As a continued exploration of my studies in embedding magnets in silicone along with the experiment of casting silicone into a folded structure, I propose a screening device that is either manually controlled through physical interaction with the embedded magnets or electronically controlled through a sensor-based interaction.

The actuation I hope to achieve is one that controls the opening of the slits created by the depth (and angle) of the original valley of the folded mold and the amount of silicone on the crease of the ridge. I can experiment with both the type of fold for the mold and the extent to which the structure is folded or unfolded when I cast into it. The main application I envision for this screening device would be an alternative to traditional curtains and blinds. This system would allow for diffuse light through the silicone and more precise control of the open and closed states through the individual or group control of the apertures. Beyond an application on windows, the system could also be envisioned as a freestanding piece that functions as a variable screen between spaces that also has the ability to precisely control its apertures and allow diffuse light through.
PRESENTATION SLIDES

PROCESS
MOLD:

EMBEDDING IRON:

CASTING SILICONE:

MAGNET RODS:

FRAME CONSTRUCTION:

FINAL SILICONE PIECE:

FINAL CONSTRUCTION

IN ACTION!

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Currently, I’m trying to determine the best scale for the project…a large enough array to get a sense of the object as a screen, but not too large to make it unfeasible.

PROCESS IMAGES:

Basic mock-up of design:

Experiments in embedding silicone with iron powder:

Trimmed silicone:

Testing the silicone with magnets:

Mock-up of the rotational device:

DIAGRAMS:

Casting Method 1:

Casting Method 2:

Full Assembly:

PLAN OF ACTION:

this week:

- mill test MDF surface

- test best method of embedding iron (innie versus outie pocket)

- mill final MDF surface

- cast iron-embedded-silicone

next week:

- construct plexi frame

- assemble wire and magnet elements

- final assembly

For the embroidery, I decided to make a series of turtle paths that formed different geometric shapes: a square, a triangle, a hexagon, and a circle (approximated as a many sided polygon). I then wanted to make mini cushions that were cut out into the corresponding shape. I only managed to finish one of the cushions (the hexagon) because I ran out of time on the machine and had to hand sew the cushion construction, which took much longer than expected.

Turtle shapes:

Test run:

Embroidering!

Embroidered!

Final cut outs:

Cushion!

PART 1:

Attempt 1:

Botched the cast-off

But the knit was pretty nice.

Attempt 2:

Experimenting with a different yarn, trying to find a good tension…

I found that less tension (around 7) worked better for this particular yarn.

I was almost successful, but dropped a stitch while casting off (didn’t notice until i had finished casting off).

//

PART 2:

In researching knitting patterns, I happened upon an image of this cute crocodile scarf:

…and I fell in love with the texture. The texture was achieved using something called a tuck pattern.

According to this website, a tuck pattern is defined as:

Tuck is a structural pattern that appears on the wrongside. You can make tuck knitting by putting those needles in idling position that are to be “tucked”; thereby, the threads settle over them, and when you activate the needles again, these threads are fixed by the next row. There must not be several tucked threads next to each other.

This is the pattern for the knitting machine:

//

Set Russell levers on carriage to position I (hold)

Starting with 3rd needle from the left edge, pull every 6th needle to hold position.

Knit 4 rows

Set russell levers on carriage to position II (knit)

Knit 2 rows

Set Russell levers on carriage to position I (hold)

Starting with 6th needle from the left edge, pull every 6th needle to hold position.

Knit 4 rows

Set russell levers on carriage to position II (knit)

Knit 2 rows

//

My sample:

Front:

Back:

As a continued exploration of my studies in embedding magnets in silicone along with the experiment of casting silicone into a folded structure, I propose a screening device that is either manually controlled through physical interaction with the embedded magnets or electronically controlled through a sensor-based interaction.

The actuation I hope to achieve is one that controls the opening of the slits created by the depth (and angle) of the original valley of the folded mold and the amount of silicone on the crease of the ridge. I can experiment with both the type of fold for the mold and the extent to which the structure is folded or unfolded when I cast into it. Another source of inspiration is the paper packaging material that achieves material properties beyond standard sheet material by a pattern of slits that allow the paper to expand and create a more flexible and protective barrier for whatever you are packaging (the stretched state resembles a honeycomb pattern).

The main application I envision for this screening device would be an alternative to traditional curtains and blinds. This system would allow for diffuse light through the silicone and more precise control of the open and closed states through the individual or group control of the apertures. Beyond an application on windows, the system could also be envisioned as a freestanding piece that functions as a variable screen between spaces that also has the ability to precisely control its apertures and allow diffuse light through.

PDF PRESENTATION

For this assignment, I decided to study a few images that had compelling gradients to see how it translated into packed circles. Once I prepared the images, I then played around with the radii range and the spacing offset of the circles (to make is possible to laser cut) until I got a lace-like pattern that revealed or implied the original gradient in the image.

I also experimented with a few different materials (rice paper, mylar, vellum, opaque and translucent styrene (?)).

RICE PAPER:

LAYERING:

VELLUM:

MYLAR:

LAYERING TRANSLUCENCY:

WHITE STYRENE:

TRANSLUCENT STYRENE:

EVERYTHING LAYERED:

With this assignment, I wanted to recreate a similar effect by embedding the magnets in silicone.

First I made a mold by laser cutting plexi and stacking it to get the inverse of what I wanted in the silicone:

Next, I cast silicone into that mold. Once cured, I removed the piece and inserted small spherical magnets into the pockets left behind by the mold.

I then used another plexi mold (without the raised points) to cast another thin layer of silicone on top of the piece embedded with the magnets and trap the magnets within the silicone.

Finally, I made a plexi frame to suspend the silicone/magnet piece vertically, allowing me to deform the surface freely from either side with an external magnet.

In action:

Another experiment with casting silicone:

I made the previous silicone piece by casting into the diamond pleated structure from last week (folded in mylar instead of paper):

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nitinol un-sprung:

nitinol sprung:

diamond pleat folded structure:

nitinol spring inside:

after applying heat:

wiring to lilypad:

mosfet setup:

switch:

setup in progress:

So far it works with a heat gun….

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Lonely mitten:

My hands get super cold when biking, which is why I used to turn to this pair of mittens to keep my fingers happy. But with one mitten lost and this assignment in mind, I decided to test out an idea of embedding LEDs in the mitten to both act as an extra headlight and to call extra attention to my turn signals. My goal for the sensor was to calibrate it for various lighting modes, including fully lit LEDs with maximum pressure, blinking LEDs with less pressure, and a looping blink pattern when signaling to turn. For this purpose, I decided to make a sensor that could function as both a pressure sensor and a bend sensor (pressure for when you hold the handlebar and bend for when you signal).

Sensor:

Initial sensor testing:

MEASURING RESISTANCE:

Resting: 55-65 kΩ

Active: 1.8 kΩ

CALCULATING VOLTAGE (if internal pull-up resistor is ~35 kΩ):

Resting:

I = V/R

I = 3.6 V/(55 kΩ + 35 kΩ)

I = 0.04 mA

V= I*R

V= (0.04 mA)(35 kΩ)

V = 1.4 mV

Active:

I = V/R

I = 3.6 V/(1.8 kΩ + 35 kΩ)

I = 0.098 mA

V= I*R

V= (0.098 mA)(35 kΩ)

V = 3.4 mV

MEASURED VOLTAGE:

Resting: 0.8-1.0 mV

Active: 1.9-2.2 mV

I integrated the Lilypad into the inside of the top part of the mitten using felt and snaps:

I then sewed in the LEDs following the existing pattern on the top of the mitten:

In process:

Testing the sensor for range of values:

Writing the Arduino code:

Finally, I sewed the sensor into the palm of the mitten:

Mitten in action:

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Since the thread needs to carry at least 100mA of current to change the ink’s color and the battery is 3.7 volts, we know that the thread will need to have a resistance of 37 Ω (R = V/I).

Using the multimeter to test the voltage and resistance:

the voltage of the battery: 3.6 volts

the resistance in the trace from battery to switch: 13.2 mΩ

the resistance in the trace from switch back to battery: 9.6 mΩ

total resistance: 22.8 mΩ

So…

I = V/R

I = 3.6 V/  22.8 mΩ

I= 157.9 A

(measured current:  119.3 – 133.4 A)

THE PICNIC:

My initial idea for the fabric was to create a system that would change from solid to checkered when turned on.

However, my first attempt to create a circuit was unsuccessful. I didn’t test the resistance through the length of thread before sewing and I quickly realized that the battery wouldn’t be able to power the circuit.

Sketch:

Setting up: