Mechcircuit: Revolutionizing Interactive Prototyping

Designers Weijia Lin and Shuyue Feng Redefine Prototyping with Magnetism and Laser-Cut Slots

The inspiration behind Mechcircuit was the need to optimize the prototyping process. Traditionally, the design of electronic circuits and mechanical structures are carried out separately, which often leads to suboptimal results. Mechcircuit addresses this issue by enabling non-expert users to design and fabricate interactive prototypes that combine electronic circuits and mechanical structures.

Mechcircuit's unique properties lie in its simplicity and efficiency. The design uses magnetism and laser-cut slots to connect components, eliminating the need for complicated operations like wiring and soldering. This approach not only makes connecting and replacing components quick and easy but also allows users to achieve mechanical functions like rotary and linear without using traditional mechanical parts.

The realization of Mechcircuit involved the use of rubidium magnets, which are both magnetic and conductive. The design team developed computer-aided design software that integrates various modules for user-friendly prototyping. They used a commercial-grade laser cutter for cutting and processing and conductive silver ink for the circuitry. The result is a mechanical structure that is interactive, easy to design, and assemble.

The design was created at the School of Software, Zhejiang University, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China, between July and December 2022. The team conducted extensive research to explore technological parameters and assess the practical feasibility of the fabrication pipeline. They also organized a user-observing workshop for non-expert users, which demonstrated the feasibility of Mechcircuit as a useful and inspiring prototyping method.

Despite the challenges of integrating the design of structures and circuits and simplifying the design and manufacturing process, the team successfully used a different design and fabrication approach than traditional ones. They chose rubidium magnets as the magnetoelectric material and used conductive silver ink paint to replace the traditional Dupont wire. The result is a design that leverages the neodymium magnet's natures of magnetism and conductivity to integrate electronics and mechanical structures into prototypes.

In conclusion, Mechcircuit is a revolutionary design that simplifies and optimizes the prototyping process. By integrating electronic circuits and mechanical structures, it allows non-expert users to design and fabricate interactive prototypes quickly and easily. With its innovative use of magnetism and laser-cut slots, Mechcircuit is set to redefine the future of prototyping.