Image:Kaynemaile
Processes are an equally inspiring area for designers to explore. Here we list a few examples that have caught our eye lately.
Kaynemaile
The clue is in the name with this process – perhaps best described as an updated version of medieval chainmail body armour, Kaynemaile pulls off an impressive manufacturing ‘trick’ in that it makes it possible to produce a plastic mesh with no visible links or joints in a single step. In comparison to other plastic or metal meshes, it’s impossible to find any joints anywhere in the textile. Made from polycarbonate available in a wide range of colours, from opaque to translucent, Kaynemaile is suitable for all kinds of interior and lighting applications. To find out more, please visit the Kaynemaile website – www.kaynemaile.com
Multi-shot injection moulding
Co-moulding, or over-moulding as it is also known, is a fairly common form of injection moulding that can be used to combine more than one material in the same part. The US-based company MGS Mfg Group have come up with a way of combining up to four (!) different materials in the same moulding however. Take a look at the valve in photo – this intricate part was produced and ‘assembled’ in just one injection moulding cycle. The red dial is made with polypropylene and controls the flow of liquid, while the white housing is made with polycarbonate. The third material is a blue rubber used to seal the different parts of the valve. For more ideas about what can be achieved with the process, have a look at the MGS website – www.mgstech.com
Domestic manufacturing
On the more experimental side of manufacturing, we recently found a lovely project by former RCA student Dae Kyung Ahn. Dubbed Microfactory, it’s essentially an exploration of how manufacturing can be brought back in the hands on designers. The first product to come out of Dae Kyung’s research is called MOW – a versatile table-top cutter for sheet materials like cardboard, polypropylene and MDF up to 2mm thick. Cutting patterns are uploaded via Bluetooth and pretty much any flat surface will work as a base for the unit. Find out more about Dae Kyung’s vision for the project here – www.ahndaekyung.com
