Reciprocal Frame Table
digital fabrication
Summer 2022
#cnc
#3dp
The final project of SUTD's Digital Design & Fabrication and Architectural Structure & Enclosure Design poses a team challenge to design and construct an unconventional table that is structurally sound, using fabrication methods that we have learnt throughout the course of the semester (such as waterjet cutting, laser cutting, woodworking, CNC routing, etc.).
The team chanced upon reciprocal frame structures as a method to replicate a single module many times to create a rigid structure. The concept then resulted in the use of triangular shaped modules which interlocked with each other. The resulting structure as a ‘tripod’ is fairly rigid, but two provides more balance overall.
concept prototyping
The team began the process by prototyping our idea to achieve a proof of concept. We accomplished this by taping chopsticks together and arranging them such that they lean on each other reciprocally.
We then furthered the testing by 3D printing more precise, to-scale pieces and adding some weight on it.
The team chanced upon reciprocal frame structures as a method to replicate a single module many times to create a rigid structure. The concept then resulted in the use of triangular shaped modules which interlocked with each other. The resulting structure as a ‘tripod’ is fairly rigid, but two provides more balance overall.
concept prototyping
The team began the process by prototyping our idea to achieve a proof of concept. We accomplished this by taping chopsticks together and arranging them such that they lean on each other reciprocally.
We then furthered the testing by 3D printing more precise, to-scale pieces and adding some weight on it.
Prototype models
joint prototyping
We conducted some prototyping on the joints, as sheet metal can be hard to bend accurately and ensuring that sufficient tolerance is provided for the metal wraps to hug the wood beams is a challenge.
We tested different sized cut-outs of holes, which acted as seams for bending. We then tested sheets with different gap tolerances with 90° bends.
We then tested non-orthogonal bending on our actual wooden members, thereby identifying inaccurate pieces to remodel. Identifying the amount of material to remove was important too, as too much material caused the joints to shatter. Lastly, the amount of tolerance accounted for the bends was critical in ensuring a good fit around the wooden members; insufficient tolerance resulted in erroneous attempts.
Prototype models
joint prototyping
We conducted some prototyping on the joints, as sheet metal can be hard to bend accurately and ensuring that sufficient tolerance is provided for the metal wraps to hug the wood beams is a challenge.
We tested different sized cut-outs of holes, which acted as seams for bending. We then tested sheets with different gap tolerances with 90° bends.
We then tested non-orthogonal bending on our actual wooden members, thereby identifying inaccurate pieces to remodel. Identifying the amount of material to remove was important too, as too much material caused the joints to shatter. Lastly, the amount of tolerance accounted for the bends was critical in ensuring a good fit around the wooden members; insufficient tolerance resulted in erroneous attempts.
