Digital Fabrication Documentation

Digital Fabrication documentation t h e a r t i n s t i t ut e o f c a - s a n fr a n c i s c o s p o n s o r e d r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t Team: Luke Kwan, Jonathan Arban, Cindy Hu

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Table of contents

INTRODUCTION

PROCESS ELABORATION

PROCESS

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BIBLIOGRAPHY, biographies, and acknowledgements

Construction documents set

SOFTWARE DESCRIPTION

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overview Construction drawings are a set of documents from a designer outlining their instruction and design intent to a builder and code enforcer. The documents show their compliance with the minimum government standards and provide enough information for the builder to build out the space. Drawings typically consist of orthographic views and, occasionally, three-dimensional views. The progression of construction drawings has not included any major changes until 3D software was introduced and widely used by the design community. The 3D software additions have increased the complexity of building construction and interior design, which meant in some cases, conventional documentation methods may not sufficiently communicate the design intent.

If conventional documentation methods were used, it may prolong the project schedule, resulting in an increased budget.

An overview of digital fabrication methods (based on the book digital fabrications by lisa iwamoto)

Sectioning uses a series of profiles, the edges of which follow lines of surface geometry. The modeling software’s sectioning or contouring commands can almost instantaneously cut parallel sections through objects at designated intervals. This effectively streamlines the process of making serialized, parallel sections.

Architects have experimented with sectional assemblies as a way to produce both surface and structure.

Techniques that have emerged from sectioning include sectional ribbing, lamination or parallel stacking, and waffle-grid construction.

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Tessellating is a collection of pieces that fit together without gaps to form a plane or surface. They can be virtually any shape as long as they puzzle together in a tight formation. In architecture, the term refers to both tiled patterns on buildings and digitally defined mesh patterns. An example is the work of M.C. Escher.

Folding turns a flat surface into a three-dimensional one. It is a powerful technique not only for making form but also for creating structure with geometry. When folds are introduced into otherwise planar materials, those materials gain stiffness and rigidity.

Contouring reshapes the surface of material sheets and creates a threedimensional relief by removing successive layers of the material. It is a subtractive process, akin to carving in regulated patterns.

Formed objects are all around us. Because forming employs an inherent economy of means - generating multiple parts from a small number of molds and forms - it follows that the most common uses for this technology are mass-produced products, such as packaging, plastic toys, cell phones, etc.

Building construction also employs forming at a larger scale and with less reproducibility, for such components as precast panels, structural members, and architectural ornamentation, as well as cast-inplace slabs, walls, or even the whole building.

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introduction Digital fabrication has brought on a design revolution. Amazing designs that would have been difficult to achieve is now being implemented in our world today. This method of 3D modeling has sparked the imagination of a new generation of designers and has resulted in innovative design. In this research project, we will be exploring the idea of “sectioning�.

Orthographic projections are one of the most valuable representational tool architects have at their disposal. Being able to cut multiple sections through a form has proven time and time again to be an effective tool for constructing these forms.

Sectioning provides a series of profiles, the edges of which follow lines of surface geometry. This effectively streamlines the process of making serialized, parallel sections. Sectioning readily allows for constructing digitally generated forms. However geometrically complex, the physical corollary can closely approximate the digital model through the use of appropriately scaled materials. The alignment between 3D model and constructed end is one of the great advantages of digital fabrication.

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Digital fabrication, however, is still a tool to help communicate a design idea. Digital fabrication has its own restraints and possibilities, just like traditional drawing methods. Students are encouraged to have a solid design concept before tackling a form and its modifications in a 3D modeling software.

By providing the results of this project to both students and faculty, instructors will be able to assist students in documentation of projects that fall outside conventional project types. Additionally, because students will have access to this procedure, they can easily use this tool to document their complicated design ideas, feel confident, and be successful.

objectives Project Mission: To expose students to an alternate construction documentation method for unconventional project types Project Goal: To provide a streamlined workflow to assist both faculty and students in their project evaluation and documentation process.

Project Expected Outcome: Students can use this method as an example and apply it to their work in the follow courses: Primary Suggested Courses Residential Contemporary Corporate Design Advanced Corporate Con Docs II Thesis Design Retail Design Hospitality Design Secondary Suggested Courses Institutional Design Furniture Design

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PROCESS A.

Inspiration photos are a good place to start brainstorming a good design concept

Begin with an inspiration, idea and/or concept B.

A. B.

A. B.

Explore your idea thoroughly using different tools including sketching, Google SketchUp, or any other preferred methods

Discover your idea by sketching

Define the profile of your 3D form Include necessary elements such as a column grid with 3 axes, design schematics, and a clear project program

Produce a 2D space plan of your space with a column grid

Experiment the outcome of your 3D form Create the final shell of your form

Import your AutoCAD file into Google SketchUp

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A. B.

Import your Google SketchUp model into Paracloud Gem

C.

J.

K.

Use the predefined column grid to slice section cuts in SketchUp

L.

Begin your construction documents and implement the section cuts from SketchUp

M.

N.

Communicate the relationships between the ribs and spines of your form through key 2D and 3D details

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Develop the properties of your form Utilize the software to explore components, subdivisions and directions Test out multiple options

Determine section cuts that will provide a clear understanding of the irregular form Use section cuts that would support your construction documents set

Coordinate your layout so that your section cuts are clearly incorporated Import 2D views of irregular form as .dwg

Example: Draw a detail of the intersection between the vertical and horizontal planes

map

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checklist

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Process elaboration- creation

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Import file and activate sandbox

Change grid spacing

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Draw the shell on/above the 2D floor

Activate “smoove�; requires radius

plan

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Change radius of the tool to desired proportion

Click grid of skin and modify it*

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Export as .obj and bring it into Paracloud Gem

Create a final skin 13

*At this time, review 3D form with instructor to receive approval

Process elaboration - modification

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Import skin into Paracloud Gem

Offset to create the thickness of the skin

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Frame out the grid to create the skeleton

Save as ParaCloud Gem file

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Change submodel to cube

Export as .dae

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Process elaboration - implementation

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Import your final skeleton into SketchUp and change view into floor plan view with camera/ Uncheck perspective setting so it becomes orthographic

Select diagonal components by double clicking to activate component editing

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Hide diagonal components 16

Admire your work and take a good look

Process elaboration - documentation

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Apply section/plane tool on column grid location

Set camera views (may need to explore views to find correct one)

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View - animation - add scene (saves views so you can go back)

Export views into .dxf or .dwg 17

Cd set

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AutoCAD

SketchUp is a 3D modeling program marketed by Google and designed for architectural, civil, and mechanical engineers as well as filmmakers, game developers, and related professions.

The program, which is designed for ease of use, allows placement of models within Google Earth. Google's 3D Warehouse enables SketchUp users to search for, download and contribute free models. http://sketchup.google.com/

ParaCloud GEM

AutoCAD is a CAD software application for 2D and 3D design and drafting. AutoCAD includes a full set of basic solid modeling and 3D tools. With the release of AutoCAD 2007 came improved 3D modeling, which meant better navigation when working in 3D. Moreover, it became easier to edit 3D models. The mental ray engine was included in rendering, it was now possible to do quality renderings. AutoCAD 2010 introduced parametric functionality and mesh modeling. http://usa.autodesk.com/autocad/

SketchUp

So f t wa r e d e s c rip tio n

ParaCloud GEM is a 3D Pattern Modeler. It was created to provide a simple approach for generating complex and rich 3D models without resorting to scripting of any kind.

3D Pattern Modeling is a new approach towards generative design. It works as easy as rendering images and textures on a surface, creating real 3D geometric patterns over your design surfaces. The 3D pattern can be controlled parametrically to match your design intent.

Add Generative Tools to SketchUp (Free and Pro), Maya, 3DSmax, Rhino and any CAD supporting OBJ, STL, DXF and COLLADA. http://paraclouding.com/GEM/

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Revit

CATIA

Rhino

Software description Rhinoceros (Rhino) is a stand-alone, commercial NURBS-based 3-D modeling tool, developed

by Robert McNeel & Associates. The software is commonly used for industrial design, architecture, marine design, jewelry design, automotive design, CAD / CAM, rapid prototyping, reverse engineering as well as the multimedia and graphic design industries. Rhino's increasing popularity is based on its diversity, multi-disciplinary functions, low learning-curve, relatively low cost, and its ability to import and export over 30 file formats, which allows Rhino to act as a 'converter' tool between programs in a design workflow. http://www.rhino3d.com/

CATIA (Computer Aided Three-dimensional Interactive Application) is a multi-platform CAD/CAM/CAE commercial software suite.CATIA facilitates collaborative engineering across disciplines, including surfacing & shape design, mechanical engineering, equipment and systems engineering.CATIA provides a suite of surfacing, reverse engineering, and visualization solutions to create, modify, and validate complex innovative shapes. From subdivision, styling, and Class A surfaces to mechanical functional surfaces. http://www.3ds.com/products/catia/

Autodesk Revit Architecture often referred to as simply Revit is a Building Information Modeling software developed by Autodesk. It allows the user to design with both parametric 3D modeling and 2D drafting elements. Building Information Modeling is a Computer Aided Design (CAD) paradigm that employs intelligent 3D objects to represent real physical building components such as walls and doors. http://usa.autodesk.com/revit-architecture/

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Bibliography and biographies Luke W. Kwan, CID, LEED® AP, ASID, Assoc.

AIA Luke Kwan has over 14 years of combined experience in architecture, interior design and project management. He holds a bachelor of science degree in interior design, is NCIDQ qualified, a LEED Accredited Professional, certified in the state of California as a certified interior designer and is on the architect licensing path.

Luke Kwan is also an instructor at The Art Institute of California - San Francisco.

Iwamoto, Lisa. Digital Fabrications Architectural and Material Techniques. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2009.

Seward, Aaron. “The Architect in the Machine.” Architect Magazine.

March 2011. Print.

Other Resources

Jonathan Arban Jonathan Arban, a native San Franciscan, recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design at The Art Institute of California -San Francisco. His passion for Interior Design started from building stage props for private events in San Francisco. Jonathan Arban feels that the interior architecture of a space defines the functionality and personality of a space. Therefore, his designs have been always about blurring the distinction between architecture and furniture enabling the final design to be functional and architecturally beautiful.

The Tech Shop http://techshop.ws/

Cindy Hu Cindy Hu most recently graduated from The Art Institute of California San Francisco with honors.

She has been a working professional for many years and prides herself in the ability to work on a team, be an analytical problem solver, and for her attention to detail. She believes that design can be a proactive measure instead of a reactive one.

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Ac k n o w le d g e me n ts

The development of the workflow described in this paper has been supported through the sabbatical committee at The Art Institute of California - San Francisco.

Special thanks to Annie Fisher, Jeff Nokkeo, Sara Jaffe, and Margo Majewska for the support of this project.

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