate from underneath. Next, fasten the rail to the track using its clearance holes and the drilled holes in each side plate.When done, the rail connects the two side plates and carriages slide onto the rail. Move on to work with the mounts for the actuators. Use L-shaped stock to machine a rear mount attachment and a bar to attach to the bottom of the mount.This creates a key for alignment in the track. Screw the bar into the bottom of the mount. At this point, get the selected actuator for the experiment.Attach the rear mount to the body of the actuator using the hole pattern in the actuator. The series of holes in the side plate allow the mount position to be adjusted. Slot the base of the mount to the frame to attach the rear actuator.Use two screws to secure it. Duplicate the steps to mount an actuator on each of the side plates. Get the parts for supporting the front of the actuator.One part is an L-shaped piece with a hole for a tapered connector. On its side is a track to accommodate a plate. The plate for this track also has a track to accommodate fixtures and ensure alignment.Machine an aluminum cylindrical part to connect the load cell and actuator. Machine an aluminum tapered cylindrical part to connect the load cell to the fixture and carriage. Pass the cylinder into the hole of the front actuator mount and use a set screw to anchor the cylinder end.Now, work with the fixtures for the front mounts. For vertical adjustments, machine a central vertical slot in the fixture holder. Attach the actuator front mount to the rectangular side plate, with the vertically aligned holes in its center.Here is the completed assembly for the front mount on one side. Duplicate the steps to mount both the left and the right actuators of the device. These are representative data sets from load testing knotted 25.4 millimeter 2-0 sutures until failure.The gray dash curve represents results from the device described in this protocol, using a loading rate of 0.61 millimeters per second. The black curve represents results from a fixed-end device using a double loading rate, or 1.22 millimeters per second. In all tests, failure occurred at the knot, and measurements showed no statistical difference between the devices.In designing a loading machine, it is always important to design keeping alignment in mind. Focusing on alignment will make sure that your results are reproducible and accurate and that you're testing your specimens appropriately. In this video, we've tried to demonstrate some of the more important aspects of designing loading machines.If you understand some of these basic principles, you can apply them in developing platforms for you own testing needs.

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High-resolution, High-speed, Three-dimensional Video Imaging with Digital Fringe Projection Techniques

Digital fringe projection (DFP) techniques provide dense 3D measurements of dynamically changing surfaces.&#160;Like the human eyes and brain, DFP uses triangulation between matching points in two views of the same scene at different angles to compute depth.&#160;However, unlike a stereo-based method, DFP uses a digital video projector to replace one of the cameras1. The projector rapidly projects a known sinusoidal pattern onto the subject, and the surface of the subject distorts these patterns in the camera&#8217;s field of view. Three distorted patterns (fringe images) from the camera can be used to compute the depth using triangulation.
Unlike other 3D measurement methods, DFP techniques lead to systems that tend to be faster, lower in equipment cost, more flexible, and easier to develop.&#160;DFP systems can also achieve the same measurement resolution as the camera.&#160;For this reason, DFP and other digital structured light techniques have recently been the focus of intense research (as summarized in1-5). Taking advantage of DFP, the graphics processing unit, and optimized algorithms, we have developed a system capable of 30&#160;Hz 3D video data acquisition, reconstruction, and display for over 300,000 measurement points per frame6,7.&#160;Binary defocusing DFP methods can achieve even greater speeds8.
Diverse applications can benefit from DFP techniques. Our collaborators have used our systems for facial function analysis9, facial animation10, cardiac mechanics studies11, and fluid surface measurements, but many other potential applications exist.&#160;This video will teach the fundamentals of DFP techniques and illustrate the design and operation of a binary defocusing DFP system.

This video describes the fundamentals of digital fringe projection techniques, which provide dense 3D measurements of dynamically changing surfaces.&#160;It also demonstrates the design and operation of a high-speed binary defocusing system based on these techniques.

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The Preparation of Electrohydrodynamic Bridges from Polar Dielectric Liquids

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Horizontal and vertical electrohydrodynamic liquid bridges are simple and powerful tools for exploring the interaction of high intensity electric fields and polar dielectric liquids. The construction of basic apparatus and operational examples, including thermographic images, for three liquids (e.g., water, DMSO, and glycerol) is presented.

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Measuring Spray Droplet Size from Agricultural Nozzles Using Laser Diffraction

When making an application of any crop protection material such as an herbicide or pesticide, the applicator uses a variety of skills and information to make an application so that the material reaches the target site (i.e., plant). Information critical in this process is the droplet size that a particular spray nozzle, spray pressure, and spray solution combination generates, as droplet size greatly influences product efficacy and how the spray moves through the environment. Researchers and product manufacturers commonly use laser diffraction equipment to measure the spray droplet size in laboratory wind tunnels. The work presented here describes methods used in making spray droplet size measurements with laser diffraction equipment for both ground and aerial application scenarios that can be used to ensure inter- and intra-laboratory precision while minimizing sampling bias associated with laser diffraction systems. Maintaining critical measurement distances and concurrent airflow throughout the testing process is key to this precision. Real time data quality analysis is also critical to preventing excess variation in the data or extraneous inclusion of erroneous data. Some limitations of this method include atypical spray nozzles, spray solutions or application conditions that result in spray streams that do not fully atomize within the measurement distances discussed. Successful adaption of this method can provide a highly efficient method for evaluation of the performance of agrochemical spray application nozzles under a variety of operational settings. Also discussed are potential experimental design considerations that can be included to enhance functionality of the data collected.

We present protocols to be used in the measurement of spray droplet size from agricultural nozzles used in both aerial and ground based agrochemical applications. These methods presented were developed to provide consistent and repeatable droplet size data both inter- and intra-laboratory, when using laser diffraction systems.

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Optical Trap Loading of Dielectric Microparticles In Air

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In this protocol, an experimental procedure for selective optical trap loading in air is outlined. First, the experimental setup is briefly introduced. Second, the design and fabrication of a PZT holder and a sample enclosure are illustrated in detail. The optical trap loading of a selected microparticle is then demonstrated with step-by-step instructions including sample preparation, launching into the trap, and use of electrostatic force to excite particle motion in the trap and measure charge. Finally, we present recorded particle trajectories of Brownian and ballistic motions of a trapped microparticle in air. These trajectories can be used to measure stiffness or to verify optical alignment through time domain and frequency domain analysis. Selective trap loading enables optical tweezers to track a particle and its changes over repeated trap loadings in a reversible manner, thereby enabling studies of particle-surface interaction.

A protocol for launching and stably trapping selected dielectric microparticles in air is presented.

We demonstrate a method to trap a selected dielectric microparticle in air using radiation pressure from a single-beam gradient optical trap. Randomly ...

Visualizing Uniaxial-strain Manipulation of Antiferromagnetic Domains in Fe1+YTe Using a Spin-polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscope

The quest to understand correlated electronic systems has pushed the frontiers of experimental measurements toward the development of new experimental techniques and methodologies. Here we use a novel home-built uniaxial-strain device integrated into our variable temperature scanning tunneling microscope that enables us to controllably manipulate in-plane uniaxial strain in samples and probe their electronic response at the atomic scale. Using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) with spin-polarization techniques, we visualize antiferromagnetic (AFM) domains and their atomic structure in Fe1+yTe samples, the parent compound of iron-based superconductors, and demonstrate how these domains respond to applied uniaxial strain. We observe the bidirectional AFM domains in the unstrained sample, with an average domain size of ~50-150 nm, to transition into a single unidirectional domain under applied uniaxial strain. The findings presented here open a new direction to utilize a valuable tuning parameter in STM, as well as other spectroscopic techniques, both for tuning the electronic properties as for inducing symmetry breaking in quantum material systems.

Visualizing Uniaxial-strain Manipulation of Antiferromagnetic Domains in Fe1+YTe Using a Spin-polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscope

Using uniaxial strain combined with spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy, we visualize and manipulate the antiferromagnetic domain structure of Fe1+yTe, the parent compound of iron-based superconductors.

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Crack Monitoring in Resonance Fatigue Testing of Welded Specimens Using Digital Image Correlation

A procedure using digital image correlation (DIC) to detect cracks on welded specimens during fatigue tests on resonance testing machines is presented. It is intended as a practical and reproducible procedure to identify macroscopic cracks at an early stage and monitor crack propagation during fatigue tests. It consists of strain field measurements at the weld using DIC. Images are taken at fixed load cycle intervals. Cracks become visible in the computed strain field as elevated strains. This way, the whole width of a small-scale specimen can be monitored to detect where and when a crack initiates. Subsequently, it is possible to monitor the development of the crack length. Because the resulting images are saved, the results are verifiable and comparable. The procedure is limited to cracks initiating at the surface and is intended for fatigue tests under laboratory conditions. By visualizing the crack, the presented procedure allows direct observation of macrocracks from their formation until rupture of the specimen.

Digital image correlation is used in fatigue tests on a resonance testing machine to detect macroscopic cracks and monitor crack propagation in welded specimens. Cracks on the specimen surface become visible as increased strains.

A procedure using digital image correlation (DIC) to detect cracks on welded specimens during fatigue tests on resonance testing machines is presented. It ...

Evaluating Usability Aspects of a Mixed Reality Solution for Immersive Analytics in Industry 4.0 Scenarios

In medicine or industry, the analysis of high-dimensional data sets is increasingly required. However, available technical solutions are often complex to use. Therefore, new approaches like immersive analytics are welcome. Immersive analytics promise to experience high-dimensional data sets in a convenient manner for various user groups and data sets. Technically, virtual-reality devices are used to enable immersive analytics. In Industry 4.0, for example, scenarios like the identification of outliers or anomalies in high-dimensional data sets are pursued goals of immersive analytics. In this context, two important questions should be addressed for any developed technical solution on immersive analytics: First, is the technical solutions being helpful or not? Second, is the bodily experience of the technical solution positive or negative? The first question aims at the general feasibility of a technical solution, while the second one aims at the wearing comfort. Extant studies and protocols, which systematically address these questions are still rare. In this work, a study protocol is presented, which mainly investigates the usability for immersive analytics in Industry 4.0 scenarios. Specifically, the protocol is based on four pillars. First, it categorizes users based on previous experiences. Second, tasks are presented, which can be used to evaluate the feasibility of the technical solution. Third, measures are presented, which quantify the learning effect of a user. Fourth, a questionnaire&#160;evaluates the stress level when performing tasks. Based on these pillars, a technical setting was implemented that uses mixed reality smartglasses to apply the study protocol. The results of the conducted study show the applicability of the protocol on the one hand and the feasibility of immersive analytics in Industry 4.0 scenarios on the other. The presented protocol includes a discussion of discovered limitations.

This protocol delineates the technical setting of a developed mixed reality application that is used for immersive analytics. Based on this, measures are presented, which were used in a study to gain insights into usability aspects of the developed technical solution.

In medicine or industry, the analysis of high-dimensional data sets is increasingly required. However, available technical solutions are often complex to ...

Manufacturing, Control, and Performance Evaluation of a Gecko-Inspired Soft Robot

This protocol presents a method for manufacturing, control, and evaluation of the performance of a soft robot that can climb inclined flat surfaces with slopes of up to 84&#176;. The manufacturing method is valid for the fast pneunet bending actuators in general and might, therefore, be interesting for newcomers to the field of actuator manufacturing. The control of the robot is achieved by means of a pneumatic control box that can provide arbitrary pressures and can be built by only using purchased components, a laser cutter, and a soldering iron. For the walking performance of the robot, the pressure-angle calibration plays a crucial role. Therefore, a semi-automated method for the pressure-angle calibration is presented. At high inclines (&#62; 70&#176;), the robot can no longer reliably fix itself to the walking plane. Therefore, the gait pattern is modified to ensure that the feet can be fixed on the walking plane.

This protocol provides a detailed list of steps to be performed for the manufacturing, control and evaluation of the climbing performance of a gecko-inspired soft robot.

This protocol presents a method for manufacturing, control, and evaluation of the performance of a soft robot that can climb inclined flat surfaces with ...

Design and Development of a Three-Dimensionally Printed Microscope Mask Alignment Adapter for the Fabrication of Multilayer Microfluidic Devices

This project aims to develop an easy-to-use and cost-effective platform for the fabrication of precise, multilayer microfluidic devices, which typically can only be achieved using costly equipment in a clean room setting. The key part of the platform is a three dimensionally (3D) printed microscope mask alignment adapter (MMAA) compatible with regular optical microscopes and ultraviolet (UV) light exposure systems. The overall process of creating the device has been vastly simplified because of the work done to optimize the device design. The process entails finding the proper dimensions for the equipment available in the laboratory and 3D-printing the MMAA with the optimized specifications. Experimental results show that the optimized MMAA designed and manufactured by 3D printing performs well with a common microscope and light exposure system. Using a master mold prepared by the 3D-printed MMAA, the resulting microfluidic devices with multilayered structures contain alignment errors of &lt;10 &#181;m, which is sufficient for common microchips. Although human error through transportation of the device to the UV light exposure system can cause larger fabrication errors, the minimal errors achieved in this study are attainable with practice and care. Furthermore, the MMAA can be customized to fit any microscope and UV exposure system by making changes to the modeling file in the 3D printing system. This project provides smaller laboratories with a useful research tool as it only requires the use of equipment that is typically already available to laboratories that produce and use microfluidic devices. The following detailed protocol outlines the design and 3D printing process for the MMAA. In addition, the steps for procuring a multilayer master mold using the MMAA and producing poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic chips is also described herein.

This project allows small laboratories to develop an easy-to-use platform for the fabrication of precise multilayer microfluidic devices. The platform consists of a three-dimensionally printed microscope mask alignment adapter using which multilayer microfluidic devices with alignment errors of &lt;10 &#181;m were achieved.

This project aims to develop an easy-to-use and cost-effective platform for the fabrication of precise, multilayer microfluidic devices, which typically ...

In vitro Assessment of Aortic Regurgitation Using Four-Dimensional Flow Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Aortic regurgitation (AR) refers to backward blood flow from the aorta into the left ventricle (LV) during ventricular diastole. The regurgitant jet arising from the complex shape is characterized by the three-dimensional flow and high-velocity gradient, sometimes limiting an accurate measurement of the regurgitant volume using 2D echocardiography. Recently developed four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging (4D flow MRI) enables three-dimensional volumetric flow measurements, which can be used to accurately quantify the amount of the regurgitation. This study focuses on (i) magnetic resonance compatible AR model fabrication (dilatation, perforation, and prolapse) and (ii) systematic analysis of the performance of 4D flow MRI in AR quantification. The results indicated that the formation of the forward and backward jets over time was highly dependent on the types of AR origin. The amount of regurgitation volume bias for the model types were -7.04%, -33.21%, 6.75%, and 37.04% compared to the ground truth (48 mL) volume measured from the pump stroke volume. The largest error of the regurgitation fraction was around 12%. These results indicate that careful selection of imaging parameters is required when absolute regurgitation volume is important. The suggested in vitro flow phantom can easily be modified to simulate other valvular diseases such as aortic stenosis or bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and can be used as a standard platform to test different MRI sequences in the future.

In vitro Assessment of Aortic Regurgitation Using Four-Dimensional Flow Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Aortic regurgitation is an aortic valve heart disease. This manuscript demonstrates how four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging can evaluate aortic regurgitation using in vitro heart valves mimicking aortic regurgitation.

Aortic regurgitation (AR) refers to backward blood flow from the aorta into the left ventricle (LV) during ventricular diastole. The regurgitant jet ...