WHAT WE ARE MAKING

WHY WE ARE MAKING IT

You will master various cardboard manipulation techniques and create several prototypes

To understand and create different cardboard techniques useful in lo-fi prototyping.

ACTIVITY MATERIALS

CARDBOARD

• Readily available
• Easy to manipulate
• Strong

Corrugation

CARDBOARD



Structural in one direction and bendable in the other

Bendable one direction

CUTTING TECHNIQUES

Cutting

Straight

Cutting

Curves

SHAPING TECHNIQUES

Shaping:

Bending

Shaping:

Faceting

Shaping:

Score + Bend

Straight

Shaping:

Score + Bend

Curve

Shaping:

Score + Bend

Shaping:

Layering

CONNECTING

Joining:

Hinge

Joining:

Hinge

Joining:

Butt Joint

Joining:

Braces

Joining:

Slotting

Joining:

Slotting

Joining:

Tabs

Joining:

Tabs

Joining:

Tabs/

Notching

Joining:

Tabs/

Notching

Joining:

Brads

Joining:

Skewer

Joining:

Skewer

Joining:

Strap

Joining:

Flange

MOVING

GEARS

SCISSOR

SLIDER

RAMP

PULLEY

TENTACLE

SPINNER

CLAW

WHAT WE ARE DOING

WHY WE ARE DOING IT

Choosing two moving parts from the mechanism library and combining/ integrating them into one prototype

؜To learn how these mechanisms work and how they can be applied.

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؜Familiarize yourself with the different mechanisms we'll be exploring by looking through the mechanisms deck in the Resources tab

Choose two mechanisms that you find most interesting. Sketch ideas for how you might integrate the two mechanisms or have them work together.

Using the provided cardboard and craft tools, construct the mechanisms and any extra pieces that will be needed to attach /integrate them.

Test your prototypes to see how well they function. Make adjustments as needed to improve their efficiency and effectiveness.

Share out! Show the rest of the group what you made!

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؜2

؜4

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OPTIONAL

Use this skill lab as a lasercutting workshop!

Attached to this post you will find .svg files for many of the mechanisms. Use these to laser cut the parts to assemble the mechanisms.

(Still try to find a way to attach or have the two mechanisms work together.)

GEARS

SCISSOR

SLIDER

RAMP

PULLEY

TENTACLE

• Cardboard
• Straw
• String

How to make it

1

4

2

3

Cut the cardboard into a long rectangle

Bend the cardboard into segments (about 1-inch long)

Cut the straw into half-inch pieces and hot glue them into the center of each segment

Thread the string through the straw pieces and secure it by tying or glueing to the top of the cardboard

SPINNER

CLAW

How to make it

1

2

Fold the triangular column on the perforations. Glue the triangle caps onto each end.

Glue two hook pieces together to make a wider/ stronger hook. Repeat three times.

How to make it

3

4

Glue the smaller round piece onto a larger piece. Slide a hook onto the small wood dowel. Glue into the notch. Glue on the larger cap.

Slide each of the three longer cardboard strips through the holes in the claws.

How to make it

5

6

Put the wood dowel through the holes in the triangular column, then the claw piece. Glue the circular cap onto the top of the dowel and claw piece.

Glue the center of the smaller cardboard strip onto the side of the triangle. Sandwich the ends of the long cardboard strip inside this piece. Repeat on each side.

GRABBER

1

4

2

3

5

4

How to make it

Lever

Mechanism 5

Waving

Mechanism 7

How to make it

1

4

2

3

5

6

Curving

Mechanism 8

How to make it

1

4

2

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