Self-Assembling Systems: Wax Casting Experiments

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Self-assembling mechanisms exist in abundance in nature, producing structures as distinct as crystals, proteins and tissue. Natural as well as artificial examples exist at the nano and micro scale, but have rarely been attempted at the macroscopic-scale. The first objective of the proposed study will be to explore the characteristics and applications of such systems, with their main properties being high levels of redundancy and behavior which is intrinsically related to geometry and material. The second objective will be to investigate the issues of scalability which have limited former studies. A series of digital and physical, (material, and component based) prototype-systems (consisting of macroscopic-scale components) will be designed, based on notions abstracted from studied examples.

The final objective will be to explore the possibility of designing a system, composed of macroscopic-scale units, that self-assembles (within a probabilistic reliable interval) into some form of structure at the architectural-scale. The logic developed could apply to a self-assembly casting system, where a minimum set of components along with a template system and a throwing sequence could be used in order to create a variety of structures and generate as well voids, where spaces are needed. Consequently, construction time, labor cost and specialization could be drastically decreased compared to already existing, conventional casting techniques.

Self-Assembling Systems is an Emtech 2011-2012 Dissertation by:

Marina Konstantatou
Chun Fone Liu
Vincenzo Reale (pquod.blogspot.com)
Giancarlo Torpiano

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Wax Casting Experiments_02

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