anastasia-stanislaus

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Mutate in action

[anastasia-stanislaus]

Final Reflection

Thank you to everyone in the studio for assisting me whenever I faced any challenges, and of course thank you Karen for pushing me to achieve my goals (even when they seemed nearly impossible).

I learnt so much in just a few short months. When I first stepped into this studio class I had considered leaving as I didn’t think I would be able to achieve what was expected. My knowledge of computers and technology was completely minimal. But as the weeks progressed, so did my understanding and I found myself learning more every class. From the mini processing workshops to the walkthroughs in Arduino, I began to progress in the subject. With research and additional guidance from Karen, I was able to construct my own XY plotter and step out of my comfort zone. I now know a lot about Arduino, Gcode and Grbl. I even discovered ferrofluid and how it can be manipulated and controlled based on the magnetic pull of a magnet.

Even though I couldn’t achieve my initial concept, with further development I would be able to connect the Arduino to a PIR motion sensor and control the movement of the XY plotter through the motion of the user. Additional progress could also result in my own laser cutter or 3D printer (if I worked hard enough to develop my XY plotter).

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Exhibition day

Seriously amazed with all of the hard work and determination that was put into this studio class! It’s crazy to see how far all of us have progressed from the project pitch up until now and how we’ve developed and refined our ideas. I found this studio incredibly helpful - the open studio environment helped us all to work collaboratively and effectively communicate our expectations and challenges to each other. I found that a lot of the time, (if Karen was unavailable) other students were able to assist or guide me in the direction that I needed to take. I am extremely proud and grateful for everyone that took this journey with me! Thank you!!

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Christian Robach Inspiration

Christian Robach created ‘magnetography’ which is an alternative drawing toy that uses ferrofluid (a liquid which becomes strongly magnetized in the presence of a magnetic field). This design is built out of old DC-Motors, a frame filled with water and ferrofluids. The “pen” can be controlled by using the W-A-S-D letters on the keyboard allowing the users to play with the liquid metal without getting their hands dirty. The commands are sent to the serial Port via Processing then Arduino Uno, with an Adafruit Motor Shield extension, reacts by powering the motors and moving the magnet according to the coordinates.

Preceding my current ‘Mutate’ design, I had a different iteration of the concept which involved using a pin impression toy, where the pins were pushed out according to the movement of the user. A quarter way through the development of this process, I came to the realisation that the servo motor would push the pins out, but I needed a solution for pushing the pins back in. Further research led me to solenoids and a magnetic pull. This is the research concept that projected my initial generative design into my own dynamic installation.

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Gcode commands

Gcode commands uploaded in Grbl 3.6.1 to control the movement of the XY plotter. (coordinates used to spell letters A B C D)

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Acrylic case fail

Unfortunately the tank that I constructed myself to hold the magnetic ferrofluid was impractical, as the silicone glue wasn’t able to completely seal the edges (which lead to a whole lot of leakage). Luckily I was able to find a fish tank that was roughly of the same dimensions to use for exhibition day. I was still able to use this rough mock-up to display business cards.

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Artist Statement

‘Mutate’ is a dynamic installation which reacts to the user’s kinetic energy (input) and translates this raw data to produce the movement of an XY plotter (process) which creates an interactive display of articulate and engaged motions, presented through a magnetic ferrofluid (output). We often see ourselves through mirrors, photos, and reflective surfaces, but something that we tend to overlook is the physical representation of ourselves through movement and energy. Everyone’s kinetic energy is different, and that is what ‘Mutate’ aims to portray.

The use of a magnetic substance is also an enigmatic concept, as the earth’s core contains a geomagnetic field that extends from the earth’s interior out into space. For the user to be able to control such a cryptic substance through their own kinetic energy is a complex experience made possible through ‘Mutate’. The design is produced through Arduino software, which uses Grbl and Gcode to control the movement of an XY plotter. An augmented visualisation is created through the input of kinetic energy, which is captured through a PIR motion sensor and allows for the mutation and movement of a magnetic ferrofluid - encased within an acrylic tank.

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Mutate Redesign

Mutate is identified by a vibrant orange colour to represent energy. It is called ‘Mutate’ because the ferrofluid is a mutation of the users kinetic energy in motion. Dark thin lines symbolise the magnetic liquid being dragged across a surface.

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Tools and Resources

XY plotter

Linear guide rails 30cm (3)

NEMA17 Stepper Motors (2)

Wooden base plate

Wood screws

GT2 Timing Pulley 6mm 20 teeth

GT2 Timing Belt 6mm

Software

a4988 Stepper Motor Driver (2)

12 volt 2.5 amp transformer

CNC shield

Arduino Uno

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Critical theory - Mutate

Cartesian Coordinates system

The Cartesian Coordinate theory is a system that specifies each point uniquely in a plane by a set of numerical coordinates. These are the signed distances to the designated point from two perpendicular lines (which are measured in the same unit of length). Each line is called an axis of the system, and the point where they meet is its origin. The invention of Cartesian coordinates in the 17th century by René Descartes has revolutionised mathematics. This theory is in the application of my linear XY plotter, which allows the motors to travel linearly across the guide rails, depending on the input of the coordinated values.

Representations of perpetual motion

The theory of perpetual motion is the action of a device that, once set in motion, would continue in motion forever, with no additional energy required to maintain it. Although ‘Mutate’ isn’t a continuous loop of energy being reiterated throughout the machine, it still resides in the promise of a virtually free and limitless source of power (through the kinetic energy of the user). Escher’s representation of perpetual motion through his waterfall lithograph heavily revolves around this concept. Where his waterfall is in a continuous loop of motion. Although my design doesn’t live through this theory, it still maintains certain aspects of it.

Magnetic Poles Theory

According to Aristotle, “Thales, judging by what they report, seems to have believed that the soul was something which produces motion, in as much as he said that the magnet has a soul because it moves iron.” In my own design, I am taking the soul seen through the kinetic energy of motion, and the soul from within the magnet and combining both. The immersion of both concepts into one, is almost intended to create a ‘magnetic field’ between the user and the magnetic ferrofluid.

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Stave to the algorithm week 12

In class today, we were bought to the topic of surveillance capitalism. Print changed our world, culture was distributed, people could read, legacy of story, commerce of thinking. In the commerce of this age (still in its infancy) the digital resolution is happening at the same time as rampant capitalism. Capitalism colliding with this digital revolution means we are now in a state of surveillance capitalism, where information is currency, which is generated from us.

We are slaves to the algorithm (combined and individually) which is being used to drive capitalism. “Surveillance capitalism claims human experience as free raw material for translation into behavioural data – it provides free services that billions of people cheerfully use enabling the providers of their services to monitor the behaviour of those users.” It had only just occurred to me that everyone is a slave to the algorithm.

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Universal Gcode week 12

When using the Grbl controller app, I kept getting an ‘error 22’. I realised this was because I needed to set the feed rate by inserting ‘f1000’ into the command tab

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Week 12 soldering update

Because I soldered all of the pins together, the a4988 stepper motor drivers weren’t able to work. The pins should have been soldered individually

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Coding week 11

When trying to upload my Grbl onto the arduino uno, I kept getting the error ‘board at com 3 is not available’. After speaking to karen, I came to realise that because I had plugged in my arduino with the CNC shield, it was too much for my laptop to handle. So I had to upload the code onto the arduino board before adding anything else

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Arduino week 11

In class last week, I tried to put my Arduino software together. However I came to realise that instead of getting a Fabscan shield, I had ordered a data logging shield. These two are different as the first one physically hosts the stopper motor drivers, whereas the second lets you save data to files on any SD card. I was also advised that I no longer needed the step sticks and step stick protectors. All I needed to get started were my a4988 stepper motor drivers along with the Arduino Uno, CNC shield and NEMA17 stepper motors.

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Soldering week 11

With the help of Euan and Natasha, I was able to solder my a4988 stepper motor drivers together :)

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Ferrofluid week 11

Testing the reactivity of ferrofluid within different liquid bases.