GIK
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For other uses, see GIK (disambiguation).
The Great Invention Kit (or GIK) is a construction kit, like Lego, however it has a different type of assembly principle. It was first developed by Grace and Neil Gershenfeld at the MIT Media Lab.
Two dimension parts are assembled by press snap-fitting them together after turning one of them by 90 degrees. Numerous three dimension constructions can be assembled out of two dimension parts. The advantage of snap-fit is, that it can be broken down and re-assembled.
The advantages of the GIK are:
1. Scalability. It's very easy to scale down or up GIK parts using the appropriate cutting machine and the appropriate material.
2. Material diversity. GIK parts can be made out of various materials :
- a. Conductive or insulating materials, useful in electronics.
- b. Various refractive coefficient materials, useful in optics.
- c. Soft or hard materials, useful as joints.
- d.Doped or un-doped materials, useful in active Electronics.
3. Reversibility : GIK assemblies can be constructed and deconstructed, with therefore no trash, and taking full advantage of recycling.
Contents |
[edit] 3D printing
GIK parts can be used as elementary parts for 3D printing. Imagine a machine able to build object by assembling together smaller-than-visible-with-naked-eye parts . Assume these parts can be different materials. We will be able to print a variety of objects , very much like in Science Fiction movies or as imagined by Nanoscience Scientists : Universal assembler. The advantages of GIK over other techniques are it's proven feasibility, the vast material set that can be used and the reversibility of the construction.
[edit] Millimeter size parts
Millimeter size parts were fabricated out of paper or standard printer transparencies using a CO2 laser printer.
[edit] Smallest parts developed so far
Micrometer size parts were fabricated out of Kapton using an Excimer laser.
[edit] Biggest parts developed so far
The biggest existing GIK parts developed so far. Human size parts could be used to assemble buildings.
