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- Flexinol® - 0.012" Diameter (1 foot)
Flexinol® - 0.012" Diameter (1 foot)
This 0.012" Flexinol® Actuator Wires (aka shape memory Nitinol) is a one foot long piece of nickel-titanium alloy that can flex and contract when a specific amount of heat or current is applied to it and are made specifically for linear actuators to replace small motors or solenoids. If you are asking yourself "What sorcery is this?!" We assure you, this isn't magic, it's just simple science thanks to shape memory and a change between the wires weaker, low temperature form (martensitic) and its stronger, high temperature form (austenite).
When the Flexinol® is in its martensitic form, it can be formed and bent into different shapes. However, when an electrical current of ~200mA is applied to the wire, or is heated to ~100C it reverts to austenite form and recovers its previous shape with great force. Additionally, you can anneal at ~500C (use an industrial furnace or simply a lighter) it to whatever shape you would want, next once that current or heat is applied it will return to that new shape.
Note: These are the "HT" type wires.
- Length: 305mm
- Diameter: 0.30mm
- Current Required for Austenite Form: 1.5A
- Pull Force: 2.83lbs
- Resistance: 0.31 ohms/inch
Flexinol® - 0.012" Diameter (1 foot) Product Help and Resources
Core Skill: Electrical Prototyping
If it requires power, you need to know how much, what all the pins do, and how to hook it up. You may need to reference datasheets, schematics, and know the ins and outs of electronics.
Skill Level: Noob - You don't need to reference a datasheet, but you will need to know basic power requirements.
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Customer Reviews
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how much material is contracted and what is the maximum temp. that comes to have once activated?
Can you trigger flexinol to follow a motion sensor
How hot does the wire get when you apply current to it?
I've seen a few videos on YouTube where they embedded flexinol inside a dress to make it move, so it should stay relatively cool, right?
My understanding is that it reaches about 100C However, this is a very thin wire, so it should cool almost immediately after power is taken away. You may have been looking at a different kind of wire
Is it possible to set a new shape via current? What amperage would this occur at?
I just now ran 3A and was able to train it. 3A was a guess, since about 600mA seems to initiate movement (when open to the air).
yes this is possible, but i've used the flame from a candlestick (pay attention as it can burn the wire)
The "Current Required for Austenite Form:" is 200mA or 1.5A like https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11900? Thanks
SparkFun updated the site within days of me emailing them regarding it being mislabeled. It is 1.5A. I've found that I see movement (in open air) around 600mA. 1A or a bit more is required for strong actuation.
According to description, 200mA.