The materials we used for the lamp are canvas and wax; both structurally unstable.
Our final project is an outcome of the experiments we had made over the weeks to study the material properties.
Laser cutting: In this exercise, we used the flexibility of canvas to our advantage by making our sphere stable by twisting it.
Laser cutting – Canvas
Milling: We created a mold from foam and casted the wax. From this experiment we figured that paraffin wax, our first choice of wax; was highly brittle and fragile when set and as a result, extremely difficult to de-mold. We experimented with micro crystalline wax, which though more opaque, was much easier to work with. We also observed that it was flexible even on setting.
molding the wax
3d Printing: We used Form lab to cast resin joints which were not as rigid as the plastic or the ceramic ones.
Resin joints
The process
After many failed attempts to try and link the two materials, we decided to reinforce the canvas with wax. By adding a layer of microcrystalline wax over the canvas, it not only strengthened it but also enhanced its flexible properties.
By this method the canvas could be molded while the wax was still slightly warm and hold the desired shape.
Reinforcing the wax with cotton fibers gave an interesting effect when light was passed through.
Experiments were also made by varying the proportion of paraffin and microcrystalline wax. But we concluded that pure microcrystalline worked best.
The Design
The concept was to create a lamp that showcased the materials in their true element. The canvas being a fabric is made to drape around the structure. Tessellating the fabric created an added dimension.
The density varies along the length of the lamp with the top most part being highly dense with smaller triangles and openings and the bottom being less dense with larger triangles and openings.
The canvas to canvas joints were 3d printed in resin as it was tested as flexible and complimented the canvas.
