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MIT MakerWorkshop Maker Cup Event 2019
MIT MakerWorkshop Maker Cup Event 2019
As part of the MakerWorkshop community at MIT, I was able to participate in the MakerCup event. Members of the MakerWorkshop community applied for funding for personal projects, and entered a competition for various prizes!
For the 2019 MakerCup event, I made a set of river table inspired coasters out of wooden rounds and colored resin. Combining the Japanese art of Kintsugi (the art of repairing broken pottery with gold), and the current resin-and-wood project phenomenon, these coasters were broken into pieces and put back together with epoxy resin.
My process is described below.
I bought a set of round wood slices, and broke them into small pieces. Some were broken using the "batting practice" method seen here, but most were broken using a hammer. The pieces were kept together so I could re-assemble them with the resin.
After the rounds were broken, I assembled them back together in makeshift molds made of packing and gorilla tape. The tape molds were intended to contain the epoxy resin and keep the pieces of the coasters in place.
Once the resin was poured and cured, the tape molds were removed, and significant spillage was revealed, as shown in the image.
Post machining was required to smooth out the surfaces. I used an orbital sander (and made sure to wear a mask since the dust can be dangerous).
Bottom side of a coaster before being sanded.
Bottom side of a coaster after being sanded.
Final top side and bottom side of post-machined coasters. The top side had a really cool 3D effect since the resin did not fill the cracks fully - it made the cracks really look like rivers eroding through rock!
The bottom side saw some discoloration due to the resin seeping into the wood.
Overall, this was a really run project and I cannot wait to make some procedure changes and make another round soon!! Below you'll find more photos of the coasters, many of them taken by Nina Petelina.
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