Thank you! Yes, I’ve been considering either a hand pump, similar to those used for measuring blood pressure, or a mechanical pump that could be programmed to specific functions. My preferences lean towards a mechanical pump although if it doesn't work out I am happy with a hand pump. I am currently looking for pumps online. If you have any recommendations, I would greatly appreciate them.

I have also come to the conclusion that silicone can be challenging to work with. Since I still prefer to use silicone, I’ve been exploring alternative approaches. I have thought of using liquid silicone to pour into a mould, although I’m not yet sure on how to create the mould itself. Another option was to use a 3D silicone printer, which would be ideal, however, I haven’t found anyone who has one yet, and the price of the printer is out of my budget.

Although silicone remains my preferred material due to its durability and flexibility, I am open to any suggestions or alternative ideas you may have.

Great idea. It might be worth leaning further into CAD and 3D printing for this project. If you develop a printable version, educators could download and reproduce it anywhere. With newer flexible 3D-printing materials, you could prototype key components and test how they behave under different conditions. A modular approach, with printable core parts that can be swapped or upgraded, could also make the design more accessible and easier to iterate.

Peter Murphy RMIT University