Author Archives: negrm581

Motion project – Raw Steak by Dylan

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This little project was inspired by old cartoon animations of a steak, so raw, that it’s still “living” enough to run away from the individual that is trying to cook it.  I cut slits into the cardboard to allow it to bend more easily in the way intended. The move meant reminded me of the cartoon steak almost instantly, but also could represent things like a rolly polly bug.

I wanted to hook this up to a potentiometer through Arduino but I was having difficulty trying to connect the circuit up correctly…

 

Dylan – wooden speakers

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I attempted to make 3 different kinds of speakers using the same format for my project. I made these blocks on the tables saw to cut the grid like shape into the surfaces.

The first  (top left), I used conductive ink and painted it in a spiral pattern between each of the grooves. However, the ink was hard to manage and would bleed over into other paths making it difficult to keep from shorting my fuse. I tested this one and I’m not sure if it is shorting somewhere or it is too quiet to hear.

The second piece I made (bottom), was using copper tape. I spiraled it around using the grid blocks once, until I realized that I could make a second spiral along the opposite side of the channel. Theoretically this could function as 2 speakers but I only tested it as 1. This one does make a sound if you listen very closely, but not very good quality.

The last speaker I made (top right), I used conductive thread. I managed to wrap the thread once around each individual block on the grid before moving to the next one. To my surprise, when I tested this one, it made the loudest and most clear sounds of the three. However, It was still very quiet…

 

The wood that I used was 3/4 of an inch thick, which seemed a lot for a magnet to reach through, so to compensate for that I cut pockets in the center of each of the speakers to try and allow the magnets to get closer to the face. Unfortunately this only made them slightly more audible.

Although none of the speakers are not as loud as I’d hoped, I found the project to be interesting and learned that it is not so simple to make a speaker from wood, but they are kind of pretty! 😉

Dylan – Learning a new craft: assignment 5

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If I were to describe myself in a few choice words, some of those would be: Maker, craftsperson, designer, artist, student, teacher, gamer, athlete and poet.

As someone who has worked as a sculptor and then a carpenter, I have used many tools… so choosing one is a controversial subject for me. However, for me, one of the most useful tools is the sliding table saw! The reason being is that it is capable of squaring up any odd shaped board.

For this week, I have finally tried something that I’ve always wanted to try my hand at. I learned to use the wood turning lathe! I have a pretty comprehensive background in wood working but the lathe is one things I have just never gotten a chance to work with. During my undergrad, the school was extremely protective over who was allowed to use the lathe and the professors would tell horror stories of the worst (although rare) tragedies; so it goes without saying I found having the opportunity to learn, more trouble then its worth.

Anyway, I began by watching a few tutorials online so that I would have at least a vague sense of what I was getting myself into before walking into the wood shop. I knew that the lathe is a tool that makes square or a-symmetrical pieces of wood into round pieces. So the easiest thing to do firstly is to shape my material to be as round as possible before putting it on the lathe. I had a square block of wood and used the table saw to cut 45 degree angles on each corner to make it into an octagon. Once done, I centered and locked into place the block of wood onto the lathe. When I switched on the lathe, the machine made a powerful hum as the motor began to turn the material. Then I began to cut the piece with a rough gauging chisel that needs to engage the material just below the center and at a slight angle.

As I was workng with my first piece, I began to wonder to myself, why have I been afraid of this thing for so long?? Using the lathe reminded me of both working on the potters wheel or glass blowing. The main difference is that wood turning is strictly a subtractive process rather then additive. I think its safe to say that I plan on working with the lathe more in the future!!

Below are two pieces that I ended up with. The one on the right was my first piece where I was trying to get comfortable with using the machine. The one on the left however, I tried to get more intricate with what kinds of shapes I could get. I am absolutely interested in revisiting this tool to experiment with more advanced techniques in the future.

Week 3 – Switches & Sensors!

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Disclaimer: For week 3 project, I was under the impression that I needed to create four different switches… after I finishes someone mentioned that we were meant to create four of the same type of switch or pressure sensor. That said, Here are my four switch projects! ~~~

For this set of switches, I was trying to create a set of individual buttons that, when pressed, would light up a corresponding light! Also, I wanted each button press to be satisfying to the touch for the user. So I used conductive fabric and cardboard to make the buttons easier of the fingers! I also used a thick piece of foam to allow for greater travel when pressing down on the button. FEELS GREAT! 🙂

 

Project 2:

Next project, I wanted to create another series of individual switches. However for this set, I wanted to do this with pull switches that required a sliding motion!

 

Project 3:

My third project is a resister made with copper tape and Popsicle sticks with a resistive fabric in between. The crossing pattern is also an attempt to control the level of current that can be passed from the positive panel to the negative.

 

Project 4:

The last switch I’ve made is based on the old, Ball and Cup Game. The cup has a negative current while the ball is connected to the positive with a conductive string. Once the ball lands inside of the cup it completes the circuit and the light turns on, give the player extra satisfaction for achieving their goal!

Project 1 – Circuit – Narrative

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For my project, I recalled a memory I have from my childhood. I took a trip with my mother just outside of Canton, Massachusetts and stayed at a bed & breakfast; there was a lovely garden in the backyard with a forest as its backdrop. At night, when we looked outside the window from our bedroom, the garden has be completely draped in darkness. Through the darkness we could hear the sounds of what seemed like hundreds of crickets chirping and frogs croaking. Drawn by the sounds, we looked outside and could see that the entire yard was sparkling with what must have been hundreds of lightning bugs! For me, it was a fantastical experience as a child.

First Step of my process was to create the assets for my scene. I decided to draw my creatures by hand with colored pencil instead of making them on the computer because I wanted them to have more of personal aesthetic.

Next I had to cut out each of my pieces. I wanted to put them on a darker background so that my elements would have a more striking contrast from the background.

Next I needed to plan out my circuitry and the mechanism for the switch that would short circuit the lights, turning them off.

I wanted to somehow incorporate the copper tape because I feel that it is aesthetically beautiful and that it is a shame to hide it completely. So my solution for this was to use it as a kind of branch or bush limb that one of my lightning bugs would be resting on.

Here is a short video of the project:

Week 1: Inspirational project

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Lilytronica – Afroditi Psarra – 2013

The most fascinating aspect of this project for me is the interface that was created for this project. As textiles alone, these controllers are visually compelling to me. It’s interesting because it could look like anything, it might as well have been just a jumble of sensors on the fabric and it would still serve the same functionality, but Afroditi decided to make things as though they are recognizable instruments such as the piano. I’m less interested in the sound aspect of the project but I really can appreciate that these controllers can be folded up neatly and take out without being too cumbersome.

-Dylan