Vernelle Noel's page

Friday 24th February 2012 - Modular Machine Construction System

by Vernelle Noel & Ariadne Smith

Functional Requirements

• self aligning, durable
• materials? - what types of materials are we looking at? cost, error-reducing materials
• no fasteners
• inexpensive
• self-replicating
• easy to manufacture/ fabrication
• maybe no shop bot
• laser cutting maybe easier?
• conventional materials = 80/20, plywood, MDF
• “code/protocol” for designing custom enclosures
• no true “modularity” - machines can design custom constructions, then fabricate them
• have some sort of requirement or model such that users can input dimensions and machine can create custom parts

• http://mtm.cba.mit.edu/machines/mtm_snap-lock/
• flexures

References and reading material

• Snap-Fits for Assembly & Disassembly by Tim Spahr (PDF)
• Snap-Fit Design Manual by BASF (PDF)
• Additive assembly of digital materials by Jonathan Ward
• Digital materials for digital fabrication by George A. Popescu
• Customized digital manufacturing : concept to construction methods across varying product scales by Marcel Botha
• Design modeling and fabrication of experimental apparatus for compliant mechanism education kit by Sarah E. Shivers
• requires shopbot

Alternative Methods

Concrete

• widely used and affordable material worldwide
• insert molding

• use larger-scale flexures (similar design to mtm snap)
• use real legos and secure with epoxy/other “solidifying” material

• easy-to-use molding = foamcore + concrete

• kinematic coupling + magnets (low-cost and easy to find)
• bearing blocks
• expanding shafts

1. prototype laser cut flexures
2. prototype foam core
3. concrete molding
4. prototype modular flexures
5. think about consistent form designs across all machines
1. what types of machines?
1. large: mill, loom, vinyl
2. small: laser, mill, pen
3. materials the machines will be made from?