folding chair

As is typical with many design processes, the form belies it complexity. Jeff is confident that we will be able to create the form that I am after, but it will require a fairly complex combination of mold-making and hand-crafting finesse to get it just right. Fortunately, the material as well as the mold will allow for inexpensive multiples. We will create a small batch of them. They may use different types of Porcelain or finishes. The ones that make it through the process without defects will be keepers. Jeff will of course get one as a memento of our collaboration. So let’s hope that there are at least two that come out okay.

After our meeting, I came up with the following mold concept:

We had thought initially that the porcelain would be poured into the mold and then the interior piece would be removed after the clay hardened somewhat. Since sending this to Jeff, he seems to think that using this mold in this way would risk cracking the clay. So he is recommending that we lay in sheets of clay and press the interior mold into it.

We’re going to head over to Continental Clay soon and once I know the properties of our material, then I will render and print the final mold in the RP machine.

Ah, the chair. I am having a bit harder time figuring out exactly what I am doing with this. I want to create a folding chair. This seems simple enough. But I would like to use as little hardware as possible and have it fold up nicely and look good. I think I am getting close to having the mechanics of it worked out (this sort of thinking always keeps me up at night, argh.). It is hard to give the legs character, i.e. not flat and straight, and have them fold up flush to one another. I have been keeping BioFiber Wheat in mind as a likely material candidate. I may need to go back to Northstar Surfaces and look at the material again. I cannot remember if it is perfectly smooth or slightly rough. I am thinking about color and would not want to paint the chair if the surface is pock marked.

Here are a few preliminary sketches:

I’d like to get the design nailed down this weekend.

A student at MCAD mentioned the following website to me: ecolect

It is a repository of green building materials that is added to by designers. There are many more options out there than I would have guessed.