EGNM6001|Ashvin Goolab

// Design Factory:Hand Made High Tech

// Part 1: Design MuseumResearch

// Part 2: Identify & Research Materials & Processes

The flex run prosthetic leg wasdeveloped by a specialist companycalled Ossur. The prosthetic leg ismade from pure carbon fiber as thematerial’s properties best suite forathletes and people on the go. The materials properties which carry out on the device are of flexibility, strength and druability. All important facots of having on a prosthetic leg.

The APL concept 2 basketball shoeswere designed by company AthleticPropulsion Labs. The shoe is designed to increase vertical leap upon lift off when playing basketball. The leap is centred around the fronttoe point of the shoe in which itfeatures thermoplastic urethane andEVA to increase the leap. The EVA is featured in the insole and midsole of the shoe in which it adds more effectiveness to the leap. The load n’ launch shank is what makes the sneaker impressive as it’s focus point of where are the mechanical enhancements are centred in the shoe.

In collaboration with Nike, the nike sole has been the first ever add on to the flex run. The sole features five stages of materials in creating an effective and athletic piece. At the bottom a rubber mesh with underlay grip serves as the outsole with a rubber leash attached that connects to the flex run. Then a polyurethane midsole is added for cushioning, followed by a thermoplastic urethane known as ‘aeroply’ which prevents the sole from slipping and noise cancellation. Then finished with nine plastic tabs which serve as locks on the sole that secure it in place with the flex run.

I decided to look at the boxinggloves from the glove section at theexhibition. Lonsdale is a sport brandthat specialise in MMA, Boxing andSportswear. Their lonsdale gloves are have been in action for years. The techniques in to making the gloves have stayed the same. Boxing gloves are all hand made, from cutting the leather to stitching the glove up. The leather comes from cowhide or goatskin because of it’s durability and flexibility. The inside is filled with padding in which some manufacturers today use high amounts of polyurethane. However, traditionally manufacturers would use cotton or horsehair to pad the glove, some in which still do. And finally nylon thread is used to sew theglove together. In some cases glovesuse a velcro to secure the gloves around the wrist.

Ossur Flex RunNike SoleAPL Concept 2Lonsdale Boxing Gloves

EGNM6001|Ashvin Goolab EGNM6001|Ashvin Goolab

Coconut wood is one of the material I researched that was innovative and one I hadn’t come across before. The wood is a type that comes from acoconut tree which is found in countries such as Sri Lanka and the Phillipines. The material is harder than oak and at it’s hardest at the very bottom of the tree. It’s been used to develop floors in the flooring industry. The coconut composites consists of an mdf which the palm is applied to. There are many parts of the coconut which are used for different things. For example the trunk is used for buildings and small bridges because of their straightness and strength. It’s also used in beauty products where coconut oil is used for the skin.

Corrugated cardboard is one of the materials I may use for experimentation. There are different types of cardboard such as graphic, carton and corrugated. They range from many thicknesses and strengths. The rawness of the material comes from fast growing pine trees. The card consists of three steps, a layer of liner followed by a corrugated medium and then underlayed with another layer of liner. Mnaufacturers use kraft paper to form the corrugated card which is heavily controlled by powerful fork lifts. Cardboard is an interesting material to use as there are many possibilities that can be done with it.

This is another innovstive material which i researched on where materials are grown naturally from the ground. Mycelium is a type of fungus that is found in soil or within other substrates. The process starts with using parts of plants on farms that cannot be used for food or feed.It is then cleaned and blended with agricultral byproducts and fertilized with mycelium. The mycelium then grown indoors within a week and the desired shape is grown. At the end of the process, the materials are dehydrated and heated to insure they are safe and clean and ready to use.

Polymorph Is a type of thermoplastic that is found in many things.Thermoplastic in general is a material we approach on almost a daily basis. Thermoplastics is used for shampoo,shower and different kind of containers. It can also be made from grocery bags. There are many types within thermoplastics such as polyurethane, polypropylene and acrylic. The material starts with tiny balls of polymorph which can be soaked in hot water which attracts them to stick to one another and form a solid base. It’s then taken out and can be moulded, stretched and flattened to any desired shape. It’s then put in cold water where the plastic sets and becomes hard. What’s good about this material is it can be heated and reshaped. It’s versatile, flexible and experimental.

Coconut Wood Composites Corrugated Cardboard

Ecovative Fungus Thermoplastic Polymorph

// Part 3: Design Development

// Part 3:Board 2 Design Development

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The chosen material I wated to further experiment with was the thermopladtic polymorph. After researching and experimenting on the material I found out some useful information on the materials properties and it’s capabilites. The tiny white plastic pellets become transparent upon heating and form together to create a mould. After the mould took form I began stretching, flattening, adding and adding more pellets to see what i could do.

Whilst experimenting I also thought of an idea to extend objects in terms of making it easier to use. The material had a DIY capability of many uses so i thought this would be interesting. When beginning the idea,i started to find objects that needed extending i.e, a broken screwdriver, tools and appliances. Although during experiments i noticed that this idea was a little blank so i began looking for alternative ways to use the polymorph.

When re-thinking my idea on what to do with the material, a disabled family member of mine gave me the idea to create something that can help them get around their house. So I began to think of way in which this could help. So I thought of an idea to create a handle which could serve as a way of them griping on to in order to help them more around. I was aware that equipment for disabled people already existed so I asked my family where would it be most effective for him. He then told me a grip of some kind near his sink would be good as it he could on to it. So I used the material to create a

mini portable handle. In order to get the shape right, looked at exisitng handles beforehand and they all resembled the shape which I made.