Usage Questions
Operating Fabrica and daily use tips
How fast does it fold clothing?
Folding speed depends on the sequence complexity:
- • Simple fold (towel): 6-8 seconds
- • T-shirt fold: 8-12 seconds
- • Complex fold (shirt): 12-20 seconds
Plus 2-3 seconds for manual placement and removal. Total throughput: ~5-6 items per minute if you work continuously. More realistically: 20-30 items in 10 minutes with breaks.
Do I need to place clothing precisely?
For best results, yes. Consistent placement is important:
- • Use alignment marks or guides on the base
- • Center the garment relative to panels
- • Smooth out wrinkles before folding
- • Small deviations (±1cm) are usually fine
💡 Future upgrade: Camera-based vision could enable automatic centering and orientation detection.
Can it handle wet or damp clothing?
Not recommended! Here's why:
- • Wet fabric is heavier → servos may struggle or stall
- • Water can damage electronics if it drips
- • Folding wet items creates permanent wrinkles
- • Moisture promotes mildew growth in folded state
Always dry clothing completely before folding. The robot is designed for laundry management, not as a dryer replacement.
How do I clean/maintain the robot?
Regular maintenance keeps your robot running smoothly:
- Weekly: Remove lint and fabric debris from panels and hinges
- Monthly: Check all screws for tightness, inspect servo horns
- Quarterly: Lubricate hinges with dry lubricant (graphite or PTFE)
- As needed: Wipe panels with damp cloth (unplug first!)
Avoid water near electronics. Use compressed air to clean hard-to-reach areas.
Can I use voice commands to control it?
Yes, with additional setup! Options include:
- IFTTT + Google Assistant/Alexa: Trigger sequences via web API
- Home Assistant integration: Full smart home control
- Direct voice module: Add speech recognition module to Pico
See the Customization page for voice control implementation guides.