Laser Fabrication of Affective 3D Objects with 1/f Fluctuation

Abstract

The present paper describes the application of Kansei Engineering to the physical design of engineering products as well as its realization by laser sintering. We have investigated the affective information that might be included in three-dimensional objects such as a ceramic bowl for the tea ceremony. First, an X-ray CT apparatus is utilized to retrieve surface data from the teabowl, and then a frequency analysis is carried out after noise has been filtered. The surface fluctuation is characterized by a power spectrum that is in inverse proportion to the wave number f in circumference. Second, we consider how to realize the surface with a 1/f fluctuation on a computer screen using a 3D CAD model. The fluctuation is applied to a reference shape assuming that the outer surface has a spiral flow line on which unevenness is superimposed. Finally, the selective laser sintering method has been applied to the fabrication of 1/f fluctuation objects. Nylon powder is sintered layer by layer using a CO₂ laser to form an artificial teabowl with complicated surface contours.