Digital Design Module 2 Journal

Digital Design - Module 02 Semester 1, 2019 Isabelle Sijan

(996133) Studio Tutor: Alison Fairley | Studio 20

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)

The three fundamental fabrication techniques are subtractive, additive and formative. Subtractive fabrication is the “removal of a specified volume of material”, while additive fabrication is the “incremental forming by adding material in a layer-by-layer fashion”. This is distinct from formative fabrication, which is the achievement of the “desired shape through reshaping or deformation”.

Computer Numeric Controlled Fabrication involves a “two-dimensional interpretation” of a three-dimensional form. The potential for fabrication using a combination of CNC and parametric modelling is endless, one example being mass customization. This ensures that “the technologies and methods of mass-customization allow for the creation and production of unique or similar buildings and building components, differentiated through digitally-controlled variation”.

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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Surface Creation

List Item: Surface 1 Points

Mesh Sphere Radius = 10 U & V Count = 8 Brep: Bounding Box

Brep: Surfaces

List Item: Surface 1 Points

Brep: Split Sphere

Brep Join

Boundary Surfaces: Developable Sphere Triangulated Panels

XYZ Vector X move = 41.75 Y move = 36 Z move = -9

Scale sphere Factor: 0.7

Brep: Split Sphere

Brep: Split Surface

Brep Edges Select naked edges

Rotate Sphere -11.3 degrees

Brep: Copy & move sphere

Surface To use as cutters Scaled up by factor 2

Brep: Final Panels

Extrude to point

Points: Offset sphere centroids

Brep: Offset inner sphere Z move = 18 Y move = 37

The surface was developed by first creating the two parallel, planar surfaces, using points along the edges of the bounding box. A sphere component was then added to the surface, moved scaled and sliced as desired to result in a surface that features a portion of a sphere in the lower corner. The edges of the sphere were used to cut the planar surface, which was then joint to the sphere to result in a complete surface. One side was panelled by extruding the triangulated panels of the sphere to the centroid points an offset and scaled down sphere, offset to a desired distance. The techniques used to develop this surface structure display a creative and vast use of parametric software, as well as a visually stimulating combination of three-dimensional and two-dimensional panels. Please find the waffle structure scrpit in the appendix.

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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Surface Creation

By creating the surface using parametric software, the location of the attached sphere can be explored. As shown by these rendered images, I considered positioning the sphere in the lower left corner, and in the centre.

I decided on the former as the consequent asymmetry created a more visually dynamic model. In addition, I also compared the controlled chaos that resulted from adding extruded panels to the interior of the sphere, against the harmonious simplicity of an entirely twodimensional model. However, due to the restrictions of this assignment and the interesting intensity of the threedimensional panels, I chose to proceed with this model.

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Isometric View Rear Surface This surface was generated by joining a planar surface and a hemisphere together using the Join Breps command.

The hemisphere is made developable by meshing the surface and triangulating the resulting faces.

X Fins The X fins serve a structural purpose in building the waffle structure, however due to the high number of fins created for this model a sense of density develops which complements the dominant surface structure. As a result, the components of the model interact harmoniously with no sense of asymmetry or incongruity.

Front Surface As a mirror image of the rear surface, the front surface shares the same structural qualities. However, the front surface adds further interest to the model through the inclusion of 3-dimensional modules. The combination of 2 and 3-dimensional panels on this surface further emphasises the contrast between the planar and spherical components of the surface.

Z Fins The Z fins follow the contour of the surfaces and hence share a similar proporties in that a fused planar-and-curvilinear surface is establishedthrough the use of very geometric and linear curves.As a result, the waffle has a slight jagged quality that is not present in the surfaces as the complete surface works to develop a perceived smoothness.

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Exploded Isometric 1:4 0

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72mm

SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Laser Cutting

600.00

Fill in the following detials: Material: Ivory Card Thickness: 290gsm

Preparing the surface for laser cutting involves unrolling, adding tabs, labelling and nesting. By completing trial prints, I learnt that minimal tolerance was required for the waffle structure to fit together, and that the nesting layout must be optimised to minimise print time and material

900.00

Fill in the following detials: Material: Ivory Card Thickness: 290gsm

600.00

waste.

900.00

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Lofts

1.1

1.2 {150,0,150}

{75,0,150}

{150,150,150} {75,0,150}

{150,0,0}

{0,0,0} {105,150,0}

{15,150,0} {150,0,0}

{0,150,0}

Panelling

{Index Selection}

{Index Selection}

2.1

2.2

+

Paneling Pattern

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3.1

3.2

1.3

SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE

1.4 {150,90,150}

{150,120,150}

{0,80,150}

Matrix and Possibilities

{80,0,150}

{150,150,75}

{150,0,30} {0,0,15} {0,0,0}

{0,80,0}

{Index Selection}

{Index Selection}

2.3

2.4

{80,0,0}

The task A matrix shows my exploration of surface control points, panelling modules, and panelling patterns. Through the matrix I explored more standard panelling and surfaces, which show my ability to develop panelling paterns and manipulate the threedimensional modules used to best develop this pattern. +

3.3

3.4

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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Photography of Model

The laser cut model shows an interesting transition from flat panels to the three-dimensional ones within the sphere as a flush surface is created which is then disrupted by chaotic panelling. The other surface is entirely flat in order to add contrast to the model and ensure balance is achieved.

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SOLID AND VOID

Visual Scripting of Parametric Model Bounding Box

5x5 Grid Points

5x5 Grid Points With point attractor

Spheres in Grid

Maelstrom First radius = 86 Second radius = 34 Angle = 109

Mesh: Grid

Maelstrom First radius = 86 Second radius = 34 Angle = 109

Bake Geometry and Bounding Box

Place Extrustion Cube 50x50x50mm cube

Boolean Difference Geometry from Bounding Box

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Boolean Intersection Cube from Boolean Difference

SOLID AND VOID Surface Creation

Throughout the scripting process I explored the use of spheres, icosahedrons, faceted domes and spheres affected by the maelstrom component. I have therefore considered the role of the geometry’s position in creating an interesting result, as well as the trade-off between complex and simple geometry and the frequency of repetition within the bounding box.

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Attractor Point & Grid

1.1

1.2

{0,-138,68}

{Attractor Point Location}

Geometry Size

2.1

2.2

Geometry Selection

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{No Attractor Point}

3.1

3.2

{Sphere}

{Icosahedron}

1.3

SOLID AND VOID

1.4

Matrix and Possibilities

{0,435,-26}

{0,309,-277} {Attractor Point Location}

{Attractor Point Location}

2.3

2.4

This matrix shows my exploration of the effect of attractor points on the grid structure, as well as the size of the geometry within the grid and the type of geometry. I used this process to determine that my final iteration would be developed using a slightly altered grid due to attractor points, and that the geometry size would be big enough to ensure that variation is present without resulting in a chaotic composition.

3.3

3.4

{Faceted Dome}

{Maelstrom Sphere}

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SOLID AND VOID Isometric view

Section Choice In order to best display the boolean geometry within the bounding box, a perpendicular section cut was made. This has resulted in the visibility of a large proportion of the geometry, while also conveying the developed sense of fluidity and movement within the model.

Shape Variation The boolean geometry was created by altering a sphere shape with the Maelstrom component in order to develop a sense of movement and fluidity in the model. As a result, some geometries are small and maintain the spherical shape, while others are elongated and bent. This has prompted an exploration of solids are both absolutely defined yet entirely malleable.

Exploded Isometric 1:3 0

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45mm

Space The Maelstrom component used to generate this geometry simulates the effect of a force acting on a flexible shape. As a result, the grid created to determine the position of the geometries in the bounding box is distorted, ensuring that the geometries are distributed in a seeminly sporadic fashion.

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Photography of Model

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SOLID AND VOID Photography of Model

The iterative nature of this process has ensured that I have progressed from a simple sphere, to exploring the idea of vision through the cube due to the positioning of the geometry. This has resulted in my final iteration which was created using sphere geometry altered using the maelstrom component which has ensured that the geometry varies and presents the desired dynamic property of allowing the viewer to see through the shape at certain angles.

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Appendix

Visual Scripting of Parametric Model - Exploring other panelling options

Brep: Short Module

Brep: Bounding Box

Brep: Surfaces

Surface Domain Number U & V Count = 1

Mesh: Medium Module

Rectangle Mapping Pattern: 302 repeated

Offset Grid Distance = 30

Morph 3D

Morph 3D

Brep: Tall Module

Mesh: 2D Module

Rectangular Grid X & Y extents = 5 X & Y size = 10 Rectangle Mapping Merge Data into List

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Appendix

Panelling Pattern Iterations

I explored creating a range of panelling patterns using the merge component, to assign a numerical value to each of the three-dimensional modules, and arrange the modules according to a list of data. This ensured I had complete control over the positioning of the modules, and the patterns created.

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Appendix

Visual Scripting of Parametric Model - Generating a waffle structure

Surfaces

Extruded Rectangles

Surface 2 X Fins

X Contours

Cull X Fins

Trim Solid X Fins

Surface 1 X Fins

Layout for Printing

Brep to Brep Intersections

Rectangle Cutters

Z Contours

Cull Index

Layout for Printing

Boundary Surfaces

Trim Solid Z Fins

Join Curves: Z Contours

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Appendix

Process: Surface model test prints and construction

The process of creating the laser cut model involved joining the panels and arranging them according to the model, and attaching the surface to the waffle structure. Photographing the model was the final stage, and this was done using a white backdrop, camera and tripod, and two lights set on either side of the model to create interesting tonal variation in the image.

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Appendix

Makerbot Interface and Settings