Digital Design - Module 02 Semester 1, 2019 (Eric) Gaoxiang Luan (900670) Tony Yu + Studio 05
Critical Reading: Kolerevic B. 2003. Architecture in the Digital Age
Kolerevic described three fundamental types of fabrication techniques in the reading. Outline the three techniques and discuss the potential of Computer Numeric Controlled fabrication with parametric modelling. (150 words max)
Kolerevic described substractive, additive and formative as three fundamental types of fabrication techniques. Substractive method involves the process of substracting material from the object. A milling machine controls the number of axis is decisive to the ability of realizing different iterations. Additive method is the process of overlaying materials layer by layer to set up a form. Chemicals, heat and light are crucial to the curing process. By manipulating and reshaping the form with mechanical forces or energy transmition (e.g. heat or steam), formative fabrication is able to execute large scale objects. Computer numeric controlled fabrication is able to model with high accuracy (for example NURBS software are able to articulate complex geometry). Apart from the advantage of high accuracy, parametric modelling grasshopper can effectively reduce working load by controlling parametrics rather than manual operation in some cases.
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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Surface Creation
surface iteration 1
surface iteration 2
surface iteration 3
surface iteration 4 (selected)
The process of scripting sets up surfaces, x fins (waffle structure) and z rings (waffle structure) eventually. Since at an early stage, I have decided to use the number of 3D panels to indicate the level of surface manipulation (major parametric part of the design), most of my iterations were explored during the surface making process. Methdology: by mainly change the number slider of ‘edge selector’ of the divided brep edges to pick up different points to form lines, and loft lines into surfaces.
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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Waffle Structure Creation
script result x fins
script result z rings
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script result waffle structure
Iteration from visual script: surface - ‘twist and band’
Iteration from visual script: surface - ‘twist and band’
view 01
view 02
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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Surface Creation
The process of creating the visual script generally includes three primary sections: creating surfaces, creating waffle structure and mophing 2D as well as 3D panels onto the surfaces. These views have been chosen since they demonstrate clearly my primary concept ‘twist and bend’of 2D surfaces, as well as the number of 3D panels that corresponds to this iteration. From this views, it is clear to see how the waffle structure grasps and holds both surface.
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Isometric View of panelled surface and waffle structure
3D panels are functioning as parametric language that indicates the exteent of manipulation (twist or bend). As it goes from outter to inner surface, where the manipulation level increases, the number of 3D panels goes up from five to three to one (inversely proportional relationship).
The waffle structure primarily supports the panels. Although in my design case, my panels do not really sit inside the waffle grid, they still hold the panels with the help of joints (glues).
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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Laser Cutting
The main process of creating my laser cutting file involves the unrolling process (‘ptunrollfaces’ command in Rhino). One major constrain during this procession is that in some unrolled panels, the 2D surfaces are overlapping each other. The solution is to triangulate the mesh before unrolling (by adding ‘triangulate mesh’ definition in grasshopper).
2D panels (hollow)
waffle structure frames
2D panels (solid) 8
3D panels unrolled
Matrix and Possibilities
Surface Loft
surface B (twist)
1.3
1.2
1.1
surface B (twist)
1.4
surface B (twist)
surface B (twist)
surface A (bend)
surface A (bend)
surface A (bend)
surface A (bend)
surface meeting point
surface meeting line
grid (morph target)
2.1
2.2 offset distance: 13
2.4 offset distance: 13
offset distance: 9
3.4
3.3
3.2
offset distance: 20
3D Panelling
3.1
2.3
loft of six sides’ polygon and triangle
loft of two six sides’ polygons
loft of two triangles with hollowed cover
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loft of two triangles with solid cover
SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Matrix and Possibilities
3.4
loft of two triangles with solid cover
1.4
2D hollow panels are designedto cover the exposed parts of the waffle structure 2D solid panels (solid planar triangles) are created mannually in rhino to join 3D panels together. 10
surface A (bend)
surface meeting point
SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE The solid 2D panels are structural members that join 3D panels together. Since in this design iteration, the 3D panels do not sit exactly into the waffle structure
3D panels are created, morphed and selected by using grasshopper. Parametrically, the number of 3D panels each line indicates the extent of manipulation (twist/bend) of the surface. Where the surface gets bended or twisted more, the number of 3D panels will decrease.
The waffle structure holds 3D and 2D without seating them in. The bottom edge of panels and waffle edges are glued together.
The hollowed 2D panels are functioning as a ‘boundary’ which mark out the parametric iteration of the 3D panels (the 5-3-1-3-5 matrix that anti-proportionally illustrates the extent and level of twisting or bending).
concept: surface being twisted concept: surface being bent
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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Photography of Model
The twist and bend surafece feature are demonstrated clearly from the waffle structure. Since each ssurface has a certain portion of ‘bent area, the shadows are created on both sides of the model on the ground level. From outer edge towards the central, there is a transition from hollow to solid from 2D panels, which is also the main function of marking the boundary between parametric distribution of 3D panels and the coverage of spare waffle area.
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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Photography of Model
panels, surface variation
panels, surface variation
panels, surface variation
waffle structure 14
SOLID AND VOID Surface Creation
Comment on the process of scripting and designing your boolean form. Label your images here. Use white colour background in Rhino only.
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SOLID AND VOID Surface Creation
Based on the fundamental script provided in workshop, the additional parts that I explore more are point attractors and boolean objects. The attractor points are set up to create a variation of substraction space. As for the boolean object, I have explored three different iterations which are based on the sphere, my waffle structure and the combination of both, respectively. My proposal here is to try to blend the waffle structure into part B iteration, to create some common features or concepts between part A and B of Module 2.
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SOLID AND VOID Isometric view
Isometric additional view 2
Isometric additional view 1
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SOLID AND VOID Isometric view
The hollow section creates vertical circulation as well as light and air penetration.
soft threshold, allowing light, air and visual penetration
hard threshold, separating two sides of the space
Isometric
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This selected 50 x 50 x 50 section model contains both harsh boundaries and permeable space. The upper level hollow allows vertical circulation to take its place. Along the face of the vertical hole, there is a section of surface spiralling down which is interesting. The void quality is addressed with different proportions. The other side of this isometric view shows a completely different threshold and porosity typology which is with harsh solid walls and not much permeability.
SOLID AND VOID other iterations
These are another two iterations printed. Iteration 2 is substracted by the geometry boundary of the waffle structure in task A, while in iteration 2 the section is substracted by a foundatmental sphere.
iteration 2
iteration 2
iteration 3
iteration 3 19
grid set up with point attraction
different typesof substraction geometries
same geometry with different scale
SOLID AND VOID Matrix and Possibilities
3.1 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4
2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4
3.2 3.3
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3.4
SOLID AND VOID Phtsical Model Photos
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SOLID AND VOID
Photography of Model
The selected 50 x 50 x 50 section captures a portion of curvy wall that spiralling out to form an vertical opening which is interesting. This geometry feature creates circulation while still acts as threshold, seperating two spaces on its left and right sides. This section can be conceptualised and further developed into a pavilion or seatings. The different scale of areas can host different types of usage such as sitting or lying.
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SOLID AND VOID Substractor
In order to create a more complex spatial quality, I have booleanunioned the ‘waffle brep’ with a basic geomrtry - sphere. This combined geometry, due to its own unique feature, is able to generate both curvy surface and intermediate surface. Together with the help of point attractors, the final iteration has been baked out . (as it is illustrated on the last age)
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Appendix
some other iterations for task B
extra iteration 1
extra iteration 2
extra iteration 3
extra iteration 4 24
Appendix Process
1. select curves to loft to surfaces
2. loft curves into surfaces
3. frame up waffle structure for bridging
4. select 2D and 3D panel types
5. list items, create panel variation
6. morph 2D and 3D panels to waffle structure
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Appendix
Process (physical model making)
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Appendix
Process
print time: arounnd 6 hours (3 iterations)
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