Projects/2016–2017
Ribbon Curler — Automated Research Instrumentation
NYU Abu Dhabi · Panče Naumov research group / Design Studio
Challenge, contribution, and outcome
CHALLENGE
Panče Naumov's smart-materials group needed repeatable control over pull speed, orientation, and geometry to study ribbon curling and chiral coiling.
MY CONTRIBUTION
Designed and integrated the motion hardware and control software, resolved fixture-alignment problems, and handed over a programmable instrument for repeatable ribbon-curling experiments.
OUTCOME
Delivered a programmable apparatus for structured sample campaigns and supported preparation of supplementary publication media.
Project overview
A programmable test instrument developed for Panče Naumov’s group to study ribbon curling and chiral coiling. I translated changing experimental requirements into integrated motion hardware and control software, allowing researchers to vary pulling speed, sample orientation, and fixture geometry. The work included stage selection, mechanical integration, alignment troubleshooting, and operator handover.
System Record
- Application
- APPResearch Infrastructure
- Period
- 2016–2017
Development & Validation
- Evaluated commercial linear stages across cost and performance (Thorlabs, Aerotech, Newmark, and lower-cost CNC options) against a ~300 mm travel envelope and experimental pull speeds up to about 100 mm/s.
- Integrated the stage, puller, and sample-holder assembly and corrected a fixture-height mismatch that had blocked reliable curling — converting a near-complete build into a usable experimental instrument.
- Enabled structured sample campaigns across pull speed, mounting angle/direction, width, and weight, producing catalogued curl, coil, spiral, and twist sets for analysis and figures.
- Configured and handed over Newmark motion-control software to follow-on operators, and supported filming plus assembly animation used toward manuscript supplementary material.
Credits & Collaborators
Nikolaos Giakoumidis
NYU Abu Dhabi
Instrumentation design & integration
Panče Naumov
NYU Abu Dhabi
Principal Investigator
Lidong Zhang
NYU Abu Dhabi · Naumov group
Experiment lead · sample campaigns
Khulood Alawadi
NYU Abu Dhabi
Design Studio · visualization & fabrication support
Israel Desta
NYU Abu Dhabi
Follow-on operator · measurements
Publications & media
Video
Video
Additional Media
MOUNTING ANGLE — LEFT VS RIGHT — NYU Abu Dhabi · Panče Naumov research group / Design Studio · 2016–2017
Annotated sheets comparing left and right blade mounting angles with corresponding ribbon curl samples
GEOMETRY — CURL & TWIST STATES — NYU Abu Dhabi · Panče Naumov research group / Design Studio · 2016–2017
Ribbon curl and twist variations with trigonometric fixture sketches for different geometric conditions