Digital Design - Module 02 Semester 1, 2019 Benjamin Tia
996147 Junhan Foong + Studio 7
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)
According to Kolerevic’s statement, the three fundametal types of fabrication techniques are additive, subtractive and formative. - Additive includes the process of layering on materials building up into a volume. Example of this is 3D printing. - Subtractive is the opposite of additive. Instead of layering, it strips the layer of the volume which converts into 2D. Example of this is Laser Cutting and CNC. - Formative is the process of manipulating the materials or shapes by using heat, compression or warping into a desire shape. CNC bending is an example of this. CNC fabrication allows to construct complex geometries with strong precision and accuracy. It has been becoming more popular as a method to fabricate many materials with the advantages such as efficiency, speed and production rates. As, it explores more greater possibilites, the mass production can be a norm of complex designs.
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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Surface Creation
1.
3.
2.
4.
With the abilitles to produce creative iterations, I have to consider whether it is possible to put panels on, making sure the waffle structure is possible to develop to support the iterations and if it can stand itself. I have display four of my chosen surfaces. Although they all look similar and simple, it is up to how these surfaces look once the panels are put on.
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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Surface Creation
Second Iteration
First Iteration
Different angle view
Top view
Different angle view 4
Top view
SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Surface Creation
As it was difficult to get type of iteration I wanted to specifically get, I tried my best to get some unique surfaces. On the left is what I have officially chosen for the final. The two surfaces is closely identical except the bottom line is shorter than the other. Both follow the same flow to feel the satisifaction. Overall it is a simple iteration to allow easier process for putting the panels on and to construct waffle easily.
Chosen Iteration
Different angle view
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Top view
SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Isometric View
I took the inspiration of a dragon scale and applied to panels. The 2D panel makes it look like it is shredding some skin or acts as a battle scar. Both side follow the same pattern except at the bottom row due to meeting 50% requirement of 3D and 2D on both side and the grid is in odd number.
Waffle structure is straightforward. It looks like it is going to twist. You can tell that the structure will be stable and stands up easily. Since it is simple structure, putting it into the laser cut and puzzling it together will be easily done.
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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Laser Cutting
The process of converting the surface and waffle line works were simple. Initially, I struggled to understand why I couldn’t explode the linework until I found out I had to ungroup the curves. Then exploding lines became possible. So now I put the folding lines into etch layer. Also I was told to put couple of cut lines into etch layer to avoid taping. For waffle, I labelled each parts so the building process is easy. With panels, labelling them does not matter since they are all different from each other.
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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Matrix and Possibilities
Lofts
1.1
1.2
1.3
{0,60,150}
{0,0,0}
Grid Points
{90,0,150} {150,0,90}
{0,150,150} {150,150,0} {0,90,0} {150,0,0} {90,150,0}
{60,150,0} {150,45,0}
Paneling Grid & Attractor Point
2.1
Paneling
3.1
90,150,0}
2.2
{0,150,0}
2.3
Attractor / Control Points (X,Y,Z) Attractor / Control Curves
{150,150,150}
{105,0,0}
{75,150,150}
Key
1.4
{135,0,0}
2.4
{84,80,240}
{-155,46,172}
{31,-24,236}
Looking at the coordinates of each iterations. I realised that coordinates containing number 150 are very common. Although this could be wrong but this lead me to suggest that I would break or twist the surfaces if I do not put ‘150’ number. In the panelling grid, I tested putting panels on each iterations and how well it attracts me. In 3.2 box, as that was my chosen iteration, I have already mixed around with 2D and 3D panels and creating the patterns.
{138,-38,28}
3.2
3.3
3.4
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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Photography of Model
The model depicts the scale of dragon’s skin with the battle scar representing as 2D panel. I’m happy how the geometry turn out. Looking in some particular angle, it looks aesthetically pleasing because of the shadows that the 3D panels are creating, giving us the depth of the shape. I particularily enjoy the view of the 2D panels because it gives you that exposure of the waffle structure.
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SOLID AND VOID
Visual Scripting of Parametric Model
Grasshopper scripts allows the exploration of the shapes, adjusting the attractor points and scaling. Default grasshopper does not provide many shapes. So by installing Weaverbird and Lunchbox, plus further studies on grasshopper online tutorials, I can now play around with more unique shapes.
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SOLID AND VOID Surface Creation
These results turned out to be interesting. You can clearly see where the shape attracted to i.e point attraction. I expected to see some interesting boolean subtraction results.
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SOLID AND VOID Isometric view
I have shown here couple of iterations. There are wide range of spacial qualities I have achieved. This depends on the shape, how much it overlaps with each other and the manipulation of attractive points. I’m more into the sphere iteration because of the way it lets your imagination take over when exploring the space inside.
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SOLID AND VOID Isometric view
I have chosen the sphere iteration because it can draw in a lot of ideas and perception. When exploring the idea of porosity, this iteration is very open with a lot of passage like a maze and with huge space can be define as public. There are not many small space that can be treated as private. However, the small openings on outside can perhaps give you that sense of privateness. Once I use BooleanIntersection with the iteration and the 50x50 cube. The result turn out better than I expected. It gave me an idea of housing space where the walls are like a cave and with the hole appearing can be treated as a window.
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Geometry
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
Boolean Difference Boolean Intersection
Task B Matrix I experimented with 4 shapes along with the attractive points and grid manipulation. They all turned out interesting and unique. I chose the first one which is the sphere. It have a lot of potential for exploration of the space, geometry and perception. Other shapes do not have much potential compared to the sphere. However, with cylinder, it have couple of possibilties but as much not to sphere.
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SOLID AND VOID Matrix and Possibilities Grid Manipulation
1.1
{-307,110,172}
1.2
1.3
{64,-386,84}
{-110,119,227}
{64,-192,16}
Key
1.4
{0,0,0}
Attractor / Control Points (X,Y,Z) Grid Points
{201,52,-43}
{19,320,24} {351,80,19}
Points Distribution
{Point Attractor}
{Point Attractor}
{Point Attractor}
{Point Attractor}
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
{266,300,329}
{270,304,440}
{144,304,165}
{260,43,0}
Geometry
{Attractor Point Location}
{Attractor Point Location}
{Attractor Point Location}
{Attractor Point Location}
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
Boolean Difference Boolean Intersection
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SOLID AND VOID
Photography of Model
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SOLID AND VOID Photography of Model
I printed out three iterations to compare with each other. So far, the sphere iteration is my favourite. With this geometry, I found out that if you rotate it, you end up discovering more perception that this model can make. For example, on this picture you can see the circle on the ceiling acting as skylight window which was originally a window as you can see on the previous page, third picture. I also enjoy the view of a circular opening giving you that modernism feel.
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HUMAN SCALE
Photography of Model
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ISOMETRIC VIEW
Waffle structure allows the panels to keep intact and steady.
Each row have a different pattern.
Exploded Isometric B 1:2 0
3D ‘spikes’ creates variety of shadows.
2D panels allows maximum lighting.
Exploded Isometric A 1:1 0
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80
120 mm
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20
160
240 mm
Appendix
Process
I played around with panelling concepts. At first I used single pyramid and it did not look that great because it is plain and simple. Also it looks too big and sort of lazy. Afterwards, I doubled the pyramid and make one longer than the other. In the grasshopper script, I used dispatch command to determind the pattern of the panels. It took a lot of adjustments until I found what I like. For converting panels into flat surfaces, some surfaces overlap and had to split it apart.
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Appendix Process
These are the process of task 2. I perhaps spent too much time on trying to produce a lot shapes. So the work is ultimately messy in Rhino and then I had to reorganised to make it look neat and don’t lose track. I attempted to colour the final result using between cream and gray colours. It look out of place in terms of dark and light areas so it will go into minor adjustments.
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Appendix
Process
The process of importing Rhino model in Makerbot was easy. In the first two picture, I showed that I have imported a specific print settings for Digital Design. In the print preview on the left, I made sure to use less raft or supports and changing the position of the model to reduce the print time. So this is the lowest time I could get when adjusting.
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Appendix
Process
The 3D print turn out great as I expected. I have printed 3 iterations. Only the sphere required rafts which took time to take it off. Afterwards, I sanded the models to have smoother edges and look more cleaner.