Prototyping Failure The Art of Design Rama Hoetzlein

Prototyping & Failure: The Art of Design Rama Hoetzlein, 2007 Lecture Notes Univ. of California Santa Barbara

Johann Joachim Becher (from Tecnhical Curiosita, Schott, 1664)

H. P. Gramatke, magnetic car

Jove, 1867 Pat. 42/1867 Guillaume, 1928 Belgium Pat. 359840 Blain, 1979 Kameroon Pat. OA 6413 Smeretchanski, 2003 France Pat. 1828716 Source: Hans-Peter Gramatke, Unpublished Works, http: //www. hp-gramatke. net/index. htm

Peter Schmalenbach, 2006

What is a sketch? What is the purpose of a sketch?

Francesco di Giorgio (1439 -1502) 1. To explain and communicate

Albrecht Durer, Multiple Views of the Foot, ~1500 Leonardo da Vinci, Flying Machine, 1490 2. To think

Challenge: • Vertical lift for an X, Y, Z machine • Must lift a heavy weight with an accuracy of 1 mm

Different types of lifts (pulley, rack & pinion, jackscrew, lead screw Like lead screw most. . . (high accuracy and travel) But realize. . a grove is necessary as both ends of screw must be fixed. Idea. . Put screw off-center. Travel bar attached to it.

Design is coming together. Ready for CAD?

Design is coming together Ready for CAD?

Low friction. . But just a bad idea! (Too many parts) More compact. . This looks familiar. Maybe I can use an existing track system.

Essential Parts: 1 x 2 x 2 x 2 x Pre-assembled Lead Screw Pre-assembled Rail system Square tube stock Flat plate Low friction. Accurate. Long travel (3 ft). Final touch: Counterweights?

Sketching Concept Sketching • Messy! Thats ok! • Thinking happens here. • No guidelines. Imperfect perspective is ok. • Do lots of them. . but don’t hand these in. Design Sketching • Guidelines. • Communication happens here. • Perspective and shading important. • No dimensions or tolerances Drawing • Dimensions and critical tolerances. • All details present. • Multiple view and sections to make even more clear. • Is it really ready for CAD?

Prototypes Sculpture 1 object. First one is the last one (usually). Prototype 1 object. Test object for a final design. Plan to make lots. Early stage: Late stage: Finished Design Like a concept sketch. First one ready for thorough testing. Many objects. Everything must be working and tested. (Mistake here are costly!)

Conceptual Prototype Use whatever materials you want! LEGOs, wood, toothpicks. Expect it may breakdown. But you learn the weakest design points.

Low-Cost Camera Boom

Prototypes & Testing Discover real world limitations. e. g. strength of materials, dominant forces Discover design issues impossible to see in a sketch. e. g. camera booms must be absolutely silent. Discover limitations of design. e. g. what is the range? weight limits? Discover new options hard to visualize on paper. Discover if it actually works!

Timewave Rama Hoetzlein & Kimberly Iarossi, 2005

Issues Poor communication Last minute changes Overly ambitious Limited time Overworked crew No time to test Unforeseen Language barriers Vertical to horizontal Started with fancy CAD rendering 1 week 30 other artists (big exhibition) Still working day before exhibit I broke tube day of the exhibit Sketch early, Prototype early, Communicate, Do tests

All is was not lost. . . There’s always next time. Engineering is a learning experience. Even when you’re experienced. It takes a lot of bad ideas to produce a few good ones. Sketch a lot !