Perak Kejuruteraan · 2023
Mechcircuit Sistem Prototaip Interaktif
- A' Design Award Perak 2023 in Kejuruteraan
- CLIENT: Zhejiang University
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 1,218,946
- Verification code 85841D83B4 · Verify this award
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About Mechcircuit Sistem Prototaip Interaktif
Mechcircuit ialah sistem prototaip untuk peranti interaktif yang menggabungkan litar elektronik dan struktur mekanikal. Magnet neodymium bersifat magnetik dan konduktif, jadi ia berfungsi sebagai sendi bergerak dan juga sambungan elektrik. Gerakan putaran dan linear dicapai tanpa bahagian mekanikal tradisional. Pendawaian dan pematerian digantikan dengan magnet dan slot potongan laser, jadi bahagian-bahagian dapat disambung dan ditukar dengan pantas. Prototaip dipotong daripada kepingan akrilik 2 mm, dan dakwat perak konduktif membentuk litarnya. Perisian reka bentuk berbantukan komputer menyokong pengguna bukan pakar.
About the A' Design Award Perak
Mechcircuit Sistem Prototaip Interaktif ialah pemenang A' Design Award Perak, pengiktirafan yang sangat berprestij yang dianugerahkan kepada reka bentuk bertaraf tinggi, indah dan mengagumkan. Pemenang Perak ialah karya yang amat cemerlang dan sangat kreatif yang menggambarkan kepakaran, bakat dan ketajaman fikiran yang luar biasa pereka bentuknya. Mechcircuit Sistem Prototaip Interaktif diharapkan menjadi karya yang menakjubkan, contoh teladan, sangat profesional dan sangat inovatif. Reka bentuk pemenang A' Design Award Perak ini ialah ciptaan yang sangat ketara dan dikagumi yang memberi manfaat kepada dan memajukan batas seni, sains, reka bentuk dan teknologi. Mechcircuit Sistem Prototaip Interaktif ialah ciptaan yang sangat dicemburui yang membangkitkan keinginan, membawa perasaan positif dan mencetuskan rasa hairan serta kagum.
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
