Interlooped

Project Story

Challenge

Mark Beecroft was looking to explore the application of traditional knit geometries, translated into CAD data and then 3D printed in a material strong enough yet flexible enough to explore their behaviour from this new medium. SLS (Industrial) was selected on the basis of this criteria.

Approach

The CAD files were produced in collaboration with a designer who had first hand, day to day knowledge of the physical SLS process. Obviously Mark clearly wanted to make the digital yarn as fine as possible and so the designer used their experience to take the scale of the geometry to its limits, producing a series of file iterations around this success / failure zone.

Outcome

The outcome was a series of knit geometry prints that dynamically performed and remained robust enough for the performance to be repeated time and again. Even demonstrating the parts' material memory by returning to their original position after being deformed. This project is a fine demonstration how purposeful outcomes can be achieved without the application of previously impossible, super optimised "Klingon aesthetic" parts. There's much to be discovered through translating the familiar via new technologies and materials.