Vacuum Paper Molding Explorations

Paper is a cheap, readily available material which can be formed (like egg crates) into 3D shapes easily, and with high repeatability. This experiment examined the opportunities for making flexible "living hinges" in molded paper parts, such that the final object could be closed like a box. The project also demonstrated the ease of mass production that this method offers (all these boxes were produced in approximately two hours, by hand. For a more refined application of this method, look at this modular shelving system project.

Vacuum Molded Paper Storage

This project pushed the size and precision possible with the vacuum-powered paper molding process I had employed previously. Three modular boxes were identified which could be stacked in various ways. Molds were made, and using a shop vac, paper pulp was pulled onto the molds, and compressed into place. Once dry, the modules could stack and were quite durable.

Research Inquiries

Dominic Muren is a faculty member in the Design Division of the School of Art at the University of Washington.
His research interests are:

• Low-infrastructure manufacturing
• Design for the developing world
• Physical computing and hardware sketching
• User-assisted manufacturing and Design for hacking
• Collaboration tools for manufacturing

The Design division does not currently offer a PhD, and professors in Design do not take on graduate students. However, the division offers a masters degree with a concentration in either Industrial Design, Visual Communication Design, or Interaction Design.

Dominic can be reached regaurding research collaboration at dmuren (at) u.washington dot edu.

Consulting

Dominic Muren has worked on leading edge projects from toys, to architecture, to consumer goods. He can offer your project expertise in material selection, lifecycle analysis and carbon footprinting, and user-assisted manufacture. Consulting inquiries should be directed to Dominic(at)Humblefactory dot com

Humblefacture Blog

The Humblefacture Blog is the premier forum for publication and discussion of low-infrastructure, community-sensitive fabrication. Posts run the gamut from theories of production and modularity, to new discoveries of materials or processes, to recipes and DIYs for readers to directly put into practice. As the discussion develops, interactions and colaborations will test the connection between the theory of Humblefacture, and the practice carried out by the Humblefactory.

Skin Experimentation

In order to test the potential of skin-protected objects, two forms were covered in highly elastic polyester fabric. The first, a simple extruded form was realatively simple to cover, and maintained good closure even when shaken or dropped. The second, a tea-pot with complex convex surfaces, was more difficult to skin, but was strongly held together once wrapped. The fabric is wear resistant, low cost, and easy to care for. Best of all, it can be sewn with a simple zig-zag sewing machine.