1. Proposal
My final project will be focused on the design of a home – office solution in the form of a desk that will reduce the amount of power wires for desk and other personal portable devices. The idea behind is to create a simple do it yourself system, in which the furniture works as a main hub for home office tasks involving digital devices like laptops, tablets, smartphones and other simpler functional objects such as chargers, cameras and lighting devices.
The proposal is designed to be built in a FabLab environment to make use of their digital fabrication technologies, in a total or partial way. This means that the base / core furniture (Table – desk) can be made first, using a FabLab resources or it can be partially made with regular woodshop tools that can be complemented with CNC and other digital techniques according to the user budegt and needs.
2. Scalable stages / progression
In this case, the core part of the system is a desk with a built in microcontroller, that can manage other devices. In this initial stage the microcontroller will be managing the electric power sent to an induction charging device to recharge wirelessly, different electric and digital devices over the desk. For this purpose, the MCU placed under the desk, will be associated to a sensor that will detect the presence of the device placed in a seamless – flush charging surface. This charging surface will have the sensor and the charging inductive coil beneath it.
The basic unit will have only one recharging station, but further charging modules can be added by routing the openings on the desk to accomodate its enclosures.
Initially it can accomodate simpler desk objects such as lighting, fans. The user can later fabricate and/ or add more complex devices.
3. Development
The project will be developed in 3 main areas:
A. Design exploration and development of a basic structure to be made in commercially available wood presentations, such as plywood and solid structural poles in different sections. These parts can be designed to be milled in CNC routers or in more affordable versions using regular wood shop tools.
B. A system of 3D printed joints that can be parametrized to accomodate different structural wooden poles sizes, to be assembled preferably, without the need of nails and screws. These joints will be designed taking advantage of FFF / FDM technology because of its availability and replicability.
C. A group of integrated electronic devices that can be made at FabLabs, consisting (at least.) of a purposely made microcontroller unit, sensors, switching devices and a basic emmiting and receiving inductive unit wit its charging and receiving coils.