WHAT WE ARE MAKING

WHY WE ARE MAKING IT

Recreating mechanisms low-fidelity materials.

Enhance functionality of our designed wearables

ACTIVITY MATERIALS

Cardboard

Colored Acetate

Bristol Papers

Zip-ties

Straws

Metal Ruler

Pencil 

Markers 

Cutting Blade

Masking Tape

Hot Glue Gun

String

Brads

Popsicles and wooden skewers

In this activity, we will focus on identifying and exploring mechanisms that can enhance the functionality and interactivity of your project prototypes.

Before starting, consider the following question for your project idea:

1. What type of movements or mechanisms are required to activate your wearable? 

ACTIVITY PROMPT

Review the library of Mechanisms 

Review the library of mechanisms in the 'Resources tab'. Consider how these mechanisms could be incorporated into your design to activate your wearable or enhance its functionality.

1st

Selecting Mechanisms 

Identifying 2 mechanisms that are applicable to your project ideas.

2nd

Analyzing Mechanisms

For each mechanism, answer the following questions:

• How it works (describe the basic function of the mechanism).
• How it could be applied to your design to improve usability or interactivity.
• Why it’s useful for your specific project, considering the type of movement or activation your wearable requires.

3rd

 Prototyping

• Recreate one of the two chosen mechanisms using lo-fi materials
• Integrate the recreated mechanism into your first prototype, considering how it enhances the functionality, movement, or interactivity of your design.
• Document your process by taking photos or videos

4th

DELIVERABLE

In the 'responses tab', make sure to include a post with the following deliverables:

• A photo of the mechanism you chose to recreate
• A gif demonstrating the mechanism moving
• A 2-sentence description of how you envision incorporating this mechanism to your project.

Scissor Lift

Mechanism 2

Gears

Mechanism 3

1. Print out the Spur Gear Template that is attached to this post
2. Cut the paper shapes out
3. Use a glue stick to attach the paper cut-outs to a piece of cardboard
4. Using a pair of sharp scissors or an exact knife and cutting mat, cut the shapes out of cardboard
5. Mount the cardboard gears onto the base using brads (brass fasteners).
6. You might need to adjust the spacing using the cardboard washers to make sure that the teeth of the gear mesh properly
7. Spin your gears!

INSTRUCTIONS

Expanding/ Fanning

How to make it

1

4

2

5

3

6

How to make it

Waving

How to make it

1

4

2

3

5

6

Oscillating

How to make it

1

4

2

3

Grabbing

How to make it

1

4

2

3

5

6

 Coiling / Tentacle Motion

How to make it

1

4

2

3

~30 min

Review the more mechanisms in the the 'Resources tab'