Mockleno BeeBums 3D Printed

Experiment

Technology

Traditional

This base of this sample was handwoven on an 8 shaft handloom. A block mockleno weave was used for this sample. The warp of this weave is an ice blue, extra fine monofilament polyester (donated dead stock from Botony Weave). The weft of this sample is a fine Tunisian silk that is a golden honey colour. The low relief embellishments have been 3D printed with a white PLA filament. They look like little gems of icing but are actually inspired by how the little bee bums stick out of flowers or the honeycomb when they are working away.

Material

Experimental materials
Fiber
Plastics and resins

Craft

Printing
Textiles

General Technique

Combining
Constructing
Surface modifying

Specific Technique

A block mockleno weave structure has been woven on an 8 shaft loom. This fabric was designed as a mesh like material to support low relief 3D printed embellishments. The 3D printed embellishments were printed onto the material by trapping the fabric between printing layers. The design was printed on the main bed of the 3D printer for X2 layers and paused, then the mockleno fabric was taped on top of this. The printer was then resumed and continued printing the design on top of the fabric, the wet filament sinked through the mesh holes of the mockleno and bonded to the first 2 layers printed trapping the fabric between.

Properties & Qualities

Application

Sample Making Other

Colour

Blue White Orange Yellow

Sample Information

Date of creation

April 2021

Dimensions

Width 20cm x Height 20cm x Depth 10mm

Weight

17g

Culture & Context

This sample is inspired by bees and their little bums with stingers. When bees are searching for flowers and pollen they stick their heads into the centre leaving their fluffy bums stick out. They also does this in their hive with the honeycomb. I designed the 3D printed motifs to give a similar feel to this and placed them on a golden base fabric to look like the honeycomb.

Process & Production

The process of this material was firstly hand weaving the mockleno weave on an 8 shaft handloom using the golden Tunisian silk yarns. Once the weaving is finished and
the sample is off the loom it was sewn to secure edges before moving onto the 3D printed elements. The 3D printed design was created using the Rhinoceros 3D modelling software and then printed using a 3D printer. The first two layers of the design were printed on the base of the printing bed, the printer was then paused and the mockleno woven fabric was taped on top. The printer was then resumed and it continued to print on top of the fabric seeping through the mesh gaps in the fabric when wet and bonds to the first few layers of filament printed trapping the fabric between.

Recipe Details

Weaving done on an 8 shaft handloom using a mockleno weave structure and a fine
golden Tunisian silk for the weft.
The 3D printer used to produce this sample was a Prusa i3 Mk 2.5s.
The extruder is set at 215/210c.
The print bed is set at no heat.
2 layers are printed first before adding the textile on top to continue printing.

Credits

Craft Maker

Amy Kerr (AK Textiles)

Library Contributor

National College of Art & Design Ireland

Photographer

Amy Kerr

Practitioner

Amy Kerr

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