The Cage Prototype Pt 2

CAGE PROTOTYPE PT 2

After critique in our December presentation we thought it was necessary to adapt our prototype. The main concern being that prototype Pt 1 was too restrictive to the balloon and wasn’t representative of what we were trying to achieve. This led to an evaluation of what we required of the ‘Cage’.

Firstly, responding to criticism, the Cage needed suitable apertures to reflect our chosen ‘Forgotten Space’ we were trying to inhabit. We were able to combat this through the production of four different plywood filters. Filter one demonstrates four of the six columns of Bute Building. This aimed to be the most representative filter of our project, due to the hope that, through visual demonstration, the inflating balloon will fill the area behind the ‘columns’. The second and third filters aim to explore the balloons ability to expand through a variety of scales and shapes. The fourth aims to achieve a more calculated representation of Bute’s capacity, with each ring representing a quantity of people.

Secondly, we wanted these filters to rely on a Bus modular system which were secure and able to handle the pressure of the expanding balloon. This was achieved in Prototype Pt 2 by using thoughtful design and high-quality fabrication methods. We utilised our local FabLab at Cardiff Metropolitan University to CNC router five faces of 12mm Plywood. These faces were assembled using the interlocking finger joints and screws for maximum stability when inflation was to take place. Due to the potentials of the CNC router we were also able to engrave a 5mm deep canal for the filters to slide into. This, along with a simple chest lock and 12mm ply, ensured that the filters were able to withstand extreme pressures of the balloon.

Thirdly, we felt it was important to house the supporting system and laptop (holding the code). Keeping this in mind when developing Prototype Pt 2, we came up with a plywood casing, open for editing on one side and transparent on the other for viewing. This encased the microcomputer and its components and prevented any potential damage to the system. The laptop, compared to being separate in Prototype Pt 1, now has the choice to sit to the side or on top of the unit. This is made possible via four USB ports we have added to the plywood casing.

Finally, as a mark of resolution, the ‘Cage’ Prototype Pt 2 needed to encompass our whole project, linking both the supporting system and visual representation of the expanding balloon. We feel we have achieved this by housing both elements and producing a clear link of the airtight ‘Y’ element feeding through the centre of the box. As a collective, these design guidelines have helped us to drastically develop our module from Pt 1 to Pt 2.