Bondage & Knots
Project Team : André Kauffman, Sachin Gupta, Shamil Lallani
Prof.Achim Menges
Tutors: L. Vasey, L. Nguyen, O. Krieg T. Schwinn, B. Felbrich
The project here presented was part of a seminar which explored computational design, digital fabrication and robotic control. It’s initially development was carried out alone but was ultimately brought to maturity in collaboration with André Kauffman, Sachin Gupta and Shamil Lallani.
Having observed various methods and setups for core-less filament winding , anchoring fibres to their appropriate location without error seemed to be a part of the process that had a significant effect on production time. Addressingmethods in which this could be enhanced and improved in an investigation in alternative anchoring strategies.
In past ITKE/ICD core-less filament winding projects such as Elytra Filament Pavilion, an installation at the Victoria and Albert Museum, fibre anchoring is achieved by circling around an anchor point three or more revolutions. This process can be time consuming as the circular path is exaggerated to ensure that the anchor is not missed. The nature of the anchoring solely relies on friction to ensure that the fibre is secured.
study
Handcuff Knot
Cabestan Knot
Knotting has a long and exhaustive history of manipulating and anchoring fibres : from sailing to climbing various methods have been explored that could be applicable to this fabrication strategy.
Two criteria had to be fulfilled in determining the appropriate knot:
MID LOOP KNOT.
The current and most efficient winding fabrication strategy requires the fibre spool to remain static during winding. Access to either end of the fibre is thus not accessible during most of the winding process.
SIMPLICITY
The knot needed to be simple enough to be mechanised.
TREATMENT OF FIBRE
Most Knotting is considered damaging to fibres. However some knots make it possible for the fibres to not dramatically change directionality limiting and/or eliminating damage caused during knotting.
Two knots were identified. The first :
The handcuff knot and the second: The Cabestan Knot.
Abstraction
The sequence of tying each knot was explored in single step physical moves. The Cabestan knot was ultimately chosen as it proved the simplest to translate to basic mechanical movements once it was adapted to a mid loop knot. These steps were then translated to a primitive device and tested.
prototypes.
A series of prototypes where then developed both digitally and physically.
