8. Open source hardware: from fibers to fabric#

For this week’s group assignment we are creating a multi-functional incubator, for mainly drying or modifying curing humidity/ temperature for bio plastics, fruit leather, mycellium leather, bacteria dyes, kimchi, yoghurt and potentially konbucha. We did initial research on the properties for these materials we would like to incubate, and made a chart to see what is the range of humidity and temperature we are working to achieve within the incubator.

For me, I worked on designing components to accumulate moisure and water drops thorughout the drying process, as well as shelf spacers mounted inbetween shelfing units, to ensure platsforms to be horizontal, preventing tilting or material spilling.

I have also designed several other possible solution for de-humidification. Dissicants for example silica gel, rock salt, cat sand …etc. could be applied between two layers of filter mesh, suspended by the four supporting walls of the tray, allowing moisure to accumulate inside the tray to be removed once curing process is complete.

There are also other sturctures that are more complicated and possibly more secure, however considering the size of our incubator prototype, it would be great to go with the simple/ basic method.

I also designed and visualised part of the surface design, in order to secure the positions of the sliding door and maintain the coherent aesthetic of the prototype.