“(s/b)3D”

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 combination of two yarns, an iridescent purple and yellow. This blend of yarns is my own interpretation of the colour a bees purple. The low relief embellishments have been 3D printed with a UV reactive filament that emits a glowing green light in the dark after being charged with UV light. The piece is a shimmering textured material when seen in daylight however changes to a bright green in the dark creating an alternative appearance of this material as it changes. The 3D printed embellishments are isolated in appearance in the dark and almost look like they are floating.

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 Art

Qualities

Textured

Colour

Blue Green White Violet Yellow

Sample Information

Date of creation

Designed and made April 2021.

Dimensions

Width 20cm x Height 20cm x Depth 5mm

Weight

41g

Culture & Context

This sample is inspired by bees incredible ability to see the world through UV (ultra violet) vision. They see the world in a different way to us opening the bees up to
seeing hidden UV patterns on flowers and throughout nature. As well as looking at how bees see the world I also dived into the anatomy of their eyes and the thousands of tiny hexagonal lenses that make up their eye. Influenced by this structure and the UV vision this piece has been 3D printed with a UV reactive filament meaning it emits a glowing green light in the dark when charged with UV light. The low relief embellishments focus on the lenses and eye anatomy whereas the light changing  filament and base iridescent yellow-purple mockleno fabric focuses on the UV vision bees have.

Process & Production

The process of this material was firstly hand weaving the mockleno weave on an 8 shaft handloom using the iridescent 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.
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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Striped manipulations with a double cloth weave.

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Double cloth weave with stripes with tubes filled with wool fibres as wadding.

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