11. Open Source Hardware - From Fibers to Fabric¶
Research & Ideation¶
Open-source hardware empowers distributed manufacturing, local innovation, and community-driven improvements.
Since I am to come up with a tool for this week, and it might just be a unique tool that i would want to hold the property under my name. I had to dig into patenting and intellectual right specifically in hardware.
Overview of Patents & Intellectual Property (IP) in Hardware
a) Patent
Protects a novel, useful, and non-obvious invention.
Prevents others from making, using, or selling the invention.
Types relevant to hardware:
Utility patent – mechanisms, processes, functions
Design patent – ornamental design/appearance of a device
b) Copyright
Protects your documentation, drawings, images, CAD files, manuals, and descriptions.
Does not protect mechanical ideas themselves.
c) Trademarks
Protect brand names, symbols, logos.
Not about the device itself.
d) Trade Secrets
Protect information you choose not to disclose (recipe, formula, manufacturing trick).
- How to Make Your Innovation Open Source
a) Document Everything
Open-source hardware must be replicable. Include:
-
Bill of Materials (BOM)
-
2D/3D design files (DXF, SVG, STL, Fusion, Rhino, Blender, KiCad, etc.)
-
Code (if any sensors, motors, microprocessors involved)
-
Schematics, wiring diagrams
-
Assembly instructions
-
User manual
-
Photos and videos
b) Publish the Project
References & Inspiration¶
Tools¶
- CNC
- Drill
- Fusion 360
Process¶
STEAM BOX
Purpose of using steambox
From last weeks activity, I did a composite of softwood using a jig. I wanted the material to bend seamlessly. So my team and I decided to come up with a steambox that would make the wood more pliable and also be used in other activities such as:
- Treating natural fibers
- Softening fibres
- Killing pests
We first brainstormed and did hand sketch on paper:
Wood inserts were designed using fusion 360 by Kimani.
CNC Cutting
Fabrication of the boiler. Piterlis was good at fabricating the pieces and they came out nicely.
Generated door handle using springs attached to the nails
Assembly
All parts were assembled together:
The horse pipes, plumbing connections were all assembled together to the boiler.
Wood inserts were assembled and the cone that was to hold the materials put in. this is where the steam will go to.
.
The cotton wool were added on the sides to act as insulators.
We generated the stand using waste wood that was at the workshop.
Connected the entire product to power source and let water to steam. Finally the steam was generated when we opened the box. This was only after 30 minutes.
After leaving dried pieces of bamboo for an hour, It was bending already, meaning the steambox was working. We just need more improvements such as testing the amount of steam being generated and at what temperature using sensors.
BoM¶
Materials¶
| Qty | Description | Price | Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 MTR | Horse pipe | 20 $ | locally sourced | |
| 1 | bondex | 30.00 $ | ||
| 4 | Tank connector | 30.00 $ | ||
| clips | 15.00 $ | |||
| wood inserts | 50. 00 $ | |||
| 500g | cotton wool | 50.00 $ | ||
| 1 | Silicone | 25.00 $ | ||
| 10 | Screws | 50 $ | ||
| 8 | Nails | 5 $ |