DIGITAL DESIGN + FABRICATION SM1, 2016 M4 JOURNAL - Skin & Bone Yuebing, Xiao 751795 Lyle + #11
1
2
3
4
INTRODUCTION M1 - IDEATION
1.1 Object 1.2 Object + System Analysis 1.3 Volume 1.4 Sketch Design Proposal #1, 2, 3 1.5 M1 Reflection
M2 - DESIGN
2.1 Sketch Design Development 2.2 Precedent Research 2.3 Design Proposal V1, V2 2.4 Prototype + Testing Effects 2.5 M2 Reflection
M3 - FABRICATION
3.1 Fabrication Intro 3.2 Design Development & Fabrication V2 + Prototyping 3.3 Design Development & Fabrication V3 + Prototyping 3.4 Optimisation 3.5 Final Prototyping 3.6 Assembly Drawing 3.7 Final Digital Model 3.8 Fabrication Sequence 3.9 M3 Reflection
M4 - REFLECTION APPENDIX
5
DESIGN BRIEF This semester, the brief of the design project is to create a secondary skin or evelope that is wearable and accommodates the body. Besides, the skin or envelope must be a 3 dimensional volume that will explore, measure, and/or negotiate the boundary of personal space. A sleeping ‘pod’ or devices for 1 person needs to be designed.
CONCEPT Skin and Bone system
INTRODUCTION
My concept is to create a structure that can be moveable with movement of human boday and whose shape tends to be changeable because of applied force.
6
7
Object + System Analysis
M1 - IDEATION
Detail of joint
8
The object umbrella I selected is the system of skin and bone. Additionally, the frame of the umbrella is orgnised by repeating and rotating similar element. The image (right) illustrates the force that is transferred from skin to bones. Specifically, all the similar elements are connected with a joint and all the force from skin will be transferred to the joint through the elements. In terms of measuring umbrella, at, first, it is photographed through the top and then traced; therefore, I got the plan (horizontal measurement). It is because of known diameter from the plan that it is easy to get the section (vertical measurement). When the umbrella is not open, it can be measured through measuring the length of elements. In fact, the method of measurement is not accurate. When it is open, the elements tend to change shape as a result of tension from surface
Volume - Sketch Model I made an attempt to form a model with repeating trangular elements. I selected triangle as an element because of its quality of stability. Besides, all the elements are joined into a single point. However, when I finished, I found this structure is not stable so that it can not support anything. Therefore, it needs more development to make structure support weight of part of human body.
9
Sketch Design #1 Front View
Flexible Movement and Easy Carrying Ribs
The idea of sleeping pod is from the easy carrying and folded umbrella. It can use small space to save and carry it but create a huge space. The triangular structure is stable so that it can carry a person. Besides, I use fabric installed inside the bone structure, which can create a sense of privacy.
M1 - IDEATION
Right View
10
Scanned by CamScanner
Sketch Design Proposal
Or
Perspective View
Repeating Elements to Create a Stable Structure
Element
surface is outside of the bone structure.
Scanned by CamScanner
Sketch Design #2
The idea is repeating similar elements to create a structure that can be moveable. In fact, this idea is trying to achieving teh force that transferred from skin to bone like umbrella. Besides, I also made an attempt to design the movable frame. That is, the frame will change its shape according to different directions of force, which can be much more comfortable for people.
11
Sketch Design #3
Rotating Space
M1 - IDEATION
The design combines the principle of skin and bine. Additionally, the interesting point is that it canbe used to sleep on both skin and bone, I created the bones in a sense of flowing and it is comfotable for a person to sleep. Finally, it also creates a private space for sleeping.
M1 Reflection
Through researching and studying module 1, so many methods of measuring are experimented to measure an object (Umbrella). It is easy to measure it from two directions, which are vertical and horizontal. From the top, it can be known the horizontal dimensions through photographing (plan). Otherwise, the section will be known only by the way of measuring vertical dimensions. The skeletons of an umbrella can be measured separately when it is not open. Even though all the dimensions can be measured in this process, the umbrella may change its shape a little bit when it is open as a result of compression from skin. From the aspect of digital model, it is easy to draw an umbrella on Rhino because its feature of frame. The umbrella is formed by a repeating skeleton and then just rotating it in a circle. Additionally, in the perspective of material system, the umbrella belongs to the system of skin and bone. They have a closed connection and influence each other. The umbrella as an example can support a certain weight of water and works well because of working together. It can be known by analysing the transmission of force between skin and bone. Specifically, the force have two directions, when an umbrella is open, the bones give the skin tension while they get compression and all the force from the skin will transfer to the joint on the bones. It is because of the force between this material systems, the object can be stable. In terms of sketch designs, I got some inspirations from analysing the charateristics of umbrella that can apply to my design ideas. Firstly, the frame of structure is formed by repeating same elements. Besides, the structure can be moveable and easy to carry. Finally, it can create a space for temporary hiding when it is open, that is, space can be open and closed.
14
Concept Through discussing so many ideas from the group, finally, we got the idea from these two sketch designs. The first one is following the geometric form of a triangle as a bone membrane that will support the person for a nap and the skin will be filled in bones to hide from light. The second one is using a method of connecting every joint with three sticks and then various forms can be made througn this rule of connection. This idea is trying to create a structure that can change its shape because of force from different directions. It can be seen that the similarity of these two sketch designs is both repeating the similar elements to form structure. Through combining them, finally, the concept we got is to create a frame with repeating triangular elements that can be changeable as human boday moves and comfortable for human body.
Scanned by CamScanner
M2 - DESIGN
Sketch Design Development - Sketch Drawings
Sketch Design Development - Sketch Rhino Models
Step 1
At the begining of this design, I experimented with several elements which can be moveable. I got the element with pin joint and sticks. (step 1). Additionally, the thinner sticks can stop movement.
Finding an element Besides, I followed the rule of repeating elements, I got step 2. When experimenting shape of the design, I considered that for comforable, the shape should follow the curve of human’s body like head. (step 3)
Step 2 Experimenting the layers of the element
Step 3 The shape should follow the shape of human’s head.
15
Presedent Research - Dunescape Dunescape at moma, New York completed in 2006. Designed by Shop Architects.
Repetition layer of drawing
Dunescape is designed for the young to satisfy them various needs in summer. The concept of overlaying timber member’s presents the bases of this design. In terms of construction, it achieves the combination of timber strips with relative instruction and just volunteers can install it. Besides, the form is created freely and temporary with overlaying timber strips and have ability to support human’s weightness. Finally, the overlaying elements make the structure a sense of movement.
M2 - DESIGN
Overlay
16
Rhythm
The technique it uses is applying for CNC machines to cut these timber strips at a low cost of fabrication and finally be quickly constructed. Images retrieved from, http://www.shoparc.com/projects/dunescape-at-moma-ps1
Precedent applied to design Our design is trying to distinguish different layers and then they are tied by pin joints, as a result, the layers can move freely to different shapes. Additionally, overlaying them together creates a solid volume that provides opportunity to support weight.
17
Presedent Research - Kinetic Wall “It offers an alternative future, an architecture that is materially and spatially dynamic of both natural and recycled materials.” Kinetic Wall By Barkow Leibinger
Tension
Movement
M2 - DESIGN
This picture shows the relation be sp
18
Dynamic
images retrived from, http://www.dezeen.com/2014/06/18/kinetic-wall-barkow-leibinger-elements-venice-biennale-2014/
It is constructe that rhythmica background “ technological face. Besides, brings back w
Precedent applied to design the quality of movement used in the Kinetic wall is applied to this pinjointed design. It can also act as a dynamic architectural basis. The pin joint make our design flexible without the sense of solid and surface will be changeable because of the movement of the structure.
etween visitors and Kinetic wall itself and how the pace experiments.
ed by an ever-changing surface ally expands and contracts and a “wall� that is installed by a series of l motor with points connecting surcontinuous movement of the skin wall to life.
19
Design Proposal - V1
top view
right view
M2 - DESIGN
force
20
change
perspective view
For design proposal, I extended the sketch design around head with same element, which allows human’s head to move when they are sleeping. The images (left) shows how it works when force applied on the element.
21
M2 - DESIGN
Design Proposal - V2
It is because of strip woods can not support human body with few layers that I installed all the layers together. And then it became a solid form that has higher quality and ability to support weightness from human’s head.
front view
1st layer
BOTTOM
2nd layer 3rd layer 4th layer
right view
TOP
For further design development, I tryed to use strip woods (MDF)to form this structure with pin joint. However, all the strips are having a certain thickness. If just packaging them at random, the structure can not work well because strips always touch each other and then stop movement. Therefore, I experimented all the strips on Rhino and arranged all of them into 4 layers. They can work well without being stoped by touching others.
Testings Movement and Function can be seen from the singular elements of how the strips works within the mechanism. The form of the structure thus is manipulated through the point of force and adjusts accordingly to satisfy the force onto the point of load.
M2 - DESIGN
Material selection: At first, we use thinner strips to test and finally we selected laser cuting MDF to mass produce same strips with holes.
24
Prototype
25
M2 Reflecion
In the module 2, the concept is designed and developed. Through discussing various ideas with my group mate and finally, we got the idea that is to create a moveable structure according to the characteristic of an umbrella. Besides, the bone structure might change its shape because of the force from the skin. In terms of way of creating forms, we followed the method of installing an umbrella that is repeating the same element.
M2 - DESIGN
According to the reading of “lost in parameter space�, it can be seen that the software in 2D and 3D making is very useful to create a complex form that cannot imagine in mind, especially interest in mathematics and abstract concept. At first, a changeable element that is triangular is drew on rhino. And then, we experimented with this element through repeating in vertical and horizontal directions.
26
Additionally, Paul mentioned the significance of prototype and testing effects in lecture. In this module, we made a prototype to show how our concept works and weather it is successful or not. Only 3 layers of prototype of our design version 2 are finished at the scale of 1:1. In the processing of making, pin joints provide opportunities for strip woods to move flexibly so that various possibilities of shapes appeared, which the optimism is. However, the structure is over flexible which leads to that shape cannot be static for a while. This needs to be solved in the later development.
27
M3 - FABRICATION
Fabrication Introduction
28
After reviewing Module 2, so many problems appeared, especially the alteration of the structure. It is because of characteristic of over flexibility that design tends not to be wearable for human. The method that is able to control movement of the structure should be found in the further development. Besides, there are also several problems that need to be solved. Firstly, it is not comfortable for human use as a result of the rectangular edge of MDF strips. Secondly, the nuts always fall down from bolts because of movement of strips. Thirdly, skin should be applied on the bone structure. Finally, the appropriate use of this design responds to multiple parts of human body. In the later development, all the problems are trying to be solved and the concepts also needs to be developed deeply.
29
M3 - FABRICATION
Design Development + Fabrication V2
30
31
M3 - FABRICATION
Prototyping
Design Development + Fabrication V3
34
Experimenting with elastics
M3 - FABRICATION
The elastic bands hold the structure shape together, when applying the force onto this joint it moves down with force but still reconfigures top the original shape after the force has been removed.
Utilising material of elastic bands is an attempt to control the structure without a certain shape, which is because the qualities of elastic bands are not only flexible but also controlling movement of this structure.
Experimenting with elastic bands
35
M3 - FABRICATION
Prototyping
M3 - FABRICATION
Optimisition
The refinement of the model from the Module 2 prototype can be seen here. Improvedments mainly present on the aspects of practility and function. Additionally, cahnges can be seen while enhancing the aesthetic values and the models visual quailities in presenting the movement of the design. Changes include: - the shortening od elements, - rounding the edges of courners, - elstaic supports to hold geometric form, - layers are connected tight together and - applying skin on the bone structure Most importantly, we experimented a lot of methods of using it. It can be applied to multiple parts of human body like neck, head, waist and back.
We change the edge of MDF to round top for satisfying the need of comfortablity. Besides, holes for elastic bands are cutted by laser cutting machine.
skin on the bone structure
Optimisition
M3 - FABRICATION
Applying to human body
M3 - FABRICATION
Final Prototyping
M3 - FABRICATION
Assembly Drawing
This drawing illustrates how different layers element combine together with joints of bolts and nuts.
This drawing shows how rubber bands connect with MDF strips.
M3 - FABRICATION
Final Digital Model
TOP VIEW
FRONT VIEW
RIGHT VIEW
M3 - FABRICATION
Fabrication Sequence STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
M3 Reflection Module 3 mainly concentrates on fabrication, which is installing the final model we created. In this module, we tried to solve all the problems we have and optimise them in module 2. For us, the biggest challenge is the loose structure which cannot form a certain shape in the process of movement. To deal with this problem, we considered the elastic band which is not only flexible but also controlling the shape. In terms of readings, according to Iwamoto (2009), our form utilised sectioning as digital technology with precedent of Dunescape Project (mentioned above). Specifically, our model is built by a series parallel, stacked dimensional MDF with certain rules, which is similar to Dunescape Project. Branko (2003) presents a new form of the digital uprising that is laser cutting. When we did the laser cutting template, the stem forms cannot be proceeded to laser cutting directly, they must be on a two dimensional axial (make 2D). Besides, we should also consider several things in laser cutting. For example, the materials you selected must be applied to laser cutting machine, like we used MDF with 3mm thickness. At last, our model still cannot well address the problem of fabric attaching (skin). For further developing, we still need pay attention to that. Besides, the sense of aesthetics need to be considered more as well
M4 - REFLECTION
During this semester, I have learnt a lot from this design project through the way of solving problems all the time in this process. Most importantly, I got more knowledge in terms of how our design concept develops with the help of digital tools, like Rhino and Photoshop as well as physical prototyping. According to marble in the reading “imaging risk”, digital tools tend to solve the problems with organisational complexity, while physical model making tends to achieve whether the imagination does work or not. Therefore, “crafts tend to connect the relationship between human intelligence and machine intelligence”. (Marble, 2008).My understanding of that is a successful design work cannot leave one of them so that you should make full use of them. In terms of risks, it mainly refers to the knowledge transferred from humans to computers. For example, at first, I am not good at using digital tools like rhino so that my imagination of my design concept cannot develop only if I experiment with my ideas by hand, while some materials are not easy for making like steel, concrete and timber. Consequently, digital technologies are useful for developing your ideas, especially that are interested in logic with mathematics rules. However, sometimes the digital model cannot satisfy our mind. For instance, my design idea is to create a moveable model, while on Rhino, it cannot illustrate the dynamic changes. I found it more appropriate to reveal the movement of the structure through physical model. As a result, it is not reliable for your design if you just use one of them. On the other aspects, Rifkin (2011) states that, firstly, now our society tends to be collaborative and people here are sharing their experience with others through the Internet. This change is obviously occurring around our life. Specifically, in the process of our designing, the use of ISSUU is really helpful for us because we can learn about design strategies from others at any time we want. It is also convenient for us to share ideas with our group mates. According to Rifkin (2011), with the development of the third industrial revolution, a lot of digital machines come into being, like CNC machine, laser cutting and 3D printing. Nowadays, these machines are applied to various fields including design area. Under this situation, our design fabrication takes advantage of using laser cutting to achieve accurate dimensions of MDF strips with holes on it. In addition, it only takes us for a short time to install them with bolts and nuts. As the precedent Dunescape at MoMa I mentioned above, the digital technology CNC milling is applied to its components cuttings, which allows fabrication at a relatively low cost concerning labor, timing and materials. When I finished this design project, I really felt that digital technology makes a significant impact on designing development and model making. In the process of designing and fabrication, the understanding of connection between human and technology is well developed. Addtionally, the exploration of material system is useful for our design quality.
APPENDIX
Bibliography
Bernstein, P & Deamer, P 2008, Building the Future: Recasting Labor in Architecture. New york, USA: Princeton Architectural Press. Branko Kolarevic, 2003. Architecture in the Digital Age - Design and Manufacturing. London: Spon Press. Lisa Iwamoto, 2009. Digital fabrications: architectural and material techniques. New York : Princeton Architectural Press. Rifkin, Jeremy, 2011. The third industrial revolution: how lateral power is transforming energy, the economy, and the world. Macmillan,pp107-126 Scheurer, F. & Stehling, H. , 2011. ‘Lost in Parameter Space?’, Architectural Design, vol. 81, no. 4, pp. 70-79. Thomas Schropfer, 2011. Material Design: Informing Architecture by Materiality. Washington D.C. USA: the Library of Congress. IMAGES: Dunescape: retrived from http://www.shoparc.com/projects/dunescape-at-moma-ps1 Kinetic Wall: retrived from http://www.dezeen.com/2014/06/18/kinetic-wall-barkow-leibinger-elements-venice-biennale-2014/
Credit XIAO YUEBING
COLLINGS JACK
END
56