Assignment: plan and sketch a potential semester project
What I would like to do for the semester project is a CNC machine. I am really interested in to understand how it works, from hardware to software, but not only using the (pro) machines that the FAB Lab already has, I would like to understand how it works in order to modify it, to build a new ones. A CNC it's a machine controlled by a computer, at the end, a machine, a tool. I prefer to master my skills of controlling, using and modifying tools during my stay at the FAB Academy than just make things. Making things come later.
My idea for the CNC is to control physical interfaces, more specifically, touch interfaces. The next video illustrates that.
Obviously this video it's just a quick joke. Technically, there is only one servo repeating the same operation again and again and again. My intention is to build a three axis machine to control position (x, y) and touch (z). During the process I would like to play with different inpunts to control position (not only by commands) like buttons, voice, EEG headset... and even see if it's possible to replicate special touch events like pinch, zoom or others that involve more than one finger.
Next, some references to keep in mind along the way.
My main reference is a robot invented and co-designed by a 12 year old girl. WaterColorBot is flat, the movement of the brush is similar to the z-movement I am looking for the "touch", has a nice assembly and don't seem expensive to build.
The project Blind Self Portrait by Kyle McDonald it's also a great reference.
How can we interact with a touch device without a real-time processing of the image that is appearing on the screen? Recording paths. The next project paints, literally, the physical interaction that we have with a multitouch device, while playing the Angry Birds game. Love Evan Roth works, Level Cleared beneath.
And other CNC projects, including DIY using unexpensive materials (1, 2, 3, 4).
