ROBOTIC OPEN-SOURCE SCALE DRESS || Mechanic Modular 3D Printed Parts That Connect to Fabrics and Hold Motors to Create Movement!...

Robotic open-source 'SCALE DRESS' || open-sourced project by Dutch #FashionTech Designer Anouk Wipprecht that consists of multiple 3D printed mechanic parts - created using ELEGOO 3D printers - that are equipped with tiny servo motors to create movement so the dress starts to swing and come alive!...

The dress mechanical system is modular and created in Onshape and hereby open-sourced so everyone can create robotic dresses in an instance! The mechanism is designed that it sandwiches easily between the outer and inner layer of a fabric, and the round shape evenly divides the weight of the mechanism so it doesn't create any 'hang'. Perfect for your first robotic dress project!

First of all, you need to know what you need to get,

what I used for EACH module:

3D printed parts (see STEP 1 for the files)

9G servo (use single servo arm x servo screw too)

5x M2*8mm screws (3 for servo casing, 2 for arm to blade)

1x M2*6mm screw (for blade-arm to servo)

2 small M2 spacers

1x M2*5 screw to set servo arm to blade

To see things more clearly: for this tutorial I printed the pieces in a matte grey filament, for better visibility. The real parts of the example dress are off course black. They have not been painted afterwards, The filament of the original dress is black ELEGOO PETG Pro. Pieces has been printed on the ELEGOO Neptune 4 Max ($390) + ELEGOO Neptune 4 Pro ($190) 3D printer.

3D PRINT YOUR PARTS!

Parts are divided in:

Servo Holder Base

Servo Holder Top

Blade

Arm

LED Diffuser

You can print them through this thingieverse link, or directly through the 5 attached files. Make sure to mirror them so you have an L (left) and R (right) file when printing. Arm files best to print flat so the print direction is in the length of the part. LED diffuser needs to be printed in a transparent / translucent filament - potentially a PETG so it leads the light through the material once printed :)

NOTE

I would print one first before 3D printing a full set to check with your fabric of choice (see STEP 7) to ensure that your fabric takes the element well. Once the first print works out for you, you can print multiple elements each plate.

INSERT THE 9G SERVO INTO THE SERVO CASE

Just push until it clicks. Make sure you insert it in the right direction; so the servo cable sticks through the little spacing that faces away from the front / solid part of the servo holder :)

SCREW THE TOP ON

Use 3 of the M2*8mm screws to screw the servo holder top to the servo holder base.

ATTACH THE SERVO ARM

Use 2 of the M2*8mm screws to screw the arm to the blade.

ATTACH ARM TO BLADE

Use the M2*5 screw to set servo arm to blade

ATTACH BLADE TO SERVO CASING

Use the M2*6mm screw to connect for blade-arm to servo, make sure on the holder side (opposite of the servo) to insert the two spacers in between the blade-arm and the screw hole, so there is more movement possible.

LED Diffuser

Add LED (if you want) and attach LED diffuser with a tip of hotglue to the top of the servo holder

INSERT IN BETWEEN FABRIC AND LINING

Do not that these casings have been created for a thicker fabric (neoprene / spacer mesh) for thinner materials you might want to put a spacer in between to create a more tight fit, or adjust the allowance between the place behind the casing and the holding element to the fabric.

ATTACHMENTS

Different arms (different kinds of attachments) are attached as files here, the thin (original) version, a thicker version, and a version that fits as a feather attachment. I hope to add a few more in the next weeks as I am creating more attachment arms to the servo holder.

FINISHED!

If correct, you have now your dress parts / mechanic parts created and inserted and you can start to program your dress to your liking! If people want I can upload the code here next week too (still a bit adjusting the final animation)

I hope this Instructables makes you explore the wonderful world of fashion x 3D printing and robotics. If you created something - make sure to tag #opensourcescaledress or tag me on IG @anoukwipprecht // https://www.instagram.com/anoukwipprecht/ or DM me and I repost your design from my side!

KEEP CREATING! And let me know what you think of this instructables, or if you think something is missing - I am always happy to receive feedback to make things easier for people!

PHOTOGRAPHY Martijn Cruyff

MODEL Larissa (x Lumi)