Materials For Soft Robotic Casting
We stock a range of materials for making soft robots, and there are also a number of materials you can source and use at home.
Casting Materials
In general, materials used to make soft robots belong to a family of plastics called elastomers: polymers that will stretch a large amount under stress before returning to their original shape.
Ecoflex
We have Ecoflex 00-30 and 00-50 Silicon Cure Rubber in the prototyping lab (00-50 is harder, 00-30 is softer and stretchier). This is a skin-safe silicon rubber that can be cast into 3D-printed moulds. We supply small amounts to students -- you can also source your own from Bentley Advanced Materials.
Latex
Latex can be used to make flat elastic sheets and cast structures like balloons, with very thin layered structures. It is normally dipped or spread onto a surface rather than cast in a mould. The advantage of latex is that it's very cheap! However -- be mindful that some people have a latex allergy, and be careful when using.
Alginate
Make sludge