DIGITAL DESIGN + FABRICATION SM1, 2017 M1 JOURNAL - A Study of the Skin&Bones System Taking Umbrella as An Example Shan Jiang
(783943) Amanda + Tutorial 7
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Measured Drawings Plan Drawing (closed umbrella) Scale: 1:1
Introduction: This module focus on the material system called Skin&Bones. The umbrella is chosen as a typical example of this material system. Although it is one of the most common object in daily life, the techtonic or articulation system may not be carefully examined. It is also interesting to study how the system performs in two different stages when the umbrella is open and when it is closed. Measured Methodology: To get the overall shapes, the umbrella is placed against a vertical wall and then photographed, and then trace the photos. To measure the dimention, strings are used. Measure the lenth of strings to get the accurate dimentions.
Elevation Drawing (closed umbrella) Scale: 1:2
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0 It is interesting to study the process of the umbrella being opened. The nylon surface, acting as 8
the skin system, sits loosely on the bones structure. Meanwhile, when it is opened, the surface is strethed and become a strong surface bearing tension.
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Plan Drawing (opened umbrella) Scale: 1:8
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Section Drawing (opened umbrella) Scale: 1:4
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Plan Drawing (opened umbrella)
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Analysis Detail Drawing of Articulation: Although the umbrella is one of the most common facilities in daily life, using simple mechanism and techtonic system, it has been seldom examined carefully. In fact, when looking close to the umbrella, the details of its articulation is reasonably complicated. Thus, the following sketches are produced to understand the detail of the articulation of the umbrella. <figure 1> The ribs of the umbrella are fixed to a central gear by a steal ring. The plastic gear is moveable along the umbrella handle, which controls the umbrella ribs from closed to open. <figure 2> A cylinder tail is welded to the end of the umbrella leg. There is a hole on the cylinder tail, which enables fabric cover is fixed to the leg using thread.
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fig 1. detail of the central gear
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fig 2. detail of the tail of the umbrella leg
fig 3. detail of the umbrella rib
<figure 3> The connection of the umbrella ribs are relatively complex. A special metal component is designed for the fixation as shown in the sketch. Then ribs are interlocked into that component.
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fig . abstraction of sectionv
Geometric Abstraction: <figure 4> The umbrella can be equally divided into six components of diamond shapes. Thus, when creating the digital model of the umbrella, the skin system will be modified to rhomboic surface.
<figure 5> It can be measured from the section that the angle between each leg and rib is 30 degrees and 15 degrees respectively. Also, the umbrella is composed of six equaivalent rib components, with 60 degrees span. 5
Digital Model
fig 7. isometric view of the digital model
fig 8. plan view of the digital model
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Modelling Process: As it has been demonstrated in the Analysis above, the umbrella is divided into six equivalent comonents. The rough shape of the component profile is traced from the measured drawings. Then details are added into the overal shape through observation of the umbrella, which is shown in the photos on the left hand side.
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Sketch Model
I use slim steel string to form the bone structure, which is then covered by stocking to form a skin system. I start with a simple loop. When the loop start difroming, the texture of the skin changes. This material also gives a transition of light and shadow with its translusent texutre. 8
This sketch model also has the ability to develop, which might create similar effect as shown in the figure 3.
When two profile connected together by the shorter end, a 60 degree angle is created.
When two profile connected together by the longer ends, the direction does not change. However, the dimension is flipped from vertical to horizontal
When six profiles are connected under certain order, a hexagon shape is created. However, the structure can expierence shear force and bending moments.
Three profiles are connected
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Sketch Design #1 aura/optic conversation/ acoustic conversation/ flexible/flight action How does this respond to your personal space? According to Sommer, some claim that a characteristic aura can been visualised around human bodies. However, this has never been proved. Thus, this design aims to visualise the aura around human bodies. The design composed of a series of loops, fixed to a spine-like structure at the back. Then the loops are covered by a translusent fabric skin system. The series of loops help to define personal space which is indicated as the most important areas. For example, the eye level is covered because a numbers of experiment shows the eye contact is indipensible in coversation. By blocking the optic conversation, the person is able to hold a â&#x20AC;&#x153;flightâ&#x20AC;? gesture to keep him safe and comfortable.
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Sketch Design #2 aggresive action/ diamond profile/sharp/hand-rasing/expansion How does this respond to your personal space? Different from the “Flight Behavior”, there is another gesture people would take when personal space is invaded, that is the “Aggresive Behavior”. It commonly appears as gestures like hand-raising, “a shape movements of the head towards another person”, hand against the chin, shoulds shruggling, and so on. Thus, this design mimics these gestures to creat a threatening structure to protect personal space. The design is composed of a series of diamond panels, performing as the bones structure. The panel will later be covered by a skin system to create a volumn.
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Sketch Design #3 beehive/ box/ daylight penomenon/ hexagon/ cocoon How does this respond to your personal space? In Sommer’s book about personal space, the “Daylight Phenomenon” has been frequently mensioned. When the personal space is invaded, it is often because the other people do not realise the existence of certain person. Thus, this design does not emphasize the importance of certain space around a person. Rather, it emphasize the existence of a person as a whole. To express the ideas, the overall shape of the structure is designed as a cube, which indicates the equal importance of every space around the human body. Meanwhile, lights would be installed inside this cube to highlight the shape of human figure. It takes advantage of the hexagon profile of a beehive, derived both from the making workshop and the umbrella study, which gives a quality of stability.
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Appendix
Rhino Workshop_ Archimedian
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