Argent Ingénierie · 2023
Mechcircuit Système de prototypage interactif
- A' Design Award d'Argent 2023 in Ingénierie
- CLIENT: Zhejiang University
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 1,218,946
- Verification code 85841D83B4 · Verify this award
Colors
About Mechcircuit Système de prototypage interactif
Mechcircuit est un système de prototypage destiné aux dispositifs interactifs associant circuits électroniques et structures mécaniques. Les aimants en néodyme étant à la fois magnétiques et conducteurs, ils font office à la fois d'articulations mobiles et de connexions électriques. Les mouvements rotatifs et linéaires sont ainsi obtenus sans recourir aux pièces mécaniques traditionnelles. Le câblage et la soudure sont remplacés par des aimants et des fentes découpées au laser, ce qui permet d'assembler et de modifier les pièces rapidement. Les prototypes sont découpés dans des feuilles d'acrylique de 2 mm et les circuits sont formés à l'encre d'argent conductrice. Un logiciel de conception assistée par ordinateur accompagne les utilisateurs non spécialistes.
About the A' Design Award d'Argent
Mechcircuit Système de prototypage interactif est lauréat de l'A' Design Award d'Argent, une reconnaissance énormément prestigieuse décernée à des designs haut de gamme, superbes et impressionnants. Les lauréats Argent sont des œuvres tout à fait brillantes et extrêmement créatives qui illustrent l'expertise, le talent et la perspicacité remarquables de leurs concepteurs. Mechcircuit Système de prototypage interactif est censé être une œuvre merveilleuse, une vitrine de savoir-faire, remarquablement professionnelle et profondément innovante. Ce design lauréat de l'A' Design Award d'Argent est une invention très notable et admirée, qui sert l'art, la science, le design et la technologie et en repousse les limites. Mechcircuit Système de prototypage interactif est une création très enviée qui éveille les désirs, apporte des sentiments positifs et suscite émerveillement et étonnement.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Mechcircuit enables non-expert users to design and fabricate interactive prototypes with electronic circuits and mechanical structures. Users can achieve mechanical functions like rotary and linear without using traditional mechanical parts. Meanwhile, instead of involving complicated operations like wiring and soldering in conventional electronic circuits, Mechcircuit applies magnetism and laser-cut slots to connect the components, making connecting and replacing quick and easy.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Mechcircuit uses acrylic sheets with a thickness of 2mm. Usually the prototype is no smaller than 10mmX10mmX5mm. the size of the prototype varies depending on the actual design.
- Tags
- Interaction Design, Magnetoelectric Materials, Prototyping, Computational Aided Design
- Production Technology
- Taking advantage of the fact that rubidium magnets are both magnetic and conductive, we have designed mechanical structures with magnets. It is much easier to design and assemble than the traditional mechanical structure. At the same time the mechanical structure is still interactive. To facilitate user design and generation, we have developed computer-aided design software. The software integrates various modules for user-friendly prototyping. We used a commercial grade laser cutter for cutting and processing and conductive silver ink for the circuitry.
- Design Challenge
- Mechcircuit wanted to integrate the design of structures and circuits, while simplifying the design and manufacturing process. It was challenging to use a different design and fabrication approach than traditional ones and to use materials that were readily available. Based on several attempts, we finally chose rubidium magnets as the magnetoelectric material and used conductive silver ink paint to replace the traditional Dupont wire.
- Research
- Mechcircuit leverage the neodymium magnet’s natures of magnetism and conductivity to integrate electronics and mechanical structure joints into prototypes. We conduct the evaluation to explore technological parameters and assess the practical feasibility of the fabrication pipeline. And we organized a user-observing workshop for non-expert users. Through the outcoming prototypes, the result demonstrates the feasibility of Mechcircuit as a useful and inspiring prototyping method.
- Inspiration
- In prototyping, the design of electronic circuits and the design of mechanical structures are often carried out separately. In addition, the electronic circuitry and the mechanical structure also affect the prototype's styling. This makes the design often not optimal.
- Project Duration
- The project starts in July 2022 and ends in December 2022 at the School of Software, Zhejiang University, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China
- Operation Flow
- The mechanical structure composed of magnets allows the user to design and assemble easily. As the user manipulates the structure, the circuit signals change. The user can interact with the circuit by manipulating the structure.
- Patents
- All photos/videos are from Shuyue Feng, Department of Industrial Design, School of Software, Zhejiang University
