Post 14 - Realization of Chair

From Tuesday through Thursday Em and I put in a large amount of hours to bring what was only a 1/3 scale model into reality. We made sure to create test CNC pieces focusing on the joinery used (dog bones), which helped in calculating the tolerances that we used in the final product.

  We went to Home Depot and made sure to get enough material in case something uncertain occurred we would have a back up. Two 4 by 8 boards were more than enough – when we returned Frankie aided in us cutting one in half that we then used to create the test pieces. Once we determined the model was right the CNC was in use so we had additional time to continue exploring negative area designs within the chair.

While the parts were being cut from the 4 by 8, Em and I immediately began sanding edges and rounding corners in order to reduce in the amount of time wasted in waiting. In the middle of cutting out the drill was knocked off of its zero which rendered the later half of the board useless. We asked Fred for some help and advice on whether or not the additional boards were salvageable he suggested not. But once we cut out the front half we decided to attempt to cut out the later half. Em did an awesome job operating the CNC and recreating the zeros in order to salvage the additional side of the board for the chair - that alone saved us hours. Before the marathon cutting was over all of the boards besides 3 were completely sanded as well.

One the pieces were free I worked on finishing the sanding for the last 3 boards and 1 side panel practicing the assembly with Calvin’s aid. Although the pieces were easily assembled prior to painting, once additional coats were applied it became very difficult to assemble while not using the aid of a mallet.

I’m glad to have worked with Em, her and I reached a good medium and balanced out and kept each other in check.

Week 5 - Finger Splint Ideations

SPLINT IDEATIONS

The purpose of this first post is to display a collection of pictures along with comments revolving around functionality, style, inspiration, analyzation, and other various possibilities, preparing the initial variations of prototypes for Project 2.

Assignment plot - design a finger splint design for a burn victim's finger - keep in mind materials, comfort, wearers specifications and practicality in material and assembly.

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Examples of pre-existing splints.

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Questions to ask & the Subject

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The subject that we are focusing has had burns over his hands and fingers that have healed partially, resulting with the healing skin tightening and ultimately affecting usage and comfort of the finger and hands. 

- What exactly does this patient have problems doing? And what does he expects to do?

The subject has problems straightening finger and wishes to have a splint that would be capable of being able to be slid into his pocket and hunt with. This splint he wishes for would need a low profile including resistance and an organic shape while providing slight mobility and fine movement abilities.

- What splints has he used? Did he think they were comfortable/functioned well?

The current finger splint he is using is a medical fabric finger sleeve designed to be gentle while providing resistance in the form of an embedded metal band. It seems to be well worn in and the band does not seem to hold place especially when force is applied upon it (although its hard to tell because we don't fully know the shape and specific status of his hand/fingers.) From what we have been told he wishes for a more comfortable splint but has used his current one for some times.

- Should this splint be adjustable or stable - which joints flex which way?

He has joints on his finger inflicted with both hypoextension (on the 1st & 2nd joints) and hyperextension (on the 3rd) which are a direct result of the healing process after burns. This is because while the subject is sensitive, sleeps or relaxes and is not wearing their splints (if they are capable) their skin will heal taunter. Because of these reasons I believe his splint should be very rigid over the joints because this will prevent extensions. However, he wishes to be able to work and hunt with this splint on so he should have at least last digit movement but only forward.

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This is the first of 3 blog posts revolving around the Splint Project.
Thanks for reading. Peace

Week 4 - Completed Mask Prototype Reflection

COMPLETED MASK PROTOTYPE

The purpose of this final project post is to bring together all of the ideas and developments I've made while working through this mask as well as displaying and explaining my final design and possible future actions/improvement.

Assignment plot - inhibiting or enhancing a sense though a mask while being design conscious.

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Modeling & Development

To the left you can see two screen captures of the 3d modeled version of my mask that I have worked with further to make organic forms to better fit and adjust to a variety of shapes and faces maintaining comfort. The center elongated pill shaped container, like the two contact pads, are beveled and curved slightly with ergonomics in mind to aid in wearing on the face. For this model I simply have a tube representation where the articulating arms I intend to create will be present. These articulating arm were designed to be made of stacked (flat) wire coated in a softer material so as to not irritate the skin and prevent allergic reactions. This modeled tube is also blocking the view of the holes I designed for the arms to fit and be fixed inside. All these aspects are intended to aid in the wearers comfort while adorning this CPAP-like based smell respirator while minimizing its visual appearance. To help avoid direct contact with whatever smell substance is put inside of the center pill shaped piece I added a grate to the outside essentially capping the container preventing further complications but allowing a large amount of vapor or smell to escape. One these pieces are 3d printed I will add additional aspects to aid in the contact points and help the articulating joints hold.

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Final Prototype

My final prototype is comprised of four black PLA 3D printed pieces, two articulating arms made of wire contained by sewn sleeves of medical fabric, an elastic band in the back ( I added this because otherwise it slowly slides off the face ),  and some specific dots of hot glue for contact points on the face. Everything is held together by super glue however I feel with a little tweaking this could be avoided. I am satisfied with how it fits the face and how easily adjustable it is. It functions well and if I revisit it the first things I would be to add functions to the cheek 3d printed piece, add a permanent hinge for the grate, smoothen out the transition between materials between the articulating arms and printed parts, and add a tightening function to the elastic band in the back
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This is the last of four blog posts revolving around the Mask Project.
Thanks for reading. Peace!

Week 3 - Mask Realization cont.

MASK REALIZATION cont.

This third post is intended to push my existing mask ideas farther, keeping in mind the 
functionality, portability and ergonomics of the fit especially during utilization.

Assignment plot - inhibiting or enhancing a sense through a mask while being design conscious.

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Recap & Discussion

Adjacent are a few pictures from my previous post that exemplified masks that specifically were used to cover, monitor or prevent inhalation of particles or impurities in the air. After looking at these pictures and going over designs, I talked before the class and I was questioned about how I can help the wearer of my smell preventing mask to maintain compassion and dignity for a possible patient. Previously I had been more concerned with other factors such as my preconceptions about what a mask was (covering a predetermined surface of the face) but I quickly learned that the more abstract and loosely I took the definition, the better. Moving forward with that in mind I focused on specific areas I wished to further in my design including the reusability, the filtration/divider, containment of smell, and convenience.

Additionally, the realization I have came to after continued analyzation of the pictures I have used to the left is that the masks  in them aren't even intended to operate in the fashion that I wish my mask to (pollen, allergy, particles). So why should I expect to have a design that looks similar? Because of this thinking I began to search deeper, looking for smell and nose specific "masks" to gain inspiration and analyze design techniques. This exploration lead to me researching devices that were used for CPAP therapy.

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Advancing Design-Concept

Once I began looking into CPAP ( Continuous Positive Airway Pressure )  therapy aids, like the picture examples I have above, I began to focus more on how design and aesthetics affect all people who interact with this equipment not just the wearer. These masks are intended to keep the patients airways open to help with problems like sleep apnea and other related breathing complications but also serve their purpose while being as out of the way as possible. Furthermore, CPAP designs don't vary heavily in the way they provide the air but they most importantly need to be comfortable and adjustable for the diversity of wearers they're used by and their sensitivity levels ( pre-term babies are often aided in the development of their lungs by CPAP ). So taking into account the versatility, flexibility and visual aesthetics used for this breathing ( through the nose ) apparatus I began to apply that to the mask concept, smell. 

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Moving Forward

In the screenshots to the left you can see the beginnings of the design for my odor-blocking mask. Taking what I learned from the CPAP designs I chose to focus more on the minimalistic qualities to provide aid. I began designing a center larger pill shaped piece that could fit much easier and comfortably underneath the nose, ( like in the designs above ) however this piece will be hollow and accessible in order to continuously provide and odor for the wearer. On either side there are beveled and slightly curved pieces that will grip securely onto the face just behind the cheek muscles as to avoid the use of ears or the top of the head, unlike the breathing aids. In-between the 3 solid pieces of this design will be two bands made of adjustable covered wire that will be able to apply pressure holding itself to the face. If this isn't enough I will have to add a band to secure it but only as long as the strap wont impede other actions of movements of the wearer or their ability to function while adorning it.

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This is the third of four blog posts revolving around the Mask Project.
Thanks for reading. Peace.

Week 2 - Who's it for?

MASK IDEATION & APPLICATION

The purpose of this post is to display a collection of relevant pictures paired with comments involving ideas, inspiration, analyzation, and some possibilities for enhancing and inhibiting certain senses.

Assignment plot - inhibiting or enhancing a sense or a combination of both while being design conscious.

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The mask I am thinking of making would be a reusable mask/nose cover that would be used to filter and prevent the wearer from smelling their environment. It could be used by emergency response in the event of a strong odor. It would have the ability to hold cartridges containing another smell (Vic's Vapor Rub or another strong and condensed scent of the wearers choice). This mask would have to not impede the wearers movement, be lightweight and have a design conscious strap for easy wearing and removal.

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These 3M masks would be the design that I would base my mask around initially since it is the current standard among emergency response like firefighters and police. Rather than smearing vapor rub on the inside of these disposable masks or their faces, the possibility of a more permanent and reusable mask with a smell contained within could be beneficial in multiple ways to the wearer. 

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Here are some more mask shapes and designs that interested me. I believe that all of the pictures below are for pollen and allergy prevention but also function as air filters. The 2 different designs you can see below are the two with the stitch in the front and the one with a rounded front covering. Different materials like mesh and rubber are used but I'm also interested in the orientation and style of holes in the mask. Wheres the line at functionality and design?

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Drawings and pictures of designs and concepts furthering intentions with materials and function.

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This is the second of four blog posts revolving around the Mask Project.
Thanks for reading. Peace.

Week 1 - Some Mask Inspiration

MASK RESEARCH

The purpose of this first post is to display a collection of relevant pictures paired with comments involving style inspiration, analyzation, and possibilities to involve the senses in Project 1.

Assignment plot - inhibiting or enhancing a sense or a combination of both while being design conscious.

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Visual Textures - Exaggerated Mouth & Teeth - Repetition of Eye Shape - Forehead Decoration
Lines along and offsetting hole to draw attention to eyes and horns - Intimidating, Scary - Eyes, Mouth

When I began research for this project I was first drawn to these wooden masks from the Philippines. I appreciate the combination of textures and lines that travel though the masks accenting certain aspects and shapes but this is also enhanced through the buffing/smoothening of the surface although its wood. This helps the masks feel more 3D and dynamic, pushing the viewers gaze downwards towards the pointy teeth. Additionally, the way that these mask were carved with multiple eyes stacked on top of each other was to draw special attention to the importance of the sense of sight and the power it holds.

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Extending Head Appendages - Minimal Eyes - Large Organic Shapes - Nose/Mouth Exaggeration
Separation of eyes with a focus on the top and forehead emphasizing relations - Playful, Drama - Eyes, Mouth 

These two pieces appeal to me because of their playful visions while retaining a flurry of individual characteristics helping define the subject and use. The one on the left focuses on the separation of the eyes almost in a pained comedic look while the one on the right seems much more stoic because of its elongation. From the sides though I can imagine that the division mask is much more dynamic like a fin. Like feathers, the pointy structures draw attention towards the forehead and then upwards examining the length and details covering them like textures/rings.

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This is the first of four blog posts revolving around the Mask Project.
Thanks for reading. Peace