Digital Design - Module 02 Semester 1, 2019 Yilin TU
(964532) Samuel Lalo + 29
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)
There are three types of fabrication techniques: Subtractive Fabrication, Additive fabrication and Formative Fabrication. Subtractive fabrication involves the removal of a specified volume of material from solids using multi-axis milling processes. Additive fabrication involves incremental forming by adding material in a layer-by-layer fashion, in a process which is the converse of milling. Formative fabrication applies mechanical forces, restricting forms, heat or steam to a material so it can be forms into desired shapes. Computer Numeric Controlled fabrication (CNC) is a dedicated computer system performs the basic controlling function over the movement of a machine tool using a set of coded instructions. It enables numerous iterations of designs to be produced at a lower price and less time. Parametric modelling can be transferred directly to the CNC machine which increasing the accuracy of the production and feasibility.
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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE
Box
Surface Creation
Creating a 150*150*150 box to be the first step of creating the surface.
Final Surfaces
Experiments
Creating Surfaces
Attractor Point Using attractor points to
By changing numbers, different
change the distance and
combinations will create vaious
direction of the off set
surfaces.
grids, which will provide differentiated patterns for the next step
Creating Patterns Using cull index to combine different patterns instead of single one. Besides, adding six boolean toggle to control or select the grids for different patterns. By turning true or false will result different grids. Moreover, using weaverbird to create openness for the pyramids and control the size of the openness. Using different preview color to distinguish the patterns.
There are four different patterns in my design, three of them contain two shapes (combinations of 2D and 3D) within one rectangle, besides two of them contain openness. Moreover, the design idea about my surface is contrariety. I used the cull index to choose the diagonal areas as the main openness for one surface and the other surface use the opposite way. Although the design idea is about contrariety, there is still connection between two surfaces.
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Creating Waffle Structure
Creating Contour Creating x and z contour for two surfaces. The numbers of the contours can be reduced by changing
To fit the design of the
the distance.
panels, avoiding seeing intersected contours from
In order to reduce the useless
the openness, removing
contours, cull index is used to simplify
some fins to satisfy the
them.
design.
Before simplify contours, 8 z rings and 7 fins.
Loft Contours
After simplify z rings, the bottom z ring was removed.
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Trim z rings and fins
SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Surface Creation
Experiments of creating patterns (Cull Index)
My two surfaces are quite similar, instead of changing the surface, I started to making changes to my patterns. Through the experiments, I finally form the idea about contrariety.
Surface1 Too randomly arranged, require more sense of design.
The use of cull index discovering various combinations of patterns which offers many designs for me to choose.
Reducing the number of the boolean toggle will
Surface2
also reduce the possibilities of patterns.
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Isometric View
My main design idea is about a feeling of contrariety between my two similar surfaces. One surface contains less openness, the other contains more. Besides, the openness is arranged on the diagonal areas of surface 1 but for surface 2, it has openness opposite to diagonal areas.
My waffle structure is not perfectly arranged, as I removed one fin from each surface to avoid seeing intersection from my patterns (contain openness).
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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Laser Cutting
Instead of using the method from FoDR, I used grasshopper to do the unroll. Most of the unrolling surfaces contain two or more patterns, which can reduce the time of assembly. Besides, I decided to use dash line for one of my patterns which have the most openness. Dash line is like a decoration for this particular pattern.
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Lofts
1.1
1.2
{150,60,150}
1.3
{90,0,150}
{75,0,150}
1.4
{0,0,150}
{190,-25,0} {150,0,0}
{90,150,150}
{135,0,150}
{75,150,150} {0,0,75}
In order to distinguish the overlapping surfaces, using thicker lines to emphasize the parts that closer to viewers.
{75,0,150} {30,150,150}
{45,150,150}
{150,60,0}
{150,0,0}
{150,150,0} {0,0,30} {0,0,0}
{0,150,60}
{105,150,0}
{150,150,0}
{0,135,0}
{0,75,0} {0,30,0}
{105,150,0}
{30,150,150}
{150,150,0}
Paneling Grid & Attractor Point
Besides, using different sizes of points to highlight the effect of attractor points. The larger the points, the more influence they have.
{0,120,0}
{Two Flat Surfaces}
{Two Intersected Surfaces}
{Two Curved Surfaces}
{Final Surfaces}
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
{0,150,0}
{167, -588, 148}
{31,-4,95} {52,-650,72} {150,1157,0} {55,167,81}
{55,167,81}
{Original Grids}
Paneling 1
3.1.1
{Offset Grids with the same distance}
3.2.1
{Attractor Point Location}
{Three Attractor Points}
3.3.1
3.4.1
The isometric view of my paneling is not clear enough to see both of my surfaces, thus I add another row to show the other views.
{x,y,z}
Points/ Attractor Points
Paneling 2
3.1.2
3.2.2
3.3.2
3.4.2
Directions/ Views of the original surfaces
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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Matrix and Possibilities
Original pyramids, using weaverbird to create openings. The location of patterns
Isometric view of exploding surfaces and waffle structure
that have openings is opposite to the other surface.
I choose to explode the surface by its pattern (diagonal) instead of by rows. In this way, viewers can understand my design more directly.
Combining two shapes into one pattern: two pyramids with one higher than the other, which offers a sense of hierarchy.
Combination of 2D and 3D patterns. One triangle and one pyramid with openings. The reason to create openness is to make the surface less solid and allows light coming through. Combination of two pyramids. According to the offset points, some parts of this pattern can be said as 2D pattern as one of the pyramids is extremely low.
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Flipping over waffle structure
Origional waffle structure
Flipping over module After discoveing differnt directions of modules, I found this direction (above) is more interesting than the origional one. It becoms more ike a pavilion.
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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Photography of Model
One of the interesting parts about my module is its flipping view. Comparing to the original view, it provides more contrast, for instance, the enclosure interior (waffle structure) and the expanding exterior (shadow). Besides, it becomes more like a pavilion for viewers to explore. The inclining outward surfaces offer a shelter for people to stay. Moreover, the design of my patterns is differentiated. I decided to use dash line for one particular pattern (pyramids with openings), which is aim to add some decorations for the surface.
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Visual Scripting of Parametric Model
Finding Grids within Cube
Rearrange shapes
Distance between grids is 50
Using scale and move commond to change the size and position of the Torus instead of simplex design.
Using attractor points
Designing Own Shape
Generate Boxes between grids
In order to design more interesting volume inside the cube. I combined 2 different
After changing the grids
Manipulate Grids by cull index
shapes within one cube. Also, creating a
by attractor points, the
Using cull index to select part of the grids in order
quite complex shape instead of using the
volume within the cube
to combine different shapes within one cube later.
lunchbox.
becomes interesting.
Before deciding my final design, I tried different shapes to boolean. Then, the circulation of Torus interested me a lot. The curving tunnels have a sense of continuous within the solid cube. Moreover, the idea of combining different shapes (creating own shape), makes me think about creating another shape that contains similar characteristic like Torus. Continuity and curving become my main design concept.
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SOLID AND VOID Surface Creation
Experiments of grids volume Through experiments, I found out that changing too much of the magnitude will cause some strange forms. I do not
Designing Own Shape
want my grids to become too dramatic.
Creating a flat surface at first then using rebuild to curve the surafce. The contour will follow the curving surface. The reason to make these contours is to offer a sense of hierarchy. On the other hand, it still keeps the idea of floating and continuity.
Final Design The differences between two attractor points’ magnitude are not too large.
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Experiments of combining different shapes
Experiments of combining different shapes
One shape is from lunchbox and the other is my own design.
Basing on the previous experiment, I found that Torus maybe more suitable for my design. The sharp
Exploring the relationship between sharp edges and smooth surface.
edge shape is still in testament.
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SOLID AND VOID Isometric view
The origional volume of the cube, with some parts of the boolean
Final Isometric Volume
shapes coming out.
Developing from previous experiments, I finally decided to use Torus and this special shape as my pattern. The reason that I replaced the sharp edge shape is because it was too contradicting to the Torus. Thus, I created this curving shape and made it maintained the feeling of edges. It is not as sharp as Solid areas, can be
previous shape, but it contains various edges that
used as the open
follows the curving surface. Comparing to the solid
space or the walls that
surface, this kind of curving surface offers a sense
separated activities.
of porosity.
One of my main concepts of my design is the The intersecting areas of
continuity offers by the curving surface and Torus.
two combined shapes.
Viewers can go through one area to the other by
The Torus offers a sense
these intersecting tunnels. Besides, the interior of
of smooth for the surface,
tunnels is not totally smooth due to the curving
however, the curving
shapes.
edges develops the surface from simplex smooth to hierarchical weaving.
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Task B Matrix 1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
Grid Surfaces
My final design is the combination of different scales of Torus and my own curving surfaces.
2.1
2.2
2.3
Attractor Points
I want to make the final outcome to fit in different scales, buildings, pavilions, or infrastructures. Thus, when I was making the final module at the boolean step, I tried to keep some flat areas for people to stand or walk through.
2.4
{11,-71,77} {21,-71,0}
{-170,-220,0} {114,-71,138}
{-155, 100, 104}
{-115, 100, 0} {-33, -6, 0}
{-33, 33, 0}
{-36, -71, 0}
3.1
3.2
3.3
{-109 ,-71 ,0}
3.4
Boolean Shapes
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
Boolean Results
{x, y, z}
Attractor points
View Point
Boolean Section Volume
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SOLID AND VOID Matrix and Possibilities
Different Views/ Directions of the Final Module Exploring different directions of the module will offer more possibilities. In one specific direction, it may like a pavilion or a building or something else.
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1:50
Pavilion
1:300 Building
People can rest under the shelter. The curving seats and shelter are corresponding to each other.
Considering the final module as a building with curving roof. Under the rood, there is a open space of circulation.
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SOLID AND VOID
Photography of Model
1:80 Pavilion
1:125 Infrastructure
When considering the module as a pavilion, it is turned into another direction. The curving surface
The curving edges remind me about rock climbing. Thus, this module becomes the climbing infra-
become part of the decoration of the pavilion. People can walk through it and exploring its special
structure for both children and adults. The upper level is for adults and the lower level is for children.
pattern.
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Appendix Process
Origional waffle structure Exploding shadows and the relations between 1:75 human figures.
Scale 1:75
When photographing the interior of the waffle structure, the flipping view has a lot more interesting parts. The decreasing size of z rings offer a sense of enclosure to the interior. However, the shadow widens layer by layer. There is a contrast between shadow and structure, also between openness and enclosure.
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Appendix
Process
Process of making the panels. Final finished panels with curving surfaces.
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Appendix Process
Final Module
Some experiments before coming to the final design.
The reason I gived up this design is its giant roof. It will be too heavy for the thin walls to bear the weight of the roof, the 3D module will bent.
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Appendix
Process
MAKERBOT File Time: 2h 38m In this direction, the module will have fewer supporting materials. Besides, I put the most solid surface attach to the ground, which will be more efficient to bear the load.
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Appendix Extra Photos