This is a quick sketch showing my interpretation of

Human-scale programmed aggregate particle that moves in response to people's movement in its process of self-assembly and deployment.

At this point, my idea for the final project is very idealistic and it has a lack of actuality in the sense of accomplishing with limited time and knowledge within this programme. I thought about other ways and methods that could bring this project together. However, I would like to stick with my ideal passway (red arrow) for now, and I will decide which passway this project should go in the process.

This is a short video of artwork titled "Ghost" by Tobias Gremmler.

I want to create something that looks like this...

"But Physical 3D version"

Particles

For the week 2 task, I wanted to model a part of my final project. Since my project is about particles I wanted to model a cell of particles. As a reference, I took one shape from Discretely assembled mechanical metamaterials from MIT the Center of Bits and Atoms. I replicated the most simple shape which is a 6 square attached together.

First I started with a box, then modified it to a plate shape. Second, I made a hollow inside using a boolean difference. Third, I made a corner part and duplicated each corner. Finally, duplicated a square frame five times, and created a particle.

Particle Movement (animation)

Also, I wanted to create an animation of what my final project aims to look like. Since I want to create aggregate particles moving in response to human movement, I simply wanted to create a model using particle function and animated character movement. First I imported a human model, then added amature bone. However, it was consuming a lot of time so I used Mixamo to automatically rig my model. Second, I added movement that is available in Mixamo to my rigged model and then imported it to my file. Third, I replicated the model and tried to turn the model into particles. However, it did not work as I thought. Those particles should move according to the rig movement instead of appearing and disappearing in the same place, and also the human model should not appear with particles. I think the particle function might be causing this problem

Key command and method I learn from this challenge.

After the personal review, I thought carefully through the questions I needed to be able to answer in order to realise the project. I wrote down a bunch of words that define my project and started to reduce them so that I could realise some keywords that define my project.

After all, the core of my final project should be Movement as Input, Movement (Output), Responsive (instant feedback), and Physical.

This is the first idea sketch. The idea is to make an architectural model that moves according to human movement.

I presented about the current state of my final project during my global review in Week 3 Computer-Controlled Cutting

Neil and the other audience gave me some nice references related to my final project. See below.

Since I had such a fun time playing with paste printing in Week 5 3D Scanning and Printing , I started to shift my final project towards it.

If the future will be like How to Make (Almost) Anything (AImost) without Making Anything (AI Recitation: Presentation given by Olivia Seow, Harvard University Amira Abdel-Rahman, MIT Center for Bits and Atoms Valdemar Danry, MIT Media Lab) , as a person who enjoys making,

I will be very bored and sad.

I saw a glimpse of the sadness and boredom when I was sitting in front of a 3D printer and just waiting to finish the job. Instead, I want to communicate with the machines. I want to collaborate and make things with the machines. I want to have fun with machines in the process of making.

So now, the ultimate goal of my final project is to dance with a 3D printer while it is printing and create a unique print piece that shows traces of the improvised collaboration.

The ideas have changed but the principle has not changed. It will always be Movement(Input) to Movement (Output), Responsive (instant feedback), and Physical. The big difference is the responsive movement will be happening during making rather than with an already-made structure.

I found the Babystep function very interesting. It is a default function that 3D printers have. It is mainly used for Z-axis adjustment for a better print finish. But to me, it is a simple example of communicating with the machine, and collaboration between humans and machines in the process of making. Moreover, the finished print piece will have traces of co-creation.

Isn't that beautiful?

Pathway

Start with simple input such as potentiometer.

Make the sysytem work with Firmware and GCode

Then try complex input such as camera sensor

Undestanding Paste Printing by making

Undestanding how to control stepper motors.

Undestanding more about 3D printer by actually making 3D printer.

Controlling motors on 3D printer by potentiometers.

As a result, I was able to paste print a piece but it was very difficult to control the printer. To make it better, Indeed to fix the things below.

• function to stop motors
• Z motor speed need tobe be slower
• X motor can move faster
• Y motor should move faster
• Slider knob at middle should be move in either of direction
• Rotational knob at lowest value should stop motor
• Nicer to have another motor for extruder

This is the outcome of 1st iteration.

This was achieved by Week 10 Machine Design. We tried using Marlin360 however we end up using Marlin for the firmware.

First I was looking into Live GCode Sending / Dynamic GCode, but I was not able to find any reference for what I imagined to do. Then I went back to my starting point which is the BabyStepping function. After researching about it a bit more, I found out that there is a Babystepping function for the X and Y axes as well. So I followed this tutorial and was able to activate the BabyStepping function and create movement while the printer was printing.

Now I needed to use the BabyStep function with a potentiometer. At first, I had no idea how I should move on because I had two different boards able to to the different things which are controlling with a potentiometer and sending GCode with firmware, but My tutor helped me understand what needs to be done.

The simple way is to connect SAMD21, which is connected to Potentiometers, and Arduino Mega2560+RAMP1.4 which has firmware, by Serial communication. This is something I learned recently from Week 13 Networking and communications

4 Weeks until Final Presentation

This is my weekly task to achive until the final presentation.

What is left to do?

Week0: Potentiometer + Firmware

Week1: Motion Capture with Seed XIAO camera sensor

Week2: Motion Capture + Firmware

Week3: Packaging

Week4: 1 min video + presentation board