Open source hardware: from fibers to fabric

This week the class focuses on the evolution of techniques, tools and machines to create traditional fabrics.

Take advantage of digital manufacturing and open source technology to create a machine to weave and invent new techniques.

First I was practicing different techniques by hand to be able to see the technique and thus to think how a knitting or crochet needle has to move in a machine.

We worked as a group and decided to hack a machine made with floppy disk drives from a computer that was made to draw in the Fablab and convert it to sew.

We shared the work, I was in charge of cutting with the laser a mini frame and printing a piece to hold the needle well.

Observe the movement of the needle.

I have to change the base and leave a space so that the needle can penetrate the fabric, I cut a mini frame in the laser and some small pieces to give it height.

Use DM of 3mm

Parameters:
Speed: 20
Power: 90
Frequency: 5000

Then I printed a new needle holder.

1. Design in Rhinoceros with the curves tool
2. Convert curves to surfaces, for this select “surfaces” and flat curves.
3. Separate surface curves
4. Convert surface to solid, for it select “solid” and extrusion of straight surface.
5. Separate surface to solid.
6. To make the holes for the screw we create a circle with the size of the screw and follow the previous steps.
7. We put the cylinder in the piece and make a Boolean difference.

Finally we fit it in the needle.

The final result is good, the base looks good and the 3D printed piece fits perfectly.