MODULE 3: FABRICATION
Karen Dionisio-See 613168 Virtual Environments Semester 1 2013, Group 5
Emerging free form
Clay model
First Digital Model
RECIPE: 1. Growth 2. Layering LIGHTING EFFECT: -layered/ overlapping WAY OF HOLDING: -arm goes through the lantern from the bottom surface
Second Digital Model
Final Lantern
PROTOTYPE 1
Problems: 1. Mistakes in th assembly 2. Too open - affects the lighting of the lantern 3. Detached layers 4. Uncomfortable in holding the lantern
1st prototype
PROTOTYPE 2 Solution 1: Lofting the top and bottom of the lantern
Solution 2: Altering the geometry of the model
Solution 3: 3D Triangles to attach the layers
PROTOTYPE 2
Problems: 1. The lofted surface at the bottom becomes squished 2.The triangles do not align or difficult to attach with the layers 2nd prototype
FINAL PRODUCT
Digitized final product Final Product
FINAL PRODUCT
Changes in the final model 1: 3D triangles were removed.
Changes in the final model 2: Paneling of the bottom surface
FINAL PRODUCT
Top View
Bottom View
FabLab file
LIGHTING EFFECT
Lantern Light effect
Precedent Lighting Effect (overlapped shadows)
Light effect on the bottom of the lantern
PROCESS OF MAKING
PROCESS OF MAKING
FINAL PRODUCT
FABRICATION - LECTURES AND READINGS
The concept of fabrication in making our lantern has been discussed in the lectures of weeks 6-9. In here, I began to fully understand the relationship between digitally and physically designing a model. For instance, in the process of designing a product, one should continue to go back to the digital model and the physical model to improve the intial product. I realized that you should not stick to one design and continue to explore on more ways to make the process easier and better for the final product. To do so, you should decide on the materials being used, paneling designs and method of unrolling the model in order to produce a model that would satisfy you. The lectures also talked about the importance of technology in the way making and design has evolved through the years. With these fabrication technologies, it became easier for designers or architects to produce their buildings and test the different materials to be used in the process. For example, in making the lantern, I have used the card cutter that produced a precise and accurate geometry for the surfaces of my lantern. If I would have to do it manually, it would take me months to finish the final product or it would turn out to be a different model from the digital model.
Kolarevic - Architecture in the Digital Age - Design and Manufacturing (2003) In this reading, Kolarevic has introduced various fabrication technologies including two-dimensional, subtractive, additive, formative and three-dimensional fabrication that helps in the assembly of the production. For some architects, they would use different machines to produce their model. In my case, however, I have used the CNC card cutter, which is a two-dimensional fabrication technology. This contains a needle that can score and cut the ivory card to produce surfaces i have created in Rhino. Although the card cutter has been successful in producing my model, I encountered some problems with it. One would be when the needle became dull that didn’t cut thoroughly on the material. It’s interesting how people have thought of these technologies that became a revolution in the world of design. Iwamoto - Digital Fabrications (2009) One aspect in the use of digital technology from design to fabrication would be tessellating. This has “ability to array unique panels across large surfaces to address multiple scales and curvatures. “ For instance, the “double cone“ of Coop Himmelb(l)au’s BMW Welt had panels that were halved then triangulated to produce the geometry of the cone and the flat glass panes. I used this similar method in the bottom of my lantern, wherein I had to panel it in a way that it will be formed into the lofted surface. I then used a box pattern that enables each part to fold that would attach to the next cell. Before the final product, I had to find different ways to do this part since I had a problem in forming the surface into its right geometry.