Modular Prototyping

Modular Prototyping

Project Lead: David Mathias

Using physical objects when prototyping has enormous benefits and affords tangibility and presence that are lacking from digital files. However creating prototypes takes time and money, this project is investigating how construction kits and additive manufacture can be combined to add flexibility and reconfigurability into this process.

Mixed-media prototyping kits, here using LEGO and AM allow designers to rapidly and physically edit their designs.

Demonstration Video

Recent Posts

  • Hybrid Prototyping – Physical Implementation - The potential benefits of coupling LEGO and FDM printing in a hybrid prototyping have been shown through idealised simulations, however it needs to be feasible and practical to implement for it to be a useful approach to prototyping. This figure illustrates in 2D how a design can be prototyped out… Read More
  • Introducing Brixelate & Kitify - Brixelate and Kitify are two Blender addons written in Python that help designers create physical, editable versions of their designs. Check out the video below to see them in action. Brixelate Brixelate takes an 3D object and packs it full of LEGO bricks. The type of LEGO bricks used can… Read More
  • Flexible, Reusable & Modular Prototypes - Using physical objects when prototyping has enormous benefits and affords tangibility and presence that are lacking from digital files. However creating prototypes takes time and money, this project is investigating how construction kits and additive manufacture can be combined to add flexibility and reconfigurability into this process. Project Lead: David… Read More