New Textiles 2012 » Final Project Update

Paper Locomotion

Yoav — Thu, 10 May 2012 03:40:40 +0000

Hello!

I am thinking of changing my project (but I am not sure yet), so I was doing some experiments and models.
First, I tried to cast silicone over Nintanol. I laser cut acryl to make the mold and casted silicone over the components.

as you can see, nothing happened

The next thing I was trying to do is to elevate a piece of paper. Underneath the paper were 4 Nithanol wire, and pads that are being used as capacitive sensors. When you put your hand above the a corner of the paper it elevates. When you move your have it drops down.

Finally, I made a turtle (continuing the caterpilar project). the idea was to make it walk. There where partial sucesses and I think I can get in to work with some modifications.

Light Fixture – Project Update

gracie15 — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:45:06 +0000

For my project so far I went through a few different phases of deciding what the shape of my hanging light fixture/chandelier would look like. I experimented with hanging small flowers made from coffee filters to a small piece of cardboard using some conductive thread and LEDs as a test. I wanted to see what the feasibility of designing this with flowers dangling in a free form structure would be. I considered using wire to make this more stable but it ends up that this was not going to turn out how I envisioned and would not look very polished. I also am thinking the LEDs would be difficult to attach to such a loose structure.

I also have purchased some metallic silver cardstock to use for the flower structures.

Here are samples of what I tested out using the Arduino, conductive thread and a test flower:

Instead of this I have opted to create a spherical base structure now with the help of Jennifer’s codeable objects program and use copper tape to attach the LEDs. I will be attaching a flower structure similar to this but will not be using a hanging lightbulb:

This is the base structure I created using the Codeable Objects:

I have started to test out laser cutting the parts for the spherical structure. I wanted to start small before I laser cut the real pieces. I also worked with Jennifer to find out what the maximum size I could achieve with the codeable objects parts would be and she supplied me with some updated code that allows for larger components.

Here is an image of what I tested out using the laser cutter:

I also learned how to use the blade saw in the lab so that I can work with a larger piece of wood.

My plan for then next few weeks:

Cut the base structure using the laser cutter
Laser cut the flowers
Attach all the flowers and LEDs to the base.
Program the LEDs using Arduino

Interactive Felted Landscape – process: knit + wireless sensor networking

yihyun.lim — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:22:14 +0000

Taking the idea of a felted 3d landscape, I decided to incorporate the capacitive sensor and wireless xbee connection to the felted piece, and use Processing to translate the received data into sound.

Capacitive Sensor:

Wireless Sensing: Arduino FIO + XBee

Tests:

Ruled Surfaces/ String Sculptures

Vernelle Noel — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:15:52 +0000

Final Project Update

I plan to do a string sculpture or sculptures for my final project.. Below are images of where I am thus far… I have made a 6″ x 6″ structure in which to make string sculptures, and another large one that is approx. 24″ x 12″. I have lost some photos I only now noticed.. But this is more or less where I am thus far.

Magnetic Silicone Screen Update

daniela — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:12:13 +0000

My final project is a screen made of cast silicone that has two main properties. First, it is embedded with magnetic material, and second, its form is such there are slits where the material is very thin and the slits have the ability to open into larger apertures if the adjacent slits are pulled back. Combined, these two properties allow the screen to modulate based on the position of an array of exterior magnets. The exterior magnets will be on a system of rotating rods that can be individually controlled to change which apertures are open or closed.

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

Extension Rock_Update

nwp — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:00:25 +0000

The first iteration of the Extension Rock was completed with 2 100′ lengths of Nylon Braided roap. The weaving pattern was a standard underover warp and weft procuding what some call the Bumble Bee Cover. At first, the weave was extremely taught and didn’t allow for the desired ergonomic depression depression. After we had some larger people sit into it, the rope stretched into position some for a very comfortable sitting surface.

Since the chair is on two bi-directional rails it is dependent on your legs to balance. My roommate said the felt like she was floating in a pool, as though she was boyant. Others tried multiple ways of sitting in it pushing the limits as to how it can be used. Shown below are we show perpendular and diagonal.

Next I plan on using cotton rope to weave different patterns like this which is commonly used for wicker
<
For the final iteration I plan to weave a 100′ extension cord warp for a plug-in chair and an ethernet cable weft for internet access.

Final Project Update

bijal — Tue, 08 May 2012 05:13:01 +0000

Tomorrow, I will begining working on cutting the fabric for my final project. To date, I have accomplished the following:

1. Generated and modified the vornoi diagram which will be used for the upper part of the dress:

2. Created an adobe illustrator file of the scallops that will also need to be lasercut

Initially I planned on transferring all of the pattern pieces into illustrator and cutting the pattern pieces using a laser cutter. Although I was very excited about this option, it proved to be super time consuming and I wasn’t able to make sure the dimensions were completely accurate. Given this, I decided to only use the lasercutter for the cutting the vornoi and scallop patterns.

3. Bought and studied the pattern that will be used to make the dress

4. Bought both pink and black polyester/cotton blended fabric to use for the dress, as well as a 22in zipper

5. Bought a 3.7V Polymer Lithium Ion Battery for Which I’m waiting for delivery

6. Acquired (from the Lab) nitinol which will provide a strong pull then before. Based on the voltage I will need the following current to flow through the nitinol:

Next Steps:

1. I will cut the fabric based on the patterns and get more information about booking the large laser cutter.

2. I will begin to test the flexinol on small pieces of fabric to see how it reacts

3. I will use double-side fusible on pieces of fabric that will then be laser cut into the vornoi and scallop designs and then cut then into the appropriate pattern shapes as well

4. I will then stitch the dress together

5. I will attached the nitinol to the appropriate places and then build out the circuit with a touch sensor as the on/off switch.

[update] talking bunnies

lefroyobunny — Tue, 08 May 2012 05:05:05 +0000

My final project is in full swing right now. There have been many challenges toward completing this project that I’m working to overcome. At the current stage of my project, I’ve accomplished several things.

1. I am able to connect my Wiflys to the internet, and it is able to get information from websites.

In my initial projet plan, I predicted that the setup of the Wifly will take the most time, and I was correct. The setup of the wifly has been the meat of the project thus far. It has been a source of headache for weeks, but I was finally able to configure it correctly and receive a positive behavior last week. The documentation of the wifly can be found on the Sparkfun website, scroll down and click on “Reference Guide (RN-131C)”. I always reference documentation whenever I work on a coding project. However, I found the Wifly documentation to be too technical and I didn’t understand a lot of the protocols it describes. Nonetheless, I was able to get my Wifly into AdHoc mode by following the steps described in section 15 of the reference guide. Even though getting into AdHoc mode is one step closer to what I want to be able to do, it is not sufficient. For example, having both wifly be in adhoc mode, I can sent and receive with both modules when they are within a certain distance, but not if one is across the country from the other. My ultimate goal is to get them both to connect to a wifi network.

Next, I went to Sparkfun and tried to go through the Wifly Talking Speaker Jet tutorial. Again, I ran into problems. It turns out that the code in the Wifly Serial Library is not optimized for the Arduino 1.0 software, the newest update. If you wish your code to compile on the newest Arduino software, please download this package, and put it in your Arduino library. In that package, you will find a version of the Wifly Serial Library that I edited to be compatible with the new Arduino 1.0 software. I found this guide from Cairo Hacker Space helpful in configuring the wifly. The code that he has on the website does not compile, but the setup instructions are correct.

I was still running into a lot of problems because I can not get my wifly to talk to the Arduino. This is because I am not able to configure the UART chip on the wifly. By this time, I am nearing the end of the time I allotted to setup/configure the wifly on the initial timeline. So, I asked Leah for help. With her help, I am finally able to configure the UART and allow my Arduino to talk to the wifly. Here is the code that configures the UART chip. Next, I ran the ”getWebClient” sketch in the Wifly Serial Package. See this video for the behavior.

This means the wifly works! It shows that it can get the html of the google home page. If you have a website, change “google.com” in line 14 to your site url and it will pull the html of the index page and display it in the serial monitor.

To make it easier to use, I’ve soldered headers onto the wifly so that it can be plugged into the arduino pins.

Here is a scan of my circuitry system as of now. It may get more complicated if I need to input more sensors.

2. I have finished knitting my two stuffed bunnies. I ran into all the problems that a beginner knitter would run in to. Luckily, Emily is willing to offer her expert knitting tips. Right now, the bunnies are knitted, but I have not closed the top of the heads because I am still making sensors to embed into them.

3. Currently, I am working on creating an online database to manage signals from one bunny and send it to the next.

I created a scripts account from SIPB (hylinlin.scripts.mit.edu), and I am using phpMyAdmin co-currently. Right now, I am learning PHP at a rather sped-up pase from web3schools.com. The idea is shown in the below diagram.

There are still many things I need to do to make the project successful.

1. Make the sensors.

I will make pressure sensors (ears) , stroke sensors (head) , and a capacitance sensor (body) for each of the stuffed animals (inputs). The outputs will be sound (speakers) and light (LEDs) on the respective stuffed animals. Currently, I am also working on embedding a speaker into the stuffed animal. The media has to be down-graded to a 8bit mono-sound. I am following a tutorial from the High-Low Tech group called Simple Arduino Audio Examples.

2. I need to calibrate the sensors so that they perform logically.

3. I need to test out the entire system once I have created the SQL database.

4. I need to come up with a way to store all the sensors and the arduino/wifly so that the stuffed animal is still a stuffed animal.

Project Update

anasto — Tue, 08 May 2012 03:52:30 +0000

My plan is to make a dress with fabric origami panels that will be actuated with nitinol to create the illusion of breathing. I will make two panels for the front of the bodice of the dress. To add to the theme of respiration, I will add laser cut voronoi lace to the skirt of the dress to emulate the voronoi patterns of alveoli, which are hollow structures in lungs that allow for optimal gas exchange with their large surface areas.

I purchased fabric and a battery that will be appropriate for my project. I trained nitinol that I ordered from McMaster by wrapping nitinol wire around screws and heating them in the furnace to create spring shapes. I will use these nitinol springs to move my origami fabric pieces.

I experimented with cotton fabric and a starching process to create stiff fabric origami. First, I laser cut the origami pattern with dashed lines onto the fabric.

Then, I folded the fabric along the dashed lines and sewed the folds in place. I made my own starching solution by dissolving cornstarch in cold water, then adding boiling water. I dipped fabric in the solution and let it dry until barely damp. Then, I used an iron to press folds in place and set the starching. I was satisfied with the result and will use this type of fabric and technique for my garment panels.

These are the remaining steps to complete my project:

Create the pattern for the dress and figure out appropriate dimensions for lace pieces and nitinol actuated panels.
Laser cut lace and origami pieces.
Stitch and starch origami pieces.
Cut and sew dress from the fabric I purchased.
Iron on lace pieces.
Add origami panels with circuitry.

I will complete the first three bullet points this week, and the last three bullet points next week.

Final Project Updates

buechley — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:22:16 +0000

Due: Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Post an update on your progress toward your final project. The post should include:

A paragraph or two describing your current project plan.
Photos, sketches, and videos documenting your progress to date.
A list of what remains to be done.
A timeline describing your work plan for the rest of the semester.

Add your post to the Final Project Update category.