Carved Gourd Bot
The team is composed by two technology’s social impact keens with engineerial background.
Thus, for this group work we look for some specific problematic that we can contribute to.
Thus, we focus on artisans crafts and develop a machine that could support hand-made creation and
provide some geometric guidelines to hand-made carved grouds.
THE JOURNEY TO FABRICATE A CARVED GOURD BOT
SELECTING THE MACHINE TO DESIGN
We reviewed different options, to work with, and decide to ensemble a machine that could draw some geometric lines on
Mates Burilados,
Peruvians handmade traditional crafts. These crafts are produced by carving gourds with exceptionally detailed
representations of rural communities’ life. The gourds grow at the Peruvian coast, and they are sold as touristic
handicraft. The productive process is complex, there are no patterns, thus, every product is unique, each output
relies on artisan abilities and inspiration. Hence, there is a limitation to increase their production, which curtail
their growth.
(Barreras de exportación de mates burilados en el anexo de Cochas Chico, Huancayo en el año 2020)
Thus, we though that some carved guidelines could be produce with a machine. We search for examples,
or similar machines that could draw on geometry irregular surfaces. Our instructor suggested to look for machines
that draw lines on eggs, also known as egg-bots. We’ve got some example that could be useful, even some commercial
options.
BENCHMARKING PROCESS
Sphere-O-Bot
a CNC machine design by JJRobots to draw basic figures over eggs.
The key components in this design (as you can see in the picture) are:
- 2x 1.8deg HIGH QUALITY NEMA 17 Stepper motors (40mm length) (4.4Kg/cm torque)
- 1x SG90 servo
- DEVIA Robotics Control Board
- 2x A4988 Stepper motor drivers

The barrier with this design was the use of DEVIA Board, because is not available locally. However, we decide to test the framework’s design.

(This is the design shared by the web site)
We also found, The EggBot Pro, a commercial device that uses a main framework of solid aluminium. This product allows to decorate different objects (that could be bigger that an egg). Also controlled by high-torque precision stepping motors, with pen lift mechanism is a quiet and reliable servo motor. They use 16× microstepping to give a resolution of 3200 steps/revolution in both axes. We noticed that this design uses NEMA 17 Stepper Motor Mounting Brackets. Similar to the ones used in some 3D printer models. Thus, we decided to include them in our main frame design, instead of printing them, and ensure stability.

Engraving Easter Eggs with the Egg Laser , we found this variation of the egg-bot that cotains a laser to engrave eggs, created by untitled.house and that you can find in its Youtube channel. Instead of a pen, it uses a water cooled 1 W laser diode. In this case the main frame is made of aluminium. And we believe that could be a second stage of our project, because we will need to import the laser diode and test it with a different main frame and components.

DISCUSSION
Small prototypes were made to explore the movement and fabrics of the panels. We explore various vertical structures for the movement of the panels. We study wood, plastic and aluminum. This allowed us to make decisions. We decided to use wood for the vertical axes as it was light in weight, had good stiffness and was easy to work with.


DIGITAL PROCESS
Gear design was the trickiest part. It helped us a lot to have the example of Pixel Facade.
Each of the pieces was digitally designed in autocad:
- The gears. It helped us a lot to have the example of Pixel Facade.
- MDF frame to support the entire window.
- MDF base to hide the mechanical and electronic system
- Square panels
- Vertical structure and panel connection piece


FABRICATION
For the manufacture of gears and acrylic joint parts, it was exported from autocad to PDF. The file was opened in CorelDraw and run on the laser cutting machine. The internal parameters of 4mm acrylic cutting were imported. Several models were printed until the vertical wooden structure fits into the holes of the gears.
For the manufacture of acrylic panels, it was exported from autocad to PDF. The file was opened in CorelDraw and run on the laser cutting machine. 2mm acrylic cutting internal parameters were imported.
For the manufacture of MDF panels, it was exported from autocad to PDF. The file was opened in CorelDraw and run on the laser cutting machine. Internal 2mm wood cutting parameters were imported.
For the manufacture of the base and the frame of the MDF window it was exported from autocad to PDF. The file was opened in Inkscape and saved in .SVG format. With the Online JSCUT application, the cutting code for the CNC mill machine was created.
ASSEMBLE
Some manual tests were made for the correct operation of the mechanical gear system.
The window frame was made of 15mm MDF.
Joined the gear system with the window frame
The fabric of the panels was explored creating different textures through movement
It was decided to give it more visual complexity with a printed image. With the help of the cutting plotter, we cut the self-adhesive vinyl to cover the pixels.
A servo motor was purchased to move the gear system. This is where we had the most problems. On some occasions the pieces got stuck and did not rotate. We had to assemble the whole system several times in such a way that the panels were fixed and did not collide with each other in the turn. It was hard work and time invested.
We opted to place LED lights to improve visual sensations.
An arduino 1 board was also bought to program the motor and the lights.
PROGRAMMING
We use the Arduino IDE software to program. We correctly connect the cables to the computer and start programming, we define the type of motor and its speed, in this case a stepper motor, finally the time it will rotate and the sequences it will follow.
Finally we tested it manually and the mechanism worked, after programming we tested it by connecting it to the power supply and it also worked.
You can see the code below:
//initialize the stepper library on pins 8 through 11:
Stepper myStepper(stepsPerRevolution, 8, 9 , 10, 11);
void setup() {
//set the speed at 50 rpm:
myStepper.setSpeed(50);
}
void loop() {
//number of turns
int n = 5;
//time in seconds
int t1 = 5;
//time in seconds
int t2 = 60;
// step n revolutions in the other direction
myStepper.step(-n*stepsPerRevolution);
delay(t1*1000);
//step n revolutions in the other direction:
myStepper.step(-n*stepsPerRevolution);
delay(t2*1000);
}
The end result was as follows: A completely transparent face is presented. With another twist you can see the Fab Academy logo. In another you can see different colors of vinyl-coated MDF prisons. In addition, the light frames the window.
Materials list:
- Wires
- Acrylic
- MDF
- Servo Motor
- ARDUINO UNO
- led lights
- Vinyl
- wooden slats
FUTURE OF THE MACHINE
It is the first machine we make and in that sense it has changed our way of perceiving architectural elements. In this experience of making the kinetic window, we observe a great potential to continue exploring the spatial qualities that the envelope can give us in buildings. The window in particular is the contact between the environment and the interior of the room.
You can still scan the axes of rotation in multiple directions and not just one axis of rotation. More sensory elements can be inserted to create different atmospheres through textures, colors, movement, etc.
There are many possibilities to make this a commercial product. Prototyping is one of the great tools that helps us create, improve and carry out projects. It has been very interesting to participate in this experience.
CONCLUSIONS
As architects we are used to designing static architectural elements. It was a challenge for us to think of movement through gears and axis of rotation. The work will help us in future jobs since we learned mechanical and automation processes.
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