World’s Smallest Nerf Gun Shoots an Ant

Mark Rober

30 Sept 202321:50

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script details an ambitious project to create the world's smallest Nerf gun, capable of firing a dart at a microscopic scale. The journey involves overcoming engineering challenges, such as assembling tiny mechanical parts and managing friction at small scales. The team at BYU, led by a renowned expert in compliant mechanisms, develops a single-part design using 3D micro printing. They set multiple world records by progressively shrinking the gun's size, culminating in a version made from DNA origami, pushing the boundaries of miniaturization and demonstrating the potential for targeted medical treatments.

Takeaways

🔧 The video documents the attempt to break the world record for the smallest Nerf gun by creating a series of progressively smaller models, culminating in a version 10,000 times smaller than a standard Nerf gun.
🎓 The project leader has an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from BYU and returns to his alma mater for assistance with the project.
🤝 The project involves collaboration with a team of BYU students and experts in the field of micro-mechanisms and compliant mechanisms.
🔬 The fundamental challenge in miniaturizing a Nerf gun is the difficulty of assembling tiny mechanical springs and hinges, leading to the innovative approach of creating a single-part Nerf gun.
🔄 Compliant mechanisms, which are flexible and bendable structures that replace traditional mechanical springs and hinges, are central to the project's success.
📚 Dr. Howell, a world-renowned expert in compliant mechanisms, provides guidance and shares insights on the advantages of using compliant mechanisms.
🏆 The team successfully develops a Nerf gun made from a single part, utilizing a metallic alloy to store energy and fire darts, achieving the goal of no assembly required.
💾 The CAD files for the mini Nerf guns are made available for free on Thingiverse, encouraging others to 3D print and create their own Nerf battles at home.
🔭 The project extends to even smaller scales, using electron microscopes and DNA origami techniques to create Nerf guns at the nanoscale.
🧬 DNA origami is used to create the smallest Nerf guns, which are 3 million times smaller than a normal Nerf gun, by folding DNA into the shape of a Nerf gun.
🎁 The video promotes CrunchLabs, a subscription service that provides build boxes with toys and educational content, aiming to inspire creativity and engineering thinking.

Q & A

What was the main goal of the project described in the script?
-The main goal of the project was to break the record for the world's smallest Nerf gun not once, not twice, but three times, shrinking it by a factor of ten each time.
What is the fundamental way a Nerf gun operates as described in the script?
-A Nerf gun operates by pulling the gray cocking mechanism back, which brings a spring-loaded piston with it until it hooks with a catch mechanism. When the trigger is pulled, it releases the piston plunger, forcing air out and propelling the lightweight foam dart.
Why was it impossible to assemble tiny mechanical springs and hinges at a human hair scale?
-It was impossible because the assembly of such tiny mechanical springs and hinges would be too intricate and complex to be practically achieved at the scale of a human hair.
What is a compliant mechanism and how does it replace springs in the Nerf gun prototype?
-A compliant mechanism is a device that derives its mechanical function primarily from the deflection of its components under load, replacing the need for mechanical springs. In the Nerf gun prototype, it was used to store energy by being flexible, eliminating the need for multiple parts and springs.
What are the advantages of using a compliant mechanism according to Dr. Howell?
-The advantages include fewer parts, lower cost, more precision, lower weight, no friction between parts (thus no wear and no need for lubrication), and built-in springs due to the material's inherent springiness.
What is the significance of the BYU (Brigham Young University) in this project?
-BYU is significant because it is where the script's narrator studied mechanical engineering and is also the place where leading research on creating tiny, bendable machines from a single part is conducted.
What was the method used to create the Nerf gun at a microscopic level?
-The method used was Photolithography followed by a process where a thin layer of iron is used as a mask to grow carbon nanotubes in a furnace with specific gases at high temperatures.
How did the team plan to store energy to fire a dart without mechanical springs?
-The team planned to store energy using a compliant mechanism, which is flexible and can store energy through deformation, eliminating the need for mechanical springs.
What is DNA origami and how was it used in the project?
-DNA origami is a technology that uses DNA as a building material to create specific shapes and structures by designing complementary DNA strands that self-assemble into the desired shape at the right temperature.
What is the potential application of the DNA origami Nerf gun concept in medicine?
-The potential application is in targeted treatments for a range of diseases by using the DNA structures as DNA-injection devices to deliver specific DNA to particular kinds of cells.
What is the purpose of CrunchLabs and how does it relate to the Nerf gun project?
-CrunchLabs offers a subscription service where subscribers receive a build box with a fun toy and a video explaining the physics behind it. The Nerf gun project serves as an example of the kind of creative and educational experiences CrunchLabs aims to inspire.

Outlines

00:00

🔧 Crafting the World's Smallest Nerf Gun

The script introduces a project to create the world's smallest Nerf gun, a significant engineering challenge. The narrator has spent a year developing this minuscule toy, which can still cock and fire a dart. The goal is to shrink the size of the Nerf gun by a factor of ten at each stage, aiming to eventually fit five of them across the width of a single human hair. The first issue addressed is the complexity of the Nerf gun's mechanism, which consists of 87 parts, 13 springs, and six hinges. The challenge is to create a functional Nerf gun using a single part without springs. The narrator visits his alma mater, BYU, to collaborate with students and experts in the field of mechanical engineering, particularly focusing on 'compliant mechanisms' that can replace springs with flexible parts made from a single piece.

05:00

🎓 Advancing with Compliant Mechanisms

The narrator discusses the concept of compliant mechanisms, which are flexible single-piece structures that can replace traditional mechanical springs and hinges. The benefits of such mechanisms include fewer parts, lower cost, precision, lower weight, reduced friction, and built-in springiness. The script details the process of designing a full-size template and then scaling it down, with the aim of creating a Nerf gun that can store energy without mechanical springs. After numerous prototypes, three designs are considered: a zigzag, a fishbone, and a final design with longer ribs for more power. The final design is made from a metallic alloy, which can store more energy and fire a dart more powerfully than a regular Nerf gun. The project then successfully sets a world record for the smallest Nerf gun, which can fire a dart a scaled-down distance, and the CAD files are made available for others to replicate the project.

10:01

🔬 Shrinking Down to Microscopic Proportions

The script continues with the ambitious task of further miniaturizing the Nerf gun, this time to a size 100 times smaller than a normal Nerf gun, using a process known as 3D micro printing. The narrator returns to BYU to work with a team in the Micro Mechanisms lab and uses a microscope to manipulate the minuscule Nerf gun. The gun is made from carbon nanotubes, a material chosen for its precision and small scale. The team successfully fires the tiny Nerf gun, marking another world record. They also discuss the possibility of creating an even smaller version, 1000 times smaller than a normal Nerf gun, and the script ends with a playful interaction with an ant, hinting at the scale of the project.

15:02

🧬 DNA Origami: The Ultimate Miniaturization

The script describes the use of DNA origami to create the smallest Nerf guns yet, this time at a scale of 10,000 times smaller than a normal Nerf gun and even further down to 3 million times smaller. The process involves using DNA as a building material, designing the shape on a computer, and then using staple strands of DNA to lock the scaffold strand into the desired shape. The DNA self-assembles into the shape of a Nerf gun at a temperature-controlled environment. The final product is so small that it requires an atomic force microscope to be visualized. The script also hints at the potential medical applications of this technology, suggesting that it could be used for targeted treatments for diseases by delivering specific DNA to cells.

20:04

🎉 Celebrating Creativity and Scientific Innovation

The script concludes with a reflection on the significance of the Nerf gun project as a symbol of the innovative and creative work being done by engineers and scientists worldwide. It emphasizes the importance of dreaming up big ideas and the courage to turn those dreams into reality, as exemplified by Jonas Salk and others. The narrator promotes the CrunchLabs build box, a subscription service that encourages creative thinking and learning through the assembly of toys, with the added incentive of a platinum ticket for a chance to visit the lab. The script ends on a hopeful note, celebrating the potential of scientific research to improve future generations' lives.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Nerf gun

A Nerf gun is a toy that shoots foam darts or balls, often used for recreational purposes such as indoor warfare games. In the video's theme, Nerf guns are central as the creator attempts to build the world's smallest Nerf gun, which is a significant engineering challenge that drives the narrative. The script mentions both the world's largest and smallest Nerf guns, highlighting the contrast and the innovative process of miniaturization.

💡Compliant mechanism

A compliant mechanism refers to a mechanical device that derives its flexibility and motion from the material's inherent properties and the design of the structure itself, rather than from separate moving parts like hinges or springs. In the video, the creator uses compliant mechanisms to replace springs in the miniaturized Nerf guns, which is crucial for the design's success at a small scale. The script describes how these mechanisms offer several advantages, such as fewer parts and no friction between moving parts.

💡Scaling down

Scaling down in the context of the video refers to the process of reducing the size of an object, in this case, a Nerf gun, to a significantly smaller scale. The video discusses the challenges of scaling down, such as the increased effects of friction and surface forces at smaller sizes. The script illustrates the concept by describing the reduction of the Nerf gun's size by factors of ten, eventually aiming to fit five of the smallest Nerf guns across the width of a single human hair.

💡Mechanical engineering

Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that involves the design, analysis, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is integral to the video's narrative as the creator, who has a degree in mechanical engineering, applies his knowledge to tackle the complex problem of creating the world's smallest Nerf gun. The script mentions the creator's visit to his alma mater, BYU, to collaborate with experts in the field.

💡Carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes are cylindrical nanostructures made of carbon atoms, known for their exceptional strength and lightweight properties. In the video, carbon nanotubes are used to construct the microscopic Nerf guns due to their ability to create incredibly small and precise structures. The script describes the process of growing these nanotubes to fabricate the minuscule Nerf guns that can be seen under an electron microscope.

💡DNA origami

DNA origami is a technique that uses the molecular properties of DNA to create various nanoscale shapes and structures. It is a form of nanotechnology that allows for the assembly of synthetic structures by folding DNA into specific shapes. In the video, DNA origami is used to create the world's smallest Nerf guns at a scale of 3 million times smaller than a normal Nerf gun. The script explains how DNA is used not just as a blueprint for biological functions but also as a material to construct intricate designs.

💡3D printing

3D printing is a process of creating three-dimensional objects from a digital model by depositing successive layers of material. In the video, 3D printing is mentioned as the method used to create the Nerf gun prototypes, highlighting its role in modern engineering and product design. The script specifies the use of an SLA (Stereolithography) printer for micro printing, which allows for much finer resolution than typical home printers.

💡Micro manipulator

A micro manipulator is a precision instrument used to manipulate or adjust very small objects, often in scientific research or micro-engineering applications. In the video, a micro manipulator is used to load the minuscule Nerf gun because of the difficulty in handling such tiny objects with regular tools. The script describes the meticulous process of using the micro manipulator to avoid damaging the delicate Nerf gun made from carbon nanotubes.

💡Photolithography

Photolithography is a process used in microfabrication to create patterns on a substrate, typically used in the manufacturing of microchips and other semiconductor devices. In the video, photolithography is part of the process to create the Nerf gun from carbon nanotubes, where a pattern is etched onto a silicon wafer. The script describes this as the first step in the two-step process of growing the nanotubes into the shape of a Nerf gun.

💡CrunchLabs

CrunchLabs is a subscription-based service mentioned in the video that provides build boxes, which include a toy and a video explaining the physics behind the toy's operation. It is designed to educate and inspire creativity and engineering thinking. The script promotes CrunchLabs as a way for viewers to learn and have fun, suggesting it as a potential gift for young people to foster their interest in science and engineering.

Highlights

Creation of the world's smallest Nerf gun capable of cocking back and firing a dart.

The ambitious goal to break the record for the smallest Nerf gun three times by shrinking it by a factor of ten each time.

The challenge of assembling tiny mechanical springs and hinges at a human hair scale, leading to the design of a single-part Nerf gun.

Visit to BYU and collaboration with Dr. Howell, an expert in compliant mechanisms, which are crucial for the project.

The second major issue of scaling down a Nerf gun is the exponential increase in friction and surface forces.

Introduction of a full-size template design that can be scaled down, eliminating the need for assembly.

Innovative use of compliant mechanisms to replace springs, allowing energy storage without mechanical springs.

Advantages of compliant mechanisms, including fewer parts, lower cost, precision, lower weight, no friction, and built-in springs.

Development of three final candidate designs for the smallest Nerf gun, each addressing energy storage and assembly challenges.

Use of 3D micro printing with an SLA printer for creating the mini Nerf gun with finer resolution.

Successful test firing of the mini Nerf gun, demonstrating its ability to fire a dart three feet.

Making CAD files for the mini Nerf gun available on Thingiverse for public use and creativity.

Further shrinking of the Nerf gun to 100 times smaller than normal, requiring the use of a microscope for assembly.

Use of carbon nanotubes to create the minuscule Nerf gun due to the limitations of traditional manufacturing at such small scales.

Successful firing of the Nerf gun made from carbon nanotubes, showcasing the functionality of compliant mechanisms at a tiny scale.

Attempt to shrink the Nerf gun to 10,000 times smaller than normal, pushing the limits of manufacturing and microscopy.

Exploration of DNA origami as a method to create an even smaller Nerf gun, utilizing the principles of DNA structure for construction.

Innovative use of DNA as a building material to self-assemble into infinitesimal Nerf guns, pushing the boundaries of nanotechnology.

Successful creation and visualization of 1.2 trillion of the world's smallest Nerf guns made entirely of DNA.

Potential applications of DNA Nerf Blasters in targeted cell treatments for a range of diseases, showcasing the broader impact of this research.

Inspirational message on the importance of creative confidence and the role of engineers and scientists in solving tough problems.

Transcripts

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Related Tags

Nerf Gun Engineering Innovation DNA Origami World Record Educational Micro Mechanisms Compliant Mechanisms 3D Printing STEM CrunchLabs