The objective for this week is to answer the questions given so we have a better understanding of our project.

Q: What will it do?

 

A: The Fabloom 2.0 will be able to loom the designs loaded from a computer. The objective is to develop a low cost alternative to digital looms used for prototyping small textiles and ease a tool for new textile designers.

Concept brief:

 

• It has to be something relatively small, I'm thinking 40cm tall, 60cm witdh and 10 cm depth.
• It has to be low cost, something less than $300 dollars.
• It has to be easy to use, so any textile begginer can use it.
• It can be modular.

Q: Who's done what beforehand?

 

A: The closest projects to this one is http://archive.fabacademy.org/archives/2016/fablabpuebla/students/261/final-project.html made by Octavio Muñoz and https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/xy49n7/digital-loom-open-source-desktop-fabric-printer made by Pamela Liou.

 

There are also a variety of digital looms in the market but the objective of this project is to do an open source digital loom so almost anyone can access.

Q: What will you design?

 

A:

 

2D and 3D design: I will design the mechanical components, structure and the coils for the electromagnets.

 

Electronics imputs and outputs: The master and slave PCBs that will comunicate with a computer to imput the design and output the electromagnets.

 

Programming: The master and slave PCBs to make an arrangement of circuits that work together.

Q: What materials and components will be used?

 

A: I'll be using 3 and 6 mm MDF for all the structure and most mechanical components, I'll also use screws and copper wire for the electromagnets, steel balls and wires for the actuators, but most of it will be MDF.

Q: Where will they come from?

 

A: Suppliers, I intend to make this project accessible for almost any place that has basic supplies.

 

Q: How much will they cost?

 

A: For materials only:

 

• Bill of materials:

 

 

Q: What parts and systems will be made?

 

A: The structure, mechanical and electronic parts will be made in the Fablab.

 

Q: What processes will be used?

 

A: Mostly lasercut for the structure and moving parts and circuit milling.

 

Q: What questions need to be answered?

 

A:

 

• How will I fit all the electronic components in the circuit?

• How can I assemble the loom in the shortest time?
• How can I minimize the current drag from the coils?

 

Q: How will it be evaluated?

 

A: By functionallity and users approval comparing it to the existing digital looms.