ATCS 4450/6450 - FALL 2016 DIGITAL STEEL

10:00am-11:50am Tuesday | rm 206 | Richardson Memorial Hall Emily Baker, Assistant Professor of Architecture

Spin-Valence, Audi-Fab prototypes, and Keswa – digital manipulation of steel by E. Baker and students

Course Description This course interrogates processes of iterative design through the lens of digital manipulation of steel. Students will learn various techniques associated with CNC plasma cutting and will engage in both instructor-led and self-directed design research through making. While the course is called Digital Steel, work can/will engage steel as an enabler, structurer or augmenter of other material systems. Haptic intelligence, or understanding gained through hand-on-matter experience, will guide the development of the research and associated physical artifacts. The ability of steel to be simultaneously strong and flexible brings incredible diversity to its exploration and application in digital fabrications.

Course Structure Periodic lectures will punctuate a primarily fabrication-based course. Weekly class times will be used for presentation of drawings, mockups and/or prototypes in development and critical discussions of the work among the group. Students are expected to bring fresh work to each week’s meeting. The first half of the semester will be devoted to training on the machine and techniques for digital manipulation of steel (and some welding). The second half will consist of broad exploration using previously learned techniques culminating in a final built piece by each student. No previous metal-working experience necessary. Students must be currently enrolled in 3rd year or higher (if undergrads), and demonstrate proficiency in AutoCAD and Rhino (if grads). Knowledge of Grasshopper is not a requirement but could be an integral part of self-directed research if the student has prior experience.

Students should expect some expense associated with the cost of materials, though cut time will be provided at cost. (Rough estimate of $100 - $300 for the semester).

Course Grading and Evaluation Students will be evaluated based on class participation and engagement, rigor and depth of research, and craft of drawings, prototypes and final artifacts.

Meeting Time 10:00am-11:50am Tuesdays : Room 206. Richardson Memorial Hall (with occasional visits to TCC and fab shop on Oak St.)