MODULE 3fabrication

Henry Tran

Student No:613985 Semester 1 16 May 2013

Virtual Environments

Original Natural Pattern

Balance

SymmetryMovement

CORAL

Precedents and Analogies

Lighting effects Form

Panelling

Returning to Initial Panels

1.Construct a set of similarly-sized circles on a plane2.Draw a dotted* line** between one circle and each of its adjacent circles3.Repeat until all circles have been exhausted4.Trace over dotted lines to create solid polygons surrounding circles

* allows room for error** best results if drawn as symmetry line between two circles

Revisiting Recipe

Revisiting Paper Models

Form and Context

Prototyping

Two Rail Sweep

Tri-basic Panelling

Offsetting Face Borders

Facing a number of difficulties in digitising my clay model, I decided to use the Two-Rail Sweep command, which finally translated into Rhino the form I had desired. Furthermore, this shape, as opposed to my previous extruded geometries, allowed for more effective panelling.

Aware of the curved surfaces throughout this form, I reached the conclusion that perhaps the best panels would be triangular surfaces. From here, I began to experiment with different ways of manipulating these triangular faces. I was especially focused on finding ways of incorporating my original hexagonal pattern.

Finalising Form

In keeping with my desire to maintain a coral/aquatic theme, I attempted to create a sense of variation and diversity amongst the panels, in both effects and shape. However, I also wanted to maintain symmetry, partly because I wanted to remain faithful to my analytical drawings, and partly for the sake of ease in construction of my final lantern. Each half of the lantern is exactly symmetrical to the other.

a

b

c

dAssembly Drawing

a. upper shell

b. spine

c. base and joints connecting spine with lower shell

d. lower shell

ConstructionI found unrolling my geometry to be quite simple and straightforward, albeit time-consuming. I had some trouble deciding which strips to unroll, as some of my panels were on joined surfaces in multiple directions. This forced me to decide upon which strips to unroll carefully and strategically.

Though I factored in how I'd like the lantern to interface with my hand/arm and scaled the point of contact accordingly, I unfortunately did not take into consideration the scale of the lantern overall.

Utilising the exploded isometric drawing of my geometry, I decided that it presented the best way of breaking my geometry into manageable individual components that would allow for easy construction.