10. Textile Scaffold¶
Research¶
What is a Scaffold?
A scaffold is defined as a temporary support structure or foundational framework used to guide the shaping, growth, or development of materials, whether on a physical or conceptual level. It is a system that provides stability and initial structure, allowing a form or material to develop until it becomes self-sustaining without further support.
In biofabrication and biomaterials design, scaffolds are used as structures that guide cell growth or shape living materials, determining the form, density, and structural orientation of the material. They act as intermediaries between raw material and final form, particularly in experiments involving bio-tissues, growth materials, and interactive systems.
Scaffolds in Art and Design
The concept of scaffolds extends to various artistic fields, including:
Sculpture: where they are used as internal structures (armature) to support materials such as clay or fabrics during construction and shaping.
Architecture: where they function as temporary structural scaffolding, enabling the gradual construction of layers until the structure is complete.
Textile Arts: It appears in techniques such as weaving, crocheting, modular structures, and repetitive compositions that rely on a supporting structure to define the compositional pattern.
Experimental Design: It is used as a platform for testing new forms, material relationships, or unconventional structures.
Its Connection to Other Fields
The concept of scaffolding is directly related to several disciplines:
Biology and Textile Engineering: to guide cell growth and tissue formation.
Digital Fabrication: as a framework for setting parameters and controlling the structure of prototypes.
Computational Design: where it functions as a logical framework that organizes parametric systems and algorithmic patterns.
Educational Methodologies: used as a concept to support progressive learning and the sequential construction of knowledge.
Scaffolding as a Creative Concept
In the context of contemporary art projects, the scaffold is not merely a physical structure; it becomes a conceptual framework that organizes the experience, determines the design path, and creates an interaction between material, movement, and function. It is a space for research, experimentation, and constructive failure, enabling the realization of innovative design solutions based on a deep understanding of material structure and behavior.
The scaffold represents a fundamental basis for experimentation, allowing for the exploration of the relationship between form and material, and guiding the development process from abstract concept to functional prototype, thus combining aesthetic and functional aspects simultaneously.
References & Inspiration¶
Designers who employ the principles of scaffolding, fabric as scaffolding, and crystallization combine art and technology to create flexible or rigid supporting structures, whether in clothing, architecture, or biological materials.
Their structures are not merely supportive; they are a design language that guides form and growth, creating interactive and aesthetically pleasing works that transcend the traditional function of the material.
Marc Fornes / THEVERYMANY
Fernando & Humberto Campana – Campana Brothers
Tomás Saraceno
Julia Lohmann
Freed Veneers
CNC Milling:¶
CNC milling is a digital manufacturing technique that uses programmed machines to precisely cut and shape materials by removing material using multi-axis rotating tools. It is widely used in the mold, technical fabric, and accessory industries to achieve intricate details and consistent quality.
In Our lab - MAKERSPACE AMMAN- we a huge CNC machine about 240cm * 120cm & maximmum spindle speed about 16500 RPM.
For using this machine there ara some safty rules
How it works:¶
All CNC tools, move a cutter around a big table (X and Y axes) and move it up and down as well (Z axis) allowing it to make 3D movements and cut all sorts of shapes. The cutter looks like a drill bit and is spun by a motor called a router or spindle.
Unlike a drill bit, a router bit is designed to cut from the sides as well as the tip. By precisely moving the cutter through material, a ShopBot CNC tool can create virtually any pattern or shape and will do it in materials such as wood, plastic, foam, aluminum and many composites.
You can use for 2D or 3D designs
CNC tool-holding parts¶
The main parts that we should know
- End Mill
The cutting tool itself.
Common types include:
Flat End Mill
Ball Nose End Mill
Corner Radius End Mill
Roughing End Mill
This is what actually cuts the material
- Collet
The precision sleeve that grips the shank of the end mill and keeps it perfectly centered.(Chosen based on the diameter of the end mill shank.)
- Nut
The threaded nut that tightens over the collet and locks the end mill in place.
For measure the End mill tool shank lenghth and diameters... etc, we use calliper.
The effect of design on cutting accuracy¶
Geometry and design play a crucial role in the efficiency and accuracy of CNC cutting. Sharp angles, curves, and line thickness all affect tool trajectory and cutting speed. The more carefully considered the design in terms of shape and voids, the cleaner, less wasteful, and more stable the cut will be during operation.
VCarve Pro¶
After using one of designin softwares like Rhino, we safe the file in Stl format. Then we start using other software which is common used with CNC machines VCarve Pro
VCarve Pro is a design and control software used to configure cutting paths for CNC machines. It features an easy-to-use interface that enables the creation of precise engravings and 3D carving techniques. It helps convert digital designs into efficient operating commands, ensuring high accuracy and smooth execution of cutting and engraving operations.
Before milling starting¶
Make sure to clean the pieces before each project.
we should define the ZERO for X, Y, Z axes, according to the wood board and the design.
Star mould designing and milling¶
Star mould designing and milling¶
For this mould the design was inspire from NINE ARMED SEA STAR
The nine-armed sea star is found at depths of up to 40 metres (130 ft) around the coasts of Florida, in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and along the coast of South America to southern Brazil. It favours sandy, muddy or shelly seabeds in sheltered locations such as lagoons.
you can read more abot it HERE
FIRST STEP : DESIGNING¶
I started designing process using Rhino & Grashopper.
