AIR
The University of Melbourne Architecture Design Studio: Air Yang Feng 737358 Semester 2 2016 Tutor: Caitlyn Parry Group: 7
CONTENTS Introduction Part A. Conceptualisation A.1. Design Computation A.2. Composition/Generation A.3. Conclusion A.4. Learning outcomes A.5. Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches Part B. Criteria Design B.1. Research Field B.2. Case Study 1.0 B.3. Case Study 2.0 B.4. Technique: Development B.5. Technique: Prototypes B.6. Technique: Proposal B.7. Learning Objectives and Outcomes B.8. Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches Part C. Detailed Design C.1. Design Concept C.2. Tectonic Elements & Prototypes C.3. Final Detail Model C.4. Learning Objectives and Outcomes
INTRODUCTION My name is Yang Feng. I am in second year of Bachelor of Environments course, majoring in architecture, at the University of Melbourne. Before I came to Melbourne, I studied IGCSE and A-level course in London for four years. When I was at senior, I was ambitious on business studying. Since I casually read an architectural magazine, I have been keen on architecture study. However, I can’t choose architecture major because I did not study arts in A-level. Also I’m tired of mega city and British weather, so I decide to come to Australia. I really enjoy visiting national park in Australia. In fact, I like nature. That is why I choose nature environment course in my first year and design with plants in my second year. I always wish I could build a kind of communication between nature and human built environment.
‘Sleeping Pod’ from last semester Digital design and fabrication
CONCEPTUALISATION
A
A1. Design Future
Human have used up the planet’s resources on 8th of august and this day become overshoot day.1 Everyone should consider about our future life or what we can left for our next generation. Tony Fry gave an answer in the book’ design future. He emphasize that we have used too much energy and resource and done too much damage to our ecologic system for boosting the economy2. Also he mentioned that ‘dialectic of sustainment’ is another basic feature of being human. Therefore ‘design future’ is not only design of more sustainable modes for our life, but also design environment that could change people’s thinking2. To response this point, biologist Janine Benyus gives a good example ‘the generous city’. Although it seems very unrealistic from the picture, Dun, Anthony& Raby mentioned that we need
to begin to dream for develop new methods for today’s world3. The new city as shown in the picture will act like nature ecosystem. Citizens could storing and purifying enough water from native ecosystem, sequestering carbon, cleaning air and more. Building skins can breathe like a tree and city can clean water like wetland. It will be self-sufficient in food, water and energy and productive enough to give back to the rest of the biome. This will totally change people’ current life and building will have more functions than now. The whole city will function like nature and human will truly become part of nature4. Although, this city is not real, it is important to influence how people think about future. This design gives a radical think and is very optimistic. According to’ Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice’, it provides an alternative life style to current world2.
1. Press Association & Ryan O’Hare for Mailonie, Earth is now in overdraft for this year: We’ve used up the planet’s resources for 2016 in less than eight months, 8/8 2016 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3729127/Earth-overdraft-ve-used-planet-s-resources-year-EIGHTmonths.html [ accessed 10 august 2016] 2. Fry, Tony (2008). Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice (Oxford: Berg), pp. 1–16 3. Dunne, Anthony & Raby, Fiona (2013) Speculative Everything: Design Fiction, and Social Dreaming (MIT Press) pp. 1-9, 33-45 4. Luebkeman, Chris (2015) Special Issue: 2050: Designing Our Tomorrow ( Architecture Design), 85 (2015), 120121.
A
nother good example for design future is house R128. Compared with the generous city, it is much closer to our life. House R128 was designed in 2000 by German architect and structural engineer, Werner Sobek. Sobek used this project to explain how his architectural practice extended a specialised focus on ultra-light facades and structures, sustainable and low-energy solution for our life and innovation with design.1 The most significant element of this build is that R128 has achieve three-dimensional transparency for the first time. The build is also built for personal lived in experiment. Therefore, Three-dimensional transparency provide a special experience of experiential and psychological attributes. After this architectural practice, the architect Christoph Ingenhoven applied this transparency attributes to large scale building such as European Investment Bank in Luxembourg (2007) and Lufthansa Aviation Centre in Frankfurt (2005)1. Furthermore, both lightweight construction and transparency of House R128 contribute to ecological design. Lightweight design means saving lots of material deployed and the amount of energy used so building light becomes a theoretical and ethical position. Transparency also means energy saving. R128 represent a great example for the building structure that could fulfil the simple demands to achieve a triple zero rating. Finally, more and more lightweight structure was built in recent few years, house R128 demonstrate that the logic of lightweight building is a radical principle for ecological design.1
1. Oxman, Rivika &Robert (2010) Special Issue: The New Structuralism: Design, Engineering and Architectural Technologies (architecture Design), 80 (2010), 24-33
A2. DESIGN COMPUTATION Computation, in its basic meaning, refer to the processing of information. In my views, design computation mainly focus upon architecture generation and analyzation from complex geometric and mathematic. According to article ‘Material Articulation’, a few complex geometry has found its physical expression in constructed architecture over hundreds of years.1 Due to development of digital technology, everyone has an equal opportunity to design complex form through the logic of the algorithm. Not only that but performance, morphogenesis tectonics, materialization and fabrication all get benefit from development of computation and digital software.
The Installation Number of Façade Panels Generated From the BIM Models of GALAXY SOHO Project
In case of the Galaxy Soho project by Zaha Hadid architects (ZHA), geometry of this project was developed initially from subdivision surface model and overlaid model in both Maya and Catia. Also, ZHA team built the developable surface definition directly into the parametric models that define shape of the building itself. 1To put this simply, they write a ‘programme’ or ‘formulation’ that could stand for the shape of building in existed software. By doing this, the range of building components could be built within this ‘programme’. As a results, they can change the shape of building by just few steps in order to achieve ideal outcome for project design. According to article’ constructability for fabrication and assembly can be tested and calculated by computation technique as well. For example, the geometric shape and number of façade panel of Galaxy SoHo were generated from BIM models. What is more, performance and cost can be also analysed in these software such as Revit and Ecotect
Another importance concept in computation is ‘digital manufacturing’. This means everyone may built everything from digital model directly to the fabrication though 3 D printer, robot and more another machinery. Reference to article’ Material Computation’ in AD journal, computation offers the possibility of integrating processes of manufacturing and fabrication in the design exploration.1 As Rivka Oxman and Robert Oxman also mentioned in their book, digital design information could be use in computer numerically controlled (CNC) machinery and digital materiality and performance could be integrated and have a potential for a future development by practicing ‘digital manufacturing’.2
1. Menges, Achim (2012) Special Issue: Material Computation: Higher Integration in Morphogenetic Design (architecture Design). 82(2012), 14-21 & 96-103 2. Oxman, Rivka and Robert Oxman, eds (2014). Theories of the Digital in Architecture (London; New York: Routledge), pp. 1–10 3. Universitat Stuttgart, ICD/ITKE Reseach Pavilion 2010,1 http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=4458 [ Accessed on 10/8/2016]
ICD/ITKE research Pavilion 2010 is a good example that could prove these points. Firstly, the innovative structure demonstrates the significant development in mater-oriented computational design. Bending-active structure made entirely of thin and elastically-bent plywood strips are finally outcome.3 Computation was used to process geometric form generation based on mater properties and informed directly by these properties. Therefore, the structure is totally based upon the elastic characteristic of material. Secondly, these strips shown on picture are treated as planar elements due to the result from structural analysis, 80 different strip patterns were constructed from more than 500 geometrically unique part that was directly manufactured by a 6-axis industrial robot. Finally, from designing to final fabrication, computation become indispensable parts in analysis, generation, and efficiency.
A3. COMPOSITION/GENERARecently, design method has shifted from composition to generation. In my opinion, one of reasons is development of concept for computation. In the past few years, architect was not just content with CAD or other drawing tools, which is computerization, but they were looking for the possibility about using the ability of processing and calculating from computer to complex order, form and structure through an understood model.
This is the computation. As Yehuda E Kalay said in book’ architecture’s new media’, computer lacks any creative abilities or intuition (at least for now. more AI robot like Alpha go are being invented. Future can’t be predicted).1 Therefore, architect begin to required algorithmic think in order to know how to use the strong processing abilities in those software like grasshopper.
Algorithmic thinking’ meaning is also explained as taking on an interpretive role to understand the results of generating code and knowing how to modify the code to explore new option and speculating on further design potentials in article ‘The Building of Algorithmic Thought’.2
Generative design can be easily seen in the work of the Specialist Modelling Group at Foster+Partners. One of the work is the knowledge centre as part of Masdar Institute of Science and Technology. The main feature of this centre is the large roof structure which cover the interior
and integrates with large range of energy-generating photovoltaic panels.2 The main structure of this roof was formed of curved Glulam beams and rationalisation of geometry was supported by SMG.
Another global company often use generative design is Skidmore, Owings& Merril (SOM). SOM used automated sear algorithms to achieve greater efficiency in design process. In the work of White Magonolia office tower, gradient-based search algorithms was used to identify the most efficient arrangement for a structure system for complex building shape.2 These types of algorithms operate on a design domain with fixed range of structural material that is distributed across the domain, like a special programme is written for a special project and used in certain case. However, computation and generative design are criticized by Neil spiller. The dominant focus on these new technologies will lose sight of human expression and poetics and humanity is subtracted from the architectural product.3
1. Kalay, Yehuda E. (2004). Architecture’s New Media: Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press), pp. 5-25 2. Menges, Achim (2012) Special Issue: Material Computation: Higher Integration in Morphogenetic Design (architecture Design). 82(2012), 22-27 & 48-55 3. Oxman, Rivika &Robert (2010) Special Issue: The New Structuralism: Design, Engineering and Architectural Technologies (architecture Design), 80 (2010), 130-134
A4. CONCLUSION The first part of studio introduce the current important digital design concept for architecture. The developing process of digital design are also represented in the lecture, from computerization to computation, from composition to generation. Design future gives us a direction for architectural studies. Sustainable design become very important approaches and consideration for future architecture. In order to achieve sustainability, Triple zero rating can be used as a guide for buildings. Computation provide a potential development for many aspect of architecture. For example, everyone could build their own house by themselves through ‘file to fabrication’. What is more, by reading’ essential mathematic for computation design’, I realise that mathematics plays an essential role for digital design and algorithmic thinking. Computation and design generation become an inevitable way to develop greater geometric form. However, if generative technology keep developing until the extremity, his concern do influence normal human’s society. Personally, computation for materialization and fabrication is more interesting than super complex geometric development.
A5. LEARNING OUTCOMES By learning the newest concept in architecture and grasshopper, my mind has been changed. Many previews view for architecture become so different. Studio air has huge difference from earth and water, which introduce much more traditional and classical concept. In my experience, 3 sessions (A1. 2. 3.) are normally connected together. It is really difficult for me to understand each of them separately but I suddenly understood these theories after I combined them in week 3. Especially, some reading was very hard to understand at beginning of semester. Additionally, feel grasshopper practice helps understanding these theories as well. Generating a new form by computation or considering sustainability is good start to improve my previews design. Also possibility of material and fabrication in different way are another alternative.
A6. APPENDIX
BIBLIOGRAHY
Press Association & Ryan O’Hare for Mailonie, Earth is now in overdraft for this year: We’ve used up the planet’s resources for 2016 in less than eight months, 8/8 2016 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3729127/Earthoverdraft-ve-used-planet-s-resources-year-EIGHT-months.html [ accessed 10 august 2016] Fry, Tony (2008). Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice (Oxford: Berg), pp. 1–16 Dunne, Anthony & Raby, Fiona (2013) Speculative Everything: Design Fiction, and Social Dreaming (MIT Press) pp. 1-9, 33-45 Luebkeman, Chris (2015) Special Issue: 2050: Designing Our Tomorrow ( Architecture Design), 85 (2015), 120-121. Oxman, Rivika &Robert (2010) Special Issue: The New Structuralism: Design, Engineering and Architectural Technologies (architecture Design), 80 (2010), 24-33, 130-134 Menges, Achim (2012) Special Issue: Material Computation: Higher Integration in Morphogenetic Design (architecture Design). 82(2012), 14-21,96-103, 22-27, 48-55 Oxman, Rivka and Robert Oxman, eds (2014). Theories of the Digital in Architecture (London; New York: Routledge), pp. 1–10 Universitat Stuttgart, ICD/ITKE Reseach Pavilion 2010,http://icd. uni-stuttgart.de/?p=4458 [ Accessed on 10/8/2016] Kalay, Yehuda E. (2004). Architecture’s New Media: Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press), pp. 5-25
Image Resource http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/earth_ overshoot_day/ http://www.homedesignfind.com/green/clear-glass-house-is-triplezero-climate-friendly/ https://www.google.com.au/search?q=geometry+back+ground&espv=2&biw=1280&bih=551&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwivwOPF17_OAhWIrJQKHXkADoIQ_AUIBigB http://www.archdaily.com/287571/galaxy-soho-zaha-hadid-architects/508ee0a628ba0d7fea00000c-galaxy-soho-zaha-hadid-architects-photo http://network.normallab.com/portfolio/pavillion-2010 http://www.akt-uk.com/projects/masdar%20institute
CRITERIA DESIGN
B
B.1. Research Field Patterning
P
attern are mainly used as ornament for sorts of surface. Human body was the first surface to get the patterning design. In the past, sophisticated pattern was developed on different scales of operation and mature material practice with patterns were applied to both the production of urban fabrics and the design of envelopes.1 Nowadays, patterning could serve more purpose of decorative enhancement, feature accentuation, camouflaging, totemic identification, semiotic differentiation, or any combination of these.2 ‘Ornament’ and ‘Decoration’ are two general terms that refer to patterning in traditional architectural theory. In my Louis Sullivan, Carson Pirie Scott Building
opinion, patterning technique is used in widely used in range of design project. These includes urban planning, landscape design, fashion and architecture. After looking though the precedent, patterning for me is kind of borrowing idea from other object and use it into your project 1. Zaera-Polo, Alejandro (2009) Patterns, Fabrics, Prototypes, Tessellation, 79(2009), 18-27 2. Schumacher, Patrik (2009) Parametric Patterns ( Architectural Design), 79(2009), 28-41.
Zaha Hadid Architects Civil Courts – Madrid, 2007 Accentuating Environmentally Adaptive Façade
To take an example from ARM architect, ARM applied this technique to the faรงade of the Swanston Square apartment tower, where the ghostly image of aboriginal elder William Barak is made up of void and Shadows created by subtle difference in the profile of undulating balconies.1 This pattern on the faรงade also create a visual epistemology. This means that the closer we are to the object, the less we know of the whole. Black and white colours make it clear and simple. William Barak reflects the deep history of the land and become the balance of the shrine of remembrance.1 In terms of fabrication, designers reduced the photo to a binary black and white image. Adobe Photoshop turned the image into horizontal bands of black and white varying in vertical thickness.2 Then, they converted the bands into vector-based line work to import into 2D and 3D CAD files to determine the measurements for fabrication.2 The panels are an innovative engineered surfboard-like composite 140 mm thick: PET foam core with E-plate and vinyl-ester external wrapping. These panels cover the black building as image shown
1.Raggatt M and Ward M (2015) Mongrel Rapture: The Architecture of Ashton Raggatt McDougall (Uro Publications) 720-721 1.ARM Architecture, Barak Building, http://armarchitecture.com.au/projects/ barak-building [accessed 10 September 2016]
B.2. Case Study 1.0 Herzog de Meuron - de Young Museum Species 1
Changing output geometry
Species 2
Rotating
Species 3
Changing input data
Species 4
Changing image sampler
Species 5
Changing input surface
Species 6
Combining with Biothing Pavilion
Species 1
Species 2
Species 3
Species 4
Species 5
Species 6
S1
Selection criteria Reference to the design brief which is living architecture surrounding Merri Creek, a continuous relationships between technical, cultural and nature systems is required. Therefore the key words for my selection are organic, flexible and dynamic.
Speculation By generating the iteration, the original form of patterning is changed. For example, some of literation change from two dimensions to three dimensions and some of them create some new form and lost original pattern. The data from the image, by doing this exercise, could transfer into very different and unpredictable outcomes.
S2
outcomes.
S6
S5
B.3. Case Study 2.0Water cube is the national aquatics Centre, located in Beijing and designed by group of Architect Company. Five swimming pools are enclosed in these blue bubble walls. It also includes was machines, riders, restaurant and seats and facilities for 17000 spectators
Water Cube
for Olympics games.1 Computation were used both in structure and geometry on the facades. The structure is Weaire-Phelan and it is highly repetitive and buildable, based on a unique geometry which is very organic and random
bubble in soap lather but the edge of each cell is curved in order to maintain 109.5 degree angles at each vertex.2 During the design progress, Arup’s computer models prove that the structure can be placed on its end and still maintain its shape. The result is a simple regular box with complex geometry in the façade where the computation contribute to.
In terms of sustainability, the structure was built by the clad with translucent ETFE in order to create a highly sustainable structure. Also, the water cube design act as a greenhouse. Therefore, it can use power of sunlight efficiently and reduce the energy consumption by 30 per cent. 1. Zaera-Polo, Alejandro (2009) Patterns, Fabrics, Prototypes, Tessellation, 79(2009), 18-27 2. Carfae, Tristram (2006) Engineering the water cube ( Architecture Australia), V95 No4 (2006)
1
2
3
4
5
6
Final Outcome
B.3. Case Study 2.0
Archipelago Parametrically Designed Pavilion This pavilion was designed and built by Chalmers University of Technology and Rรถhsska Museum of Design in Copenhagen. The structure was built on site by 33 architecture students.1 It was parametrically designed in Grasshopper and Rhino and built from 2mm thick laser cut
steel sheets.1133pieces of steel, 1535 joints and 3640 bolts were joint together. The perforation on the roof spread out an organic pattern resembling the one you would see from a tree in the forest. 1. Grozdanic, Lidja (2012) Archipelago Parametrically Designed Pavilion (eVob), http://www.evolo.us/architecture/ archipelago-parametrically-designed-pavilion/ [accessed 15 September 2016]
1. Creating three lines
1. Creating bottom curves
1. Creating top curve and adjust these curves
4. using 3 points arc and using graph mapper to adjust the curve
5. Loft and change the option to Straight
B.4. Technique: Development Species 1
Graph mapper
Species 2
Input geometry
Species 3
Connecting Perp Frames, Changing its shape and Rotating the arc
Species 4
Changing surface into different types of mesh
Species 5
Combining with Biothing Pavilion. Adding the point charge
Species 6
Combining with Voronoi
Species 7
Manipulate weave component and change the cull pattern
Species 8
Octree
Species 1
Species 2
Species 3
Species 4
Species 5
Species 6
Species 7
Species 8
Selections -Nature, Organic, Free form
Seat
S1 Dress
S5 Opera
S6
Garment
Kinematics Skirt by Nervous System 2015/07/08
B.5. Technique: Prototypes First prototype
In my first prototype, I tried to create an organic pattern that could wrap around your body in order to create a protection in nature environment. So I stated to use voronoi to generate an organic pattern and try to put this pattern into a curved surface. Also I tried to create different size of voronoi so that it looks more random.
Arm & Shoulder Part
Connection Test
Notch No flexibility at all Very unstable
Small Eyelets No flexibility at all Very stable It could be used as fixed joint
Zip tie Very flexible Movement can be controlled
Rope Too flexible Movement can not be controlled
Second prototype In the second prototype, I choose the material that could be bend. Also I combine ideas from voronoi pattern and Archipelago Pavilion. I borrow the qualities which are void volume and bending from pavilion in order to make further development for my original prototype and achieve better effect on protection
B.6. TECHNIQUE: PROPOSAL At beginning, I started to create a pattern which is similar to the nature pebble surround Merri Creek. However, if the patterning is only staying on 2 dimension, it will be very boring. After the interim presentation and feedback, I realised that the concern of volume must be taken in order to create more sculptural form rather than monotonous structure. In this way, the advantages of grasshopper also could be maximised in design process because it is easy to transfer one form into another in grasshopper. In the next stage, more flexible connection should be one of most important part for a garment design. Also, volume surround the body could be developed further.
B.7. Learning Objectives and Outcomes Obejct 1. Begin developing a personalised reper-
toire of computational techniques
I have tried to use digital modelling tools to generate a desired outcome. For example, point attractor was used to generate more random voronoi pattern.
Object 2. New understanding for digital
architecture.
After doing the research, I start to understand a rough digital computation process that is made to generate design in large design company or famous research group. I learned a lot of new practice and concepts in digital design and fabrication and I realise that architecture world is changing every day. It is changing from a tradition method to more efficient digital process due to more and more successful architecture practice. Pavilions as a small project witness many success of these practices.
Objective 3. Developing “an ability to generate a variety of design possibilities for a given situation
In grasshopper, u can varies many fundamental elements in order to achieve expected outcome. For me, grasshopper is mainly built on the data (selection
or numbers), vector (direction and magnitude), points, line, surface and volume. By changing these element, many forms can be generated. Also these elements are called parameter more professionally.
B.8. Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches
Merri Creek Pattern
BIBLIOGRAHY Zaera-Polo, Alejandro (2009) Patterns, Fabrics, Prototypes, Tessellation, 79(2009), 18-27 Schumacher, Patrik (2009) Parametric Patterns (Architectural Design), 79(2009), 28-41. Raggatt M and Ward M (2015) Mongrel Rapture: The Architecture of Ashton Raggatt McDougall (Uro Publications) 720-721 ARM Architecture, Barak Building, http://armarchitecture.com.au/projects/barak-building [accessed 10 September 2016] Carfae, Tristram (2006) Engineering the water cube ( Architecture Australia), V95 No4 (2006) Grozdanic, Lidja (2012) Archipelago Parametrically Designed Pavilion (eVob), http://www. evolo.us/architecture/archipelago-parametrically-designed-pavilion/ [accessed 15 September 2016]
C. DETAILED DESIGN
C1. Design Concept Mid-Semester Crit (feedback) and final concept Based on the comments from the last presentation, group concept has been refined into one that could combine 3 ideas. The starting point is from Lin’s selection from generation results and Liu’s patterning technique was considered and involved into final design as a connection methods. Personally, the concern for volume, which is from mid-crit, was resolved. To create a void volume wrapping the body in order to achieve the purpose of protection. Also we try to create and develop some new methods and technique rather than using only laser cut. This is also mentioned in my own comments from mid-crit. Voronoi pattern is abandoned because it is too common and pervasive. After discussion, our final concepts are zebra-stripe which is organic pattern and closest to nature environment. Therefore the garment with this pattern can be hidden around Merri Creek in order to protect ourselves for many possible clients, such as scientists and parkland managers.
Envisaged Construction Process
A
Creating a mold (3D printer) Stretching the sheet of plastic (vacuum former-vacuum) Creating a mold (CNC router)
B
C
Using laser cut to create a 3 dimension grid (section and profile)
Using grid as mold to stretch the sheet
Creating a timber frame (laser cutter)
Using the inflation functi
Creating a timber frame (CNC router) If MDF is not strong enough.
Using the fish or iron wire stopping the inflation in s create certain
Cutting by band saw
Assemble The size is very limited for 1:1 scale model for 3D printer and the height of mold is very limited with CNC router. The thickest material is polystyrene H grade which may be melt during the heat process and stick with the surface.
Cut and assemble
ion in vacuum former
The surface won't be smooth.
Cut and assemble
to give a restriction and some areas in order to n outcome
Frei Otto Soap Bubble
Refined definition
Pop3d: Creating random points in certain space. Sphere Random radius
Solid union
PopGreo: Creating random points in this special geometry
g
Creating voronoi in this 3 dimension geometry
Creating mesh and using Weaverbird changing to smooth surface
Discontinuity
Using polyline, average and loft to create random holes on the surface
Cull pattern reselect the elements
C2. Tectonic Elements & Prototypes First prototype After C1 design concept, we started to make our first prototype with Lin’s refined digital model. We decided to use laser cutter to create a MDF frame and then use vacuum former to inflate the sheet of plastic. The process and other details are below.
Process of producing the MDF frame
Using reduce mesh of digital model in order to increase speed of process
Dupborder, resize the frame and send file to Fablab
Mesh to NURB: transferring the mesh to surface
Split/Intersect
Material: HPP Heating time: 75s Thickness: 1mm
Notes Firstly, turning on the machine and warm up for 30s. Then heating HPP for 30s. After this, heating the plastic and the MDF frame together for 45 s in order to reshape them together. Also sometime, if heating the plastic only for 75s, the material is very soft. It is difficult to put the frame over the material
Second prototype After first prototype, we decided to change the design. We tried to keep the feature of bubbles and added the strips that could connected each bubble. Strips has its own grasshopper definition. Using a frame to connect each strip.
Material: MDF Thickness: 3mm
Material: Polypropylene Thickness: 0.6mm
Strings are too close. The MDFframe is easy to break.
The gap is too close. Some of them are melt due to the temperature during the laser cutting process.
Material: Polypropylene Thickness: 0.6mm
Notes After these prototype, we decided to increase the distance between each strips and increasing the number of the frame in order to achieve a stiff structure rather than the flexible one.
Third prototype
Material: MDF Thickness: 3mm
Material: HPP Thickness: 1.5mm Heating time: 100s
Material: HPP Thickness: 1mm Heating time: 75s
Material: HPP Thickness: 1mm Heating time: 60s
Reasons for failure The clamp is not tight enough. The clamp frame is a little bit broken. Due to the gravity, the material melt and sink.
Material: HPP Thickness: 1mm Heating time: 65s
Material: HPP Thickness: 1mm Heating time: 75s
Material: HPP Thickness: 1mm Heating time: 90s
Notes 1mm Polypropylene have very different property from 1.5mm one. Also because the holes on frame are very small, plastic need to be hearten more than the guide suggestion. When the 1mm plastic is not soft enough, the attitude of bubbles cannot reach the requirements. In the other hand, if heating for too long, the plastic will be melt. Personally, I used my hand to test whether the plastic is soft enough, but I don’t recommend this method at all. Don’t try!!! Sometimes, it is very hot. Also observation from the gap is another methods. When the plastic start to melt, it is the time to stretch. We finally decide to use 1mm Polypropylene because it can give higher altitude and be easy to cut.
C3. Final Detail Model Before producing final model, a simple grasshopper definition was written for creating laser cutting file efficiently. Using brep section component to get the accurate notch on the connecting frame.
Brep
Deconstruction
A example of laser cutter file
Unroll surface
Edges
Farication Process
Laser cutting frame
Inflation
Assemble
C4. Learning Objectives and Outcomes
From generating idea by computation to producing final outcome, there is huge gap. Sometimes, generated outcome cannot be built by available machine or methods. So we have to change our design or figure out a new solution and produce some similar outcome. New techniques such as CNC and vacuum former are learned. However, lots of functions and features for vacuum former are not deeply developed. After the final presentation, I saw a postgraduate student using this machine. And lots of interesting special frame for this machine are actually prepared by Fablab. Some of them can be used to control the size of sheet. Most of them are prepared for different design purpose. In the future, we may reconsider our initial design with more mature skills for these machines. Designing a garment is very interesting. I learned a lot from this project. Especially when you design a large scale project, lots of concern need to take into account. Unfortunately, we
only have 3 weeks to finish our final project. Sometimes, we design for finishing the project. Also new techniques are involved. Research for new technique took lots of time. Some interesting parts are neglected. This is also one of our failures.