Author Archives: Danny Hinh

Soft Robots, Hard Ideas: Injection Molding Potential at a Liberal Arts College

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An example of a silicone injection molding product, showcasing the material's flexibility.

An example of a silicone injection molding product, showcasing the material’s flexibility.

You might think that silicone injection molding sounds like something reserved for manufacturing plants. Yet, here at the Williams College Makerspace, we can find ways to bring this exciting technology to life using everyday construction tools and 3D printing. This isn’t just engineering—it’s a creative exploration, turning seemingly ordinary objects like caulking guns into tools for building soft robots. At its core, a silicone injection molding project attempts to push the boundaries of what can be done in a liberal arts setting. It sees engineering as a form of art, a craft, and a discipline that invites exploration. As we work towards a silicone injection molding setup, we’re also building a community of thinkers and creators who can look at a caulking gun and see a tool for designing robots. With support, we’ll be able to take projects like these further, offering more students the chance to bridge art and science in new and unexpected ways.

By bringing injection molding to the Makerspace, we’re making a bold statement: at a liberal arts college, the sky’s the limit. Whether you’re a computer science major, a robotics enthusiast, or just someone curious about hands-on creation, this is a project where technology meets artistry and creativity knows no bounds.

Why Construction Tools in a Liberal Arts College?

At first glance, using caulking guns, mixing nozzles, and blowout adapters might seem unusual at a college better known for Shakespeare than silicone molds.

Jack Scissor Stand platform used under the mold to align it perfectly with the nozzle; prevents leaks or uneven filling.

Jack Scissor Stand platform used under the mold to align it perfectly with the nozzle; prevents leaks or uneven filling.

Yet, in our Makerspace, we’ve discovered ways to effectively combine conventional tools (i.e., wrenches, bolts), digital tools (e.g., 3D modeling and printing software), and small machines (3D scanners and printers) to explore hands-on solutions to academic problems. We are able to use these accessible tools to achieve effective results without needing expensive, industrial-scale equipment. These tools can be potent gateways into multidisciplinary learning. By blending traditional tools with advanced (or emerging) digital technologies, we encourage students from diverse academic backgrounds—ranging from studio art, history, and philosophy, to computer science—to collaborate, share perspectives, and approach problem-solving creatively. More than just crafting parts, we’re cultivating a vibrant, interdisciplinary community at Williams.

A caulking gun. This is the primary tool used to push the silicone through the cartridges and into the mold. It provides the necessary pressure for injection.

A caulking gun. This is the primary tool used to push the silicone through the cartridges and into the mold. It provides the necessary pressure for injection.

2-part Silicone Cartridges. These hold the silicone material (typically a 1:1 ratio of two parts that mix and cure into a flexible silicone).

2-part Silicone Cartridges. These hold the silicone material (typically a 1:1 ratio of two parts that mix and cure into a flexible silicone).

Static Mixing Nozzles. These ensure that the two parts of the silicone mix properly before being injected into the mold.

Static Mixing Nozzles. These ensure that the two parts of the silicone mix properly before being injected into the mold.

A blowout adapter. This tool helps clean the cartridges so that they can be reused, reducing waste and ensuring a cleaner process.

A blowout adapter. This tool helps clean the cartridges so that they can be reused, reducing waste and ensuring a cleaner process.

 

Robots with a Gentle Touch

A soft robot arm picks up a piece of celery. Credit: Soft Robotics, a Cambridge-based robotics company.

A soft robot arm picks up a piece of celery. Credit: Soft Robotics, a Cambridge-based robotics company.

Imagine crafting robots capable of gently handling fragile objects—robots that sense touch, pressure, and temperature, just like living organisms. Silicone injection molding is a fantastic way to create complex, flexible parts with incredible precision. Using a 2-part silicone system and a caulking gun, we’re designing a setup where liquid silicone is injected into a mold and cured, resulting in strong and flexible parts. By experimenting with this technology, we learn the practicalities of fabrication and expand what’s possible in soft robotics research on campus. Each part we make brings us closer to designing robots that can perform tasks with a gentle touch and responsiveness that other kinds of (rigid) robotics can’t achieve. At the core, the process is surprisingly simple yet fascinating. Imagine squeezing liquid silicone into an optimally crafted mold, where it settles and cures, creating detail with precision. It’s like utilizing a high-tech caulking gun, but with a twist—turning liquid into a finely molded solid form.

Our silicone injection molding project opens up some interesting real-world applications. For example, soft robotics has applications in healthcare by aiding minimally invasive surgical procedures and using silicone-molded tools to handle tissues carefully.

These aren’t just fascinating theoretical ideas; they’re practical innovations being explored at Williams, especially within our Computer Science Department under Professor Jim Bern. Specifically, it is intended for use in classes like CSCI 345 – Robotics and Digital Fabrication, aligning closely with Professor Bern’s research interests in soft robotics.

Harvard researchers equipped soft robotic grippers with embedded sensors that can sense diverse inputs such as movement, pressure, touch, and temperature. Credit: Ryan L. Truby/Harvard University

Harvard researchers equipped soft robotic grippers with embedded sensors that can sense diverse inputs such as movement, pressure, touch, and temperature. Credit: Ryan L. Truby/Harvard University

Researchers at Cornell University have developed a soft robotic hand with a touch delicate enough to sort tomatoes and find the ripest one. Credit: Huichan Zhao/Organic Robotics Lab, Cornell University

Researchers at Cornell University have developed a soft robotic hand with a touch delicate enough to sort tomatoes and find the ripest one. Credit: Huichan Zhao/Organic Robotics Lab, Cornell University

 

Optimization: Making The Most of Things

One of the biggest lessons was in optimization when conducting equipment research. When you’re given a budget and a task, you need to be efficient with your use of money and essentially get the most bang for your buck. In concrete terms, if you find two sets of static mixing nozzles—one that costs $45 and another that delivers the same results that goes for $15—you’d optimally pick the latter. Researching various construction tools to create a concept model of our DIY silicone injection molding device reinforced to me how impactful thorough pre-production research and budgeting can be. 

An example of a DIY Silicone Injection Molding device.

An example of a DIY Silicone Injection Molding device.

Reflection

Working on technological projects has transformed my educational journey. The Makerspace isn’t just a workshop. Here, I’ve learned that exploration, trial and error, and collaboration are as crucial as technical proficiency. By engaging with staff, faculty, and peers, my understanding of the larger world of technological innovation has deepened significantly, showing me just how powerful hands-on learning at a liberal arts institution can be.

 

Special thanks to Divya Sijwali (’28) and David Keiser-Clark, Makerspace Program Manager, for supporting this blog post!

 

Printing History: Bringing The Beaver Mill Back to Life

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Inspiration to Creation

Photo of the Beaver Mill geographical area from the Big Art Show. The material used is eucalyptus matt board, an environmentally friendly product as compared to traditional acrylic or MDF, and it was laser cut in the Science Shop on an Epilog Laser Helix machine.

Photo of the Beaver Mill geographical area from the Big Art Show. The material used is eucalyptus matt board, an environmentally friendly product as compared to traditional acrylic or MDF, and it was laser cut in the Science Shop on an Epilog Laser Helix machine.

The first time the digital blueprint of the Beaver Mill appeared on my computer screen, I could hardly imagine it becoming real. This historic site, standing quietly in North Adams, was about to transform from a mere collection of pixels into a tangible piece of art. As part of Grace Espinosa’s ’26 ARTS 222 – Critical Practice of Architecture course, our mission was bold yet simple: craft a detailed 3D printed model for the Williams College Big Art Show. Beyond being an academic project, our process and production turned out to be a dynamic intersection of art, technology, architecture, and history.

Grace, the stakeholder and driving artistic force behind this project, shared her vision clearly: “We were inspired to create a 3D printed model of the Beaver Mill to introduce in the architecture section of the Big Art Show.” She wanted viewers to vividly experience the historical site students had been exploring all semester, bringing their classroom discussions to life in a practical, memorable way.

ARTS 222, taught by Assistant Professor of Architecture and Environmental Studies Giuseppina Forte, challenges students to transform architectural spaces through innovative design interventions. Throughout the semester, students develop skills in architectural drawing, graphic design, and digital and physical 3D modeling. They also engage deeply with design strategies such as spatial hijacking and détournement, learning to rethink conventional ideas of space and time. This Beaver Mill project has become a practical demonstration of these powerful ideas.

Navigating Challenges with Creativity

This is a 3D rendering of a split-section of the Beaver Mill that we printed so as to be able to test the internal structural integrity.

This is a 3D rendering of a split-section of the Beaver Mill that we printed so as to be able to test the internal structural integrity.

Our biggest challenge? The size limitations of the Makerspace’s 3D printers. The solution was as simple as it was elegant: we used the Prusa Slicer to split the model into three parts. While this meant a careful, precise assembly with glue afterward, it allowed us to maximize scale and achieve a stunning 24-inch model. Grace noted, with satisfaction, that splitting the model “didn’t impact the final presentation much,” making this strategic decision effective in the end.

Collaboration: Art Meets Technology

This is one of three printed parts of the Beaver Mill. We printed it with "organic tree supports" that are designed to support overhanging structures (like the roof overhangs). We later removed these supports and the result was a cleanly printed section of the building.

This is one of three printed parts of the Beaver Mill. We printed it with “organic tree supports” that are designed to support overhanging structures (like the roof overhangs). We later removed these supports and the result was a cleanly printed section of the building.

Grace had never attempted 3D printing before, making the Makerspace’s role in the project essential. She described this collaboration as transformative: “Working with the Makerspace made the project possible… your facilities and technical knowledge brought the model to a much higher level.”

David Keiser-Clark, Makerspace Program Manager, explains how the Beaver Mill project perfectly embodies the Makerspace’s mission of providing practical, hands-on experience with digital fabrication. “This project directly supported the architectural course goals by giving students real-world experience in modeling and computer-aided design software,” David stated.

David firmly believes in interdisciplinary learning, emphasizing that projects like the Beaver Mill offer students invaluable skills. “Interdisciplinary collaboration encourages critical thinking and practical problem-solving skills students carry forward into their careers and lives beyond Williams,” he explained. This project perfectly encapsulated the blending of creative artistry and technical proficiency.

The Spirit of the Beaver Mill

Grace envisioned visitors observing and actively engaging with the model, appreciating the Beaver Mill’s distinctive texture and structure. The carefully chosen scale and attention to detail turned the model into an interactive experience, inspiring curiosity and exploration about the site’s potential as an artistic hub.

This is the left-most section of the Beaver Mill building with most of the external tree supports removed.

This is the left-most section of the Beaver Mill building with most of the external tree supports removed.

This is the final 3D printed object with all three sections glued together, using cyanoacrylate (CA) glue!

This is the final 3D printed object with all three sections glued together, using cyanoacrylate (CA) glue!

The Magic Moment

This is the finished Beaver Mill model, as it appeared in the Big Art Show. This model shows the post-processing acrylic painting that Grace Espinosa '26 applied!

This is the finished Beaver Mill model, as it appeared in the Big Art Show. This model shows the post-processing acrylic painting that Grace Espinosa ’26 applied!

For Grace, the project’s highlight was unmistakable: “Seeing the model printed for the first time was incredibly rewarding.” After countless hours of refining the digital design, watching the Beaver Mill physically materialize felt almost magical. This moment embodies the Makerspace spirit: turning ambitious ideas into real, tangible outcomes through creativity, technology, and collaboration.

Projects like the Beaver Mill not only captivate participants and viewers but also shape the Makerspace’s future. David highlighted that “each new project fosters deeper connections and opens doors to innovative ideas across the campus.” Events like the Big Art Show and reflecting on these stories inspire future ambitious projects, encouraging faculty and students alike to imagine what’s possible.

Reflecting on the Beaver Mill project, it’s clear that the Makerspace is more than a lab—it’s a space where creativity and technology meet, where collaboration flourishes, and where students like Grace (and myself!) can transform dreams into realities!

Who knows what we’ll create next?

Benchys on Benches and Sailors on Shelves

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The objectives of this project were to 1) build a 3D model and print from scratch to accumulate hands-on CAD and prototyping experience for future modeling and printing projects, and 2) build a practical object—in this case, shelves resting on the windowsill in the Makerspace that can contain and display Benchys—3D boat models used for calibrating and benchmarking 3D-printing performance.

First, I measured the width of the windowsill (1.5”) and dimensions of a typical 3D Benchy (2.5” x 1.25” x 2.0”). Using those measurements, I used the outline and sketch features in the Fusion 360 software to create a shelf exactly 1.5” wide that would sit flush on our windowsill.

The dimensions of the compartment needed to be slightly larger than the dimensions of the Benchy to allow for movement. So, I sketched a rectangle surrounding the perimeters of the Benchy with an additional .25” of room for the width and height to allow for “tolerance” in the geometric dimensioning. I used the “mirror” action in Fusion360 to duplicate the compartments, totaling 4×4 or 16 shelves.

(I sketched a blue rectangle with the same length and height as the Benchy: 2.5” x 2.0”. This served as a helpful tolerancing reference.)

(I used the “extrude” feature in Fusion 360 to add a width of 1.5” to the original 2-dimensional sketch, thereby transforming it into a 3D model.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upon completing the 3D model and initializing the 3D printing process, I discovered that the model’s width and height exceeded the dimensions of the standard Prusa 1 MK3S bed. To solve this problem, I could have undergone another remodeling process to fit the dimensions or sliced the prototype and printed it in four iterations. Instead, I printed the original prototype on the larger Prusa XL. Looking forward to future projects, I’ll carefully consider the geometric dimensions of my 3D models relative to the volumetric constraints of the 3D printing devices to ensure successful prints.

Special thanks to Stepher Sabio (’28) and David Keiser-Clark, Makerspace Program Manager, for assisting in the 3D printing process!