MODULE 3: FABRICATION

Karen Dionisio-See613168Virtual EnvironmentsSemester 1 2013, Group 5

RECIPE:

1. Growth2. Layering

LIGHTING EFFECT: -layered/ overlapping

WAY OF HOLDING:-arm goes through the lantern from the bottom surface

Emerging free form Clay model First Digital Model Second Digital Model Final Lantern

PROTOTYPE 1

1st prototype

Problems:

1. Mistakes in th assembly2. Too open - affects the lighting of the lantern3. Detached layers4. Uncomfortable in holding the lantern

PROTOTYPE 2

Solution 3: 3D Triangles to attach the layers

Solution 1: Lofting the top and bot-tom of the lantern

Solution 2: Altering the geometry of the model

Problems:

1. The lofted surface at the bottom becomes squished2.The triangles do not align or difficult to attach with the layers

PROTOTYPE 2

2nd prototype

FINAL PRODUCT

Final Product

Digitized final product

Changes in the final model 2: Paneling of the bottom surface

FINAL PRODUCT

Changes in the final model 1: 3D triangles were removed.

FINAL PRODUCT

Top View

Bottom View FabLab file

LIGHTING EFFECT

Precedent Lighting Effect(overlapped shadows)

Lantern Light effect

Light effect on the bottom of the lantern

PROCESS OF MAKING

PROCESS OF MAKING

FINAL PRODUCT

FABRICATION - LECTURES AND READINGS

The concept of fabrication in making our lantern has been discussed in the lectures of weeks 6-9. In here, I began to fully understand the relation-ship between digitally and physically designing a model. For instance, in the process of designing a product, one should continue to go back to the digital model and the physical model to improve the intial product. I realized that you should not stick to one design and continue to explore on more ways to make the process easier and better for the final prod-uct. To do so, you should decide on the materials being used, paneling designs and method of unrolling the model in order to produce a model that would satisfy you.

The lectures also talked about the importance of technology in the way making and design has evolved through the years. With these fabrica-tion technologies, it became easier for designers or architects to pro-duce their buildings and test the different materials to be used in the process. For example, in making the lantern, I have used the card cutter that produced a precise and accurate geometry for the surfaces of my lantern. If I would have to do it manually, it would take me months to finish the final product or it would turn out to be a different model from the digital model.

Kolarevic - Architecture in the Digital Age - Design and Manufacturing (2003)

In this reading, Kolarevic has introduced various fabrication tech-nologies including two-dimensional, subtractive, additive, formative and three-dimensional fabrication that helps in the assembly of the production. For some architects, they would use different machines to produce their model. In my case, however, I have used the CNC card cutter, which is a two-dimensional fabrication technology. This contains a needle that can score and cut the ivory card to produce surfaces i have created in Rhino. Although the card cutter has been successful in producing my model, I encountered some problems with it. One would be when the needle became dull that didn’t cut thor-oughly on the material. It’s interesting how people have thought of these technologies that became a revolution in the world of design.

Iwamoto - Digital Fabrications (2009)

One aspect in the use of digital technology from design to fabrication would be tessellating. This has “ability to array unique panels across large surfaces to address multiple scales and curvatures. “ For instance, the “double cone“ of Coop Himmelb(l)au’s BMW Welt had panels that were halved then triangulated to produce the geometry of the cone and the flat glass panes. I used this similar method in the bottom of my lantern, wherein I had to panel it in a way that it will be formed into the lofted surface. I then used a box pattern that enables each part to fold that would attach to the next cell. Before the final product, I had to find different ways to do this part since I had a problem in forming the surface into its right geometry.