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DIGITAL DESIGN + FABRICATION SM1, 2015 M2 JOURNAL - Scales

Chuhan (Alex) Yao & Xiao Jing (Maggie) Hu683814 & 640996

Michelle Emma James - Tute 1

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Sketch Design Development

Using the idea orginially developed by Alex by of the overlapping scales we combined it with Alex’s spine idea as well as Maggie’s idea from M1, we combined the three ideas to form a new idea. We used the layering effect from Alex’s sketch model combined with the idea of the spine to form the linear overlapping spine idea. We also incorporated Maggie’s idea of the helment and the protection of the face into the idea. We extended the spine to run down the face of the wearing to create a piece that would deter others from coming close to the wearers face.

We also incorporated Maggie’s idea of the triangluar scale which makes the design look more angular and threatening. these scales will be attached to a central band, which attaches to the body.

Design ideas from M1 as well as representational drawing of overlapping scale effect from Alex’s sketch model

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Refined Sketch Model

We made a linear scale pattern into a “spine”. We attached a string to the tip of the triangles, when pulled the triangles lift up, this means we can make the spine stick up.

Next we made a model out of paper, a four scale. these scales are triangular pyramids that are sketched one direction.

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2nd Skin proposed design V.1

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We decided to make the triangles change in sizes to make a transition and to become more dynamic. The triangle at the neck will be the biggest one. All the wires and control panels would be embeded in this object.

And from this object, other objects go up and down in different directions, and they also become smaller and smaller while they reach the end.

The design is supposed to be attached to human body by strips that connected with the biggest object. Also, this strip also connects with the wire that control the triangles lifting up. So when the shoulders of the user moves, the triangles at the back can be controlled.

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2nd Skin proposed design V.2

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What is the concept of the precedent? [Maximum 5 key words]

Name of precedent and designer

Description of precedent

Precedent Research

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How can you use this precedent to influence your design ?

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Reference: https://app.lms.unimelb.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_281453_1&content_id=_4607194_1.

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Precedent applied to design

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Design development - Version #1

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The developed version of the design extends from spine to the whole body. We also decide to have some lights attached in the inner space of the triangles so that the user appears like a glowing person in the night, and this keeps other people away in the night and protect the personal space of the user. And because if the triangles go through the body they may restrict the movement of the joint of the user, the spaces are left out at knee so the user can move freely.

Also, patterns are added to the triangle in order to archieve a more dynamic outcome with light. Because most part of the triangles would be covered with the previous triangles, so the pattern is arranged at the top.

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Design development - Version #2

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Later we decided that the shoulder pieces were too bulky and made the wearer look top heavy. we decided to use smaller but more of these scales to produce the effect we wanted.

The upgraded version of the design adds shoulder parts to the body. Because shoulder and neck are considered as sensitive spaces where people do not want other people to get close to, this improvement enables the user to protect neck and shoulder.

And again the leg part and arm part of the design is re-moved because it is actually impratical and only restrict the user’s movement.

Diagram showing personal space.

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Prototype

Three materials tested: Foil card, quill 600gsm paper and paste board. The paste board is a different co-lour on the inside therefore has a very distinctive cut line. the foil card is too thin and doesnt hold its shape

the 600gsm paper is the best option for us. the 600gsm card looks clean.

Worbla, the thermoplastic sheet used above is a good option to provide a solid base for the scales to attach to. the ther-moplastic can be heated and shaped to the body of the wearer.

The reflective material on the inside causes the light to refract in a cool way. makes the design look more

After all the tests were done we began to make the prototype. We used mountboard as the mate-rial and used laser cutting machine in Fablab to make it. We unfold the digital model and sent it to Fablab. Then we glue them together and arrange them in order.

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Testing Effects

Battery pack hooked up to a 5mm LEDAfter testing, I realised I had forgetten to add a resistor to the curcuit.

The light of the LED gives the spine a more imtimidating apperance, there-fore acting as a form of active defe-ence. The lighting effect can be con controled by the wearer, the lighting can be dimmed, turned off or turned up to full brightness which as a warn-ing that the wearer is uncomfortable with how close another people is to him/her.

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Full sized prototype

As we started assembling our full sized prototype, we found a few problems that need to be fixed for the final assignment.

FIrstly the labeling of the pieces had not been thought through and the labeling was on the front of the piece. in hindsight, the labeling should have been on a tab so the piece can still be iden-tified but hidden. (1)

Second problem was the unnessesery tab along the bottom edge of the scale. all of those had to be cut off by hand.(1) Also we noticed after cutting of the side tabs, the centre tab was exposed as the recess of the tab wasnt high enough. (2)All of these things will be considered when constructing the final piece.

Materials:The material we had chosen was 1mm mountboard. But during construction, on a large scale the mountboard, while ridge was not durable enough.and layers of the mountabord began to separate. (3)

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Construction and design flaws. as we were constructing the de-sign, we noticed that the system in which we designed to lift the scales is flawed. the diamond centre back piece inhibits the scales from lifting up as it doesn’t fold up. (5)We designed a new centre back piece which can fold both ways with the scales (6)

Another problem we encounted is that the top scales won’t stay up against the back. (7)

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Curcuit for wiring the spine. Image and circuit design by John Reading.

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Finished full sized prototype