Cardboard Machine Kit

Nadya Peek,Ilan Moyer,Neil Gershenfeld,James Coleman

doi:10.1145/3025453.3025491

Nadya Peek, Ilan Moyer + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1145/3025453.3025491

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Abstract

Digital fabrication machines (such as laser cutters or 3D printers) can be instructed to produce any part geometry within their application space. However, machines' application spaces are not easily modified or extended. How can we enable the production of application-specific computer-controlled machines by machine building novices? How can we facilitate rapid prototyping of rapid prototyping tools? We propose a novel set of modules, the Cardboard Machine Kit, for the construction of digital fabrication machines. These open-source modules are implemented using cardboard frames, stepper motors, and networked electronics controlled through a Python library. We evaluated the kit both through machine building workshops and by studying the usage of the kit in the wild. In the wild we observed more than 500 novice machine builders who built 125 different machines for 15 different application types. We argue that this breadth demonstrates the efficacy of this modular approach. Finally we discuss the limitations of the Cardboard Machine Kit and discuss how it could inform future machine building infrastructure.

Highlights

Digital fabrication machines are taking a central place in HCI research and discourse on making [11]
Digital fabrication machines intended for personal use such as desktop 3D printers, sub-100W laser cutters, or desktop CNC milling machines are becoming more accessible through decreasing cost and increasing usability
Fits within the work envelope, any line can be cut on on a laser cutter or any 3D geometry printed on a 3D printer

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Digital fabrication machines are taking a central place in HCI research and discourse on making [11]. Laminating several layers of cardboard such as in our design improves the stiffness, making it comparable to a frame of made of T-slot assembled acrylic or plywood of 1/8" thick such as is used in the Fab@Home [10] Aluminium extrusion such as the 80/20 framing system would be at least ten times higher in cost and would require machine builders to use tools such as chop saws or drill presses to get material to size. The Cardboard Machine kit comprises software, firmware, board designs, mechanical designs, and a bill of materials that were described The approach of this implementation is to create base infrastructure for machine building that can be augmented by the machine builders themselves

Limitations

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION