A pneumatically actuated, Arduino powered, proportionally dividing glass tube grooving machine
This machine was designed to impart evenly spaced annular indentations along glass tubes of varying diameter and length.
Using a scissor mechanism allows the spacing between actuators to always be proportional, regardless of length of tube.
The Arduino powered control box sets the timing of the pneumatic cycles, and interval between them.
The actuator head comprises two pneumatic slides, one which moves the torch, and one the grooving wheel.
Fine tuning is effected via a worm screw which sets the front/back aim of the torch, a linear slide which moves the torch horizontally on dovetail joints, and the torch height is controlled by the torch bracket clamp itself.
A bracket I machined holds the valves governing the natural gas and concentrated oxygen flows
Supercut of the machine in action
Various images of machine development and production prototypes
