Introduction: D4E1 - Artmakers: Paper Pattern Maker

We are 4 Industrial Product Design students from Howest and this is our art maker.

What is an art maker and why.

An art maker is a simple machine that allows kids with cognitive disabilities to make fun crafting materials or preform simple task that can be use for fun arts and crafts projects.

Art is an important subject in the development of young children, especially for kids with disabilities. It can be used as a sort of therapy that stimulates them and can help them express there emotions. Often simple task required in arts an craft can be quite a challenge for them, so we were tasked to create machines that help them preform certain tasks so that they can enjoy all the fun of arts and crafts without being held back by there disability.

What does the art maker do ?

We designed and build a machine that turn regular paper into 3D patterned paper. The paper is rolled between 2 rollers and gets folded and pressed into the patterns of the rollers. By using springs to generate a pressing force between the rollers different thicknesses of paper can be used in the machine.

Step 1: Materials and Tools

Materials

- Multiplex 25 mm

- Aluminium sheet 1 mm

- Square aluminium profile 15 x 15 x 1.5 mm

- Square aluminium profile 10 x 10 mm

- Round steel profile 10 mm

- Plexiglas 6 mm

- Double sided tape

- Screws

- Bolts

- PLA fillament

Tools

- 3D printer

- Table saw

- Lathe

- Milling machine

- Sheet metal cutter

- Sheet metal bender

- Screwdriver

-

Step 2: Making the Rollers

3D printing is becoming more and more common and affordable. It also allows for flexible and rapid production of different types of rollers. The machine offers 2 types of roller: a gear type and a braille type, but we would love to see what other types of roller other people come up with!

Files

Step 3: Machining the Aluminium Parts and Springs

The roller support is made out of aluminium profiles.

The profiles that hold the rollers

- Saw 4 137 mm pieces from the 15 x 15 x 1.5 mm profile

- Mount the profile in a milling machine and mill the 4 holes and slot. Use the provided technical drawing for the exact measurements

see: Profile_drawing

The mechanism that holds the springs

The springs provide a force between the rollers so that the paper is forced into its new shapes. In order to mount the springs in the profile pieces you will need to machine 2 parts.

- use the 10 x 10 profile and mill 4 parts according to the technical drawings

see: Spring and axle holder_drawing

next up you will need to drill and tread a hole in the round 10 mm profile

-use the technical drawing and make 4 parts

see: Boltholder_drawing

The springs

We couldn't find stiff enough springs so we had to make our own. We use a lathe to wind up spokes from a bicycle wheel

FILES



Step 4: Machining the Handle

The handle

The handle is mad out of 2 parts and a 2 bolts

- Saw a 80 mm piece of the 10 x 10 mm profile.

- Drill and thread the holes according to the technical drawing.

- Saw the slit from the top too the 8 mm hole.

See: Handle_drawing

We used a part machined on a lathe for the grip of the handle. It may be simpler to also print a grip instead.

- Saw a 50 mm piece from the round 10 m aluminium profile.

- Use a lathe to make the part according to the technical drawing.

See: Grip_drawing

FILES


Step 5: Make the Paper Guides

To help with the inserting of paper between the roller we use guides made from sheet metal

- Use a sheet metal cutter and use given dimensions in the technical drawing.

- Use a sheet metal bender to bend the 3 flanges. Start with the big flange and bend the following flag.

- Use a file to round off the sharp edges and corners.

see: Paper guide_drawing

FILES



Step 6: Make the Baseplate and Guide Stands

The base/ground plate is made up from 4 parts. 2 form the actual base and the 2 other parts hold them together.

- Use a table saw and saw a 300 x 450 mm and a 120 x 450 mm multiplex panel

- Round of the corners on 1 long side of the cut panels

- make 3 cutouts in the small (ground plate part 2 ) to fit the aluminum profiles. use the technical drawing for the measurements.

the paper guides stand on 4 guide stands

- use a table saw to cut 4 pieces according to the technical drawing

Files


Step 7: Make the Plexiglas Hand Guard

-cut a 350 x 40 mm piece of Plexiglas

-round of the edges with sandpaper

Step 8: Assembling the Machine

1.place the bolt holder in the profile.

2.screw the bolt in the threaded hole in the bolt holder.

3 put the spring and the axle holder in the profile.

4. press the axles through the rollers.

5. put the axles in the profile. the short axle on the bottom/movable spot.

do this for all 4 the profiles.

6. test fit the roller assembly between the two base plates, mark the positions of the profiles so that they are aligned.

7. remove the small base plate and screw in the roller assembly from the front in the big base plate.

8. test fit the guide stands and mark there positions on the base plate.

9. predrill holes in the baseplate and screw in the guide stand from the bottom of the base plate.

10. screw in the grip of the handle in the handle profile an attach it to the axle. tighten the handle on the axle

11. place double sided tap on top of the guide stands.

12. stick the guides to the guide stands. make sure everything is aligned.

13. reassemble the base plates and screw in the side base parts to fasten everything.

14. test fit the Plexiglas guard and mark where to drill.

15. screw in the plexi guard to the guide stands