Mechcircuit Sistema de Prototipagem Interativa by Weijia Lin and Shuyue Feng is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award de Prata in Engenharia de Produto e Design Técnico Competition Category.
PrataEngenharia· 2023
Mechcircuit Sistema de Prototipagem Interativa
Client: Zhejiang University
A' Design Award de Prata Winner in Engenharia Category
- 1,218,946
- Verified Award Winner
- Verify Award Status for #148666
The Design
About Mechcircuit Sistema de Prototipagem Interativa
O Mechcircuit é um sistema de prototipagem para dispositivos interativos que combinam circuitos eletrónicos e estruturas mecânicas. Os ímanes de neodímio são simultaneamente magnéticos e condutores, servindo tanto como juntas móveis como ligações elétricas. Os movimentos rotativos e lineares são obtidos sem recurso a peças mecânicas tradicionais. A cablagem e a soldadura são substituídas por ímanes e ranhuras cortadas a laser, permitindo que as peças se liguem e se alterem rapidamente. Os protótipos são cortados em placas de acrílico de 2 mm e a tinta condutora de prata forma os circuitos. Um software de desenho assistido por computador dá apoio a utilizadores não especializados.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award de Prata
Mechcircuit Sistema de Prototipagem Interativa conquistou o A' Design Award de Prata, um reconhecimento extraordinariamente prestigiado atribuído a designs de topo de gama, deslumbrantes e impressionantes. Os vencedores da Prata são obras tremendamente brilhantes e extremamente criativas que ilustram a perícia, o talento e a acuidade excecionais dos seus designers. Espera-se que Mechcircuit Sistema de Prototipagem Interativa seja uma obra maravilhosa e de referência, notavelmente profissional e profundamente inovadora. Este design vencedor do A' Design Award de Prata é uma invenção muito notável e admirada, que beneficia e faz avançar as fronteiras da arte, da ciência, do design e da tecnologia. Mechcircuit Sistema de Prototipagem Interativa é uma criação imensamente invejada que desperta desejos, traz sentimentos positivos e faz nascer espanto e deslumbramento.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- 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
- Team Members
- Weijia Lin
Shuyue Feng
Jiayu Yao
Jiayi Ma
Masulani Bokola
Ziyu Fang
Guanyun Wang
Cheng Yao
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