Yukinori Miles Endo - Recent Work

Bamboo Sling Chair Completed

2009-12-24T16:18:00.002-05:00

Chair Studio - Bamboo Chair

Here are some photos of the Bamboo Sling chair completed. Another revision of the frame is planned for the future. The entire chair frame breaks down into flat elements that can be packed in a box approximately 3 inches thick. The flex or movement in the chair comes from the development of controlled flexibility in the metal frame, the ability of the leather straps to conform to the user's body and the resiliency of the laminated bamboo slats. Every bamboo strip was individually glued in a heavy duty veneer press, trimmed, sanded and finished and there are 50 of them!

The frame uses a combination of formed, machined, welded components. Parts are welded where they do not need to come apart, and I tapped and fishmouthed (machining terms) the ends of the cross stretchers so that they have tensile and rotational resistance. The frame structure was driven by a functional basis, but was also developed through my aesthetic preferences.

A Bamboo Sling Chair

2009-12-05T08:23:00.002-05:00

In the process of designing and building a bamboo sling chair for the Chair Studio class. This second chair assignment is sponsored by a Chinese American furniture company who may produce selected designs..

Incorporating several things I have never worked with:
Veg-Tanned Leather, Copper Rivets, Bent Laminated Bamboo, Custom Ready-To-Assemble Connections!

This chair will be about two things: 1. Inspiration from traditional forms and materials and 2. Different levels of flexibility in the chair: Seat, Back and Frame

Concept Sketches and Research of Traditional Chinese Furniture

Table Remake for Billes Products Design Competition 2009

2009-11-11T12:23:00.007-05:00

I entered the Rotated Table I made in 2008 for a design competition this year and qualified as a finalist! Since the original table is back in Hawaii and belongs to a private residence, I remade the table using flat-sawn ash and hot rolled steel square tubing. The table frame was fabricated by a team of Isaac Juodvalkis, another student in the RISD ID department and myself. The rotation direction of this table is opposite and this table is smaller, for more coffee table style dimensions rather than corner or end table. Good to revisit an old design, I was able to make some minor improvements this time and the construction time of this one was 6 days, not 3-4 weeks. More professional photos to come! Stay tuned for updates on this table!

Chair Studio

2009-11-11T12:06:00.006-05:00

I am taking Seth Stem's Chair Studio this fall, and we have done some chair research of chair dimensions, comfortable chairs in the many categories of dining chair, easy chair and lounge chairs.

The first chair assignment was to use the 3-axis CNC mill to shape a seat and back. This is my first time using this type of CAD based modeling to cut a shape out of a solid block. I used vertically laminated baltic birch plywood. There are some problems yet to be worked out, but the frame is made of rectangular steel tubing cut and then mitered on the bridgeport vertical mill and welded by Microweld of East Providence, RI.

RISD Student Art Sale

2009-11-11T12:00:00.002-05:00

Cast Iron Rings + Axis Deer Antler Rings

Happy Customer

Skateboards

More Teapots..

2009-06-12T18:13:00.004-04:00

Ceramic Teapots Created in 2008

High Fire Stoneware, 2008

Ceramic Teapot Exploration 2007-2008

2009-04-27T02:13:00.003-04:00

A series of teapot form explorations. During an ongoing study of wheelthrown and hand build ceramics, I have asked myself: What can a teapot be? Do objects have a personality and how can that be expressed?

Stoneware, 2007-2008

Marker Rendering, 2008

2009-04-21T06:24:00.000-04:00

Paper, Felt Tip Pens, 2008.

All hand done marker rendering of a 1938 Hudson J-3A Steam Locomotive, "streamlined" by Henry Dreyfuss.

One Day Paper Lampshade Project, 2008

2009-04-21T05:49:00.000-04:00

One Day Paper Lampshade Project, 2008
Paper, Monofilament

Project: An one-day project to design a lampshade, making use of existing lamp hardware and a compact fluorescent lightbulb. The lampshade base was standardized throughout the students. My design intent was to maximize the material while minimizing waste. The final design uses two full sheets of paper with no waste: only folds, no cuts and monofilament as a fastening device.

Oversized Cutting Knife, 2008

2009-04-21T04:55:00.000-04:00

Oversized Cutting Knife, 2008
6061 Aluminium

Project: The intent of this design and fabrication exercise was to address problems of blade storage and comfortable grip in existing razor knife handles as well as to learn basic machining on the metal lathe. Knowledge of manufacturing techniques and machining were taken into consideration in the design of the knife to allow fabrication to specification. The project was designed within the aesthetic of existing products, but with two small innovations: ergonomic consideration for larger hands and on-board storage of spare blades.

Taiko Drum Kan (Carrying Handles) 2008

2009-04-21T04:02:00.000-04:00

First Version

2.0 Version for Brown University Taiko Group

Taiko Kan (Carrying Handles and Decorative plates)

1.0 Prototype: Handcut Blued Steel, Brass Sheet, Steel Rod, 2008
2.0 Lasercut: Lasercut Painted 14 Gauge Steel, Copper Sheet, Steel Rod, 2009

Traditional Japanese drums, called Taiko, have always been a part of my life and my parents. They had made the American interpertation of traditional Taiko drums that are made of single tree trunks from oak wine barrels and rawhide for their drumming school, but never attempted the carrying handles, (Kan)and would often pay the high prices for those imported from Japan. Often along with tradition, there is often good craftsmanship, but also inefficient processes. I went through the process of designing and prototyping one set in the traditional shape including the decorative forged chrysanthemum (Kiku no Hana) shape. The first version was made using sawing and filing techniques and hand forging. Frustrated by the slow process of repeatedly filing the same shape in steel, I utilized the relatively new method of Lasercutting using a vector-based computer drawing. For a small production run, the cost per unit was relatively low and much work was saved. However, the copper/brass parts are still hand-forged in the second iteration. In the 3rd iteration of this product, a CNC milled mold, then hand peened mold will be used to press the copper into shape. Then the process of forming perfect rings still must be addressed on a low-batch production scale.

Both versions include the minor innovation of added interior anchoring fasteners for added strength.

Natural Cast Iron Ring, 2009

2009-02-25T01:00:00.001-05:00

Natural Cast Iron Ring, 2009 Approx. 1"W x 1"L x 1"H

Jewelry Exploration - Reclaimed Cast Iron Sprue

Utilizing recycled sprue material, a cutoff of the sandcasting process, this project strives to create an object of value from non valuable material. In the process of casting iron, casting cutoffs are usually recycled by re-melting them back down to a molten state. The Natural Cast Iron Ring takes advantage of the natural byproduct of a casting and recycles it into an object of greater value without expending the energy that is used in typical recycling processes. This type of material falls into the category that need no additional energy to prepare for production: for example: air dried lumber vs. kiln dried lumber, broken pottery for spanish mosaic, etc.

Inspired by the aesthetic of cast and machined engine parts and cast iron combination squares that are first cast then machined for practical reasons, the ring's aesthetic is defined by natural texture that occurs from sand and a machined and polished shoulder section.

Steel and Seatbelts Chair, 2008

2009-02-25T00:55:00.004-05:00

Steel and Seatbelts Chair, 2008
Welded Cold Rolled Steel Square Rod, Fasteners, Seatbelts

A steel frame was designed and welded together using body measurements taken from a gruop of people, then averaged for approximate sizing. Formed and welded cold rolled steel was used for this exercise in TIG welding. A Inner retaining frame was also formed that holds the seatbelt material in place and its tension and position are adjustable thru small cap screws located all over the outer perimeter of the seat and back surfaces. Finally, recycled seatbelt material in an woven in a random pattern, to create a closed seating and back surface.

RTA (Ready to Assemble) Solid Cherry Breakdown Bedframe, 2009

2009-02-25T00:55:00.002-05:00

Assembled

Corner Detail: Breakdown Hardware

Headboards Assembled

Parts in Linear Dissassembly

CAD Model

RTA (Ready to Assemble) Solid Cherry Breakdown Bedframe, 2009

Personal Use - Cherry and Breakdown Hardware

A self initiated project, a response to the "cheap" quality of mass produced furniture available to students. Designed for myself, I planned for the future transportation of furniture when a young person moves apartments year to year. All of the elements of the bed break down into planar elements with no tools, and further break down into linear elements with an allen wrench. The mattress and slats also roll up to form linear elements, which can easily be rolled up and transported to the user's next home.

Storebought rollable mattress and rollable slats were added to complete the bed and emphasize the ability for this bed to breakdown into linear elements.

A matte wipe-on polyurethane finish was applied for protection.

Starfish Cast Iron Corners Chest, 2008

2009-02-25T00:49:00.001-05:00

Plastic Prototype, Unfinished Casting, Seasoned Casting

Chest Opened

Chest Closed

Starfish Cast Iron Corners Chest, 2008 30"W x 20"L x 20"H
Casted Corners, 2008 6"W x6"L x 6"H

Cast Iron Design Studio Project - Cast Iron, Baltic Birch Premium Plywood

The objective for this project was a contemporary take on the classic luggage trunk, which often employs sheet-metal formed hardware including latches, hinges and trunk corners. In the traditional craft of Japanese Tansu (chest of drawers) decorative forged and blackened iron additions are a defining characteristic whose tradition I also drew inspiration from.

Cast Iron "trunk corners" were designed, formed through preliminary castings in plastic, and arranged on a industry-standard pattern which was sent for prototyping through sand casting at Cumberland Foundry in Cumberland, RI. Post-casting work involves machining for a single fastener - a hardened steel socket head cap screw with a domed head - to complete the curve of the corner.

The Cast Iron corners are finished in the traditional way of seasoning cast iron cookware. Simply vegetable oil is applied to the cast iron, and the iron is headed til a temperature where the oil is baked on, creating a non corrosive and non-toxic deep black finish.

The Chest is built using spline-miter joints and floating panels, has routed edges and is finished in Water-based Polyurathane, a finish that requires no turpentine or mineral spirits cleanup.

Rotated Table, 2008

2009-02-25T00:41:00.002-05:00

Final Design CAD rendering

Finished Table

Rotated Table, 2008 30"W x 30"L x 21"H
Santos Mahogany, Cold-Rolled Steel Tubing, Paint

Sketches were made, consultations with the client were held and a final design was narrowed from the several proposals. A final design was chosen and construction began. Welded cold rolled steel tube with solid Santos Mahogany top.