Exploring Concepts from Soft Robotics — Professor Kari Love
Material ConneXion Library Visit
Our class took a visit to the wonderful Material ConneXion Library in Midtown Manhattan. Apparently, their showroom used to be bigger. Below are a selection of the materials which caught my eye, especially the ones that I most wanted to touch.
LEL (LOOMIA Electronic Layer) 4 Wire Bus Sample
https://www.materialconnexion.com/828103?activeChild=12199
This was like seeing a celebrity. I have been served their advertisements for years and to get to touch a little bit of their cloth, in this case a 4 wire bus, was crazy! I am particularly intregued by the way this material creates its stretchy affordances by the u shape of the bus. As I browse their contact information, I see their smallest projects "typically start around 5k" Additional samples would require significant schmoozing.
Distributor: Lumia
Contact: accounts@loomia.com.
LentigramReflective® 2.0 Fabric
https://www.materialconnexion.com/1264003?activeChild=15764
This caught my eye because it is soft and reflective and also perpective dependent. I think the fact that the shown image can be conceled or visible is a property worth exploring for like trick artworks. I also just like how it felt
Distributor: CHIMERA MULTINATIONAL CO., LTD.
Contact: SALES101@chimeramln.com
100% Rainfed Regenerative Organic Raddis® Cotton
https://www.materialconnexion.com/1350701?activeChild=15889
I love the waffeling here, I think it looks so beautiful and soft and squishy.
Distributor: PAPILLON BLEU
Contact: info@papillonbleu.com
SQUAMA®
https://www.materialconnexion.com/1238702?activeChild=14689
This material is not stretchy, but it is soft. I am drawn to it because its so modern and so ancient. I really like when traditional materials can be reinterprited.
Distributor: ICTYOS CUIR MARIN DE FRANCE
Contact: accueil@ictyos.com
Pure Stainless Steel Wire Mesh For Architecture
https://www.materialconnexion.com/1126701?activeChild=12901
This material is so classically "soft robotics" because its a hard material at a tiny diameter woven to be stretchy and squishy and even opaque. It felt stiff in my hand, maybe not the best for on body, but I would be really interested to see how it moves in an architectural scale.
Distributor: ASADA MESH CO.,LTD
Contact: k-kawarazaki@asada-mesh.co.jp
Enkair®
https://www.materialconnexion.com/1003101?activeChild=11221
Apparently they have the ability to modify the density of this material in 3D, so the manufacturer can create unique levels of compression and response across space. They say the mesh can be 25mm thick and is sutable for cushioning.
Distributor: LOW & BONAR
Contact: enkair@lowandbonar.com
Shore Rugs
https://www.materialconnexion.com/1298401?activeChild=15218
Beautiful big fat chunky silicone ropes. I saw this and just had to touch it. Its soft because its woven, its soft becuase its silicon. It feels great in the hand, so textural. They asy it has Extreme durability. I loved how thick it was.
Distributor: SHORE
Contact: info@shorerugs.com