LaCir: A Multilayered Laser-cuttable Material to Co-fabricate Circuitry and Structural Components

Author

Niels Christian Buch, Carlos E. Tejada, Daniel Ashbrook, Valkyrie Savage, CHI 2024

Keywords

Prototyping; Digital Fabrication; Circuitry; Laser Cutter; Multi- material Stack; Circuit Joinery

WHAT

  • A method for using sandwiched material consisting of two structural and one conductive layer to prototype electrically functional objects on a laser cutter

  • An exploration and evaluation of the characteristics of can didates for the conductive-and-structural substrate.

  • An evaluation of laser-cut joinery and embedded off-the shelf components as structural and circuit connections.

WHY

  • traditional methods require multiple machines and processes to create both the device’s shape and its electronic functionality

  • to streamline the prototyping process and enhance the capabilities of rapid prototyping in the field of digital fabrication

HOW

  • LaCir Design

    • The Cuts

      • Through Cuts

      • Tracing Cuts

      • Revealing Cuts

    • The Physical Layer

      • Laser-cuttable joints

      • Off-the-shelf connectors

    • The Circuitry Layer

    • Fabricating

      • material

  • Techinical evaluation

    • Conductive Materials

      • Promising conductive properties: metallic materials

    • Structural Materials

      • Acrylic, which is meltable, aiding laser welding

      • Delrin, which provides a middle ground with moderate flexibility and meltability

      • Wood, which offers flexibility for movable designs

    • Bonding Conductive and Structural Materials

      • acrylic with all cuttable conductive layers

      • wood with metal leafs and glue

      • wood with conductive paints

      • Delrin with silver paint

Application

  • Rocket Lamp

  • Wheel of Fortune Spinner