915202 lins journalmodule2

Digital Design - Module 02 Semester 1, 2018 Sandra Lin

915202 Dan Parker Studio 7

Week Three

Reading: Kolerevic B. 2003. Architecture in the Digital Age

Kolerevic described three fundamental type of fabrication techniques in the reading. Outline the three techniques and discuss the potential of Computer Numeric Controlled fabrication with parametric modelling. (150 words max)

Additive fabrication is where layers of material are added to form an object, for example 3D printing. Inversely subtractive and cutting fabrication works by removing excess material to leave behind the desired shape such as a laser cutter (2axis) or milling machine (at least 3 axis). Formative fabrication shapes materials by using heat and pressure to push past the elastic limit and cause deformation. This makes doubly curved surfaces constructible without extrapolating the mesh to a polyline.

CNC allows the physical fabrication of designs that are modelled using parametric software where the 3D model provides the construction information directly to the machine.

Parametric modelling enables designers to construct and design rule based systems that can be easily shared and translated; streamlining the development process from design to fabrication and back again. The iterative design possibilities can be fully explored since 3D modelling enables quick virtual simulation and analysis. Parametric modelling allows for mass customization.

Technological exploration has made computability equal to constructability by making complex geometries describable.

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Week Three

Surface Creation

Initially I experimented with surfaces that curved around or away from each other and assessed the quality of space in between them. I found that by curving the surfaces tightly and putting them close together created a kineticism of form that made the panels appear to be rotating or directing something in between. This led to the exploration of possible light dispersion. The more curved the panel, the greater the sense of flow however fabrication also increased in difficulty.

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Week Four Panels & Waffle

I experimented with different placements of perforations and attractor points, focusing on the idea of dispersing light through the holes in the panel. Attracting the panels up wards increased the chance of light entering but juxtaposed too greatly against the shape of the surface. Top and side holes increases and alters the aangle of light dispersion

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The waffle follows the curve of the final surfaces quite closely. However a strong waffle could not be fabricated for the previous curvier surfaces and remain strong and stable. The waffle was generated completely in Grasshopper which allowed for easier trimming and labelling than doing it manually in Rhino

Week Four

Laser Cutting

Laser cutting itself is a quicker form of fabrication compared to handcraftsmenship. However nesting the unrolled panels efficiently, whilst maintaing an order was time consuming. Specific instructions had to be given to the machine on which lines to etch and which to cut. If this information is not given correctly then often results in having to redo the job meaning more time and money.

Laser cutting projects still require a degree of human intervention to achieve the finished 3D product because of its axial limitations.

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Week Five

The focus was on creating a void that could redirect and disperse light that entered. This meant that a sphere was not the most suitable geometry. Since the entire model was created in Grasshopper different Weaverbird and Grasshopper commands were explored to create a multifaced surface. Initially Voronoi was used, and it created rock like geometries that were interesting, however there was not enough control over the placement or scale of each geometry. Intead, Weaverbird Isodecahedron was used which created regular 3D geometries and also allowerd more control over the dispersion and scale of each object.

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Week Five

Isometric

The grid used was 3x3 so resulted in 3 geometries directly above and beside one another, creating rows and columns. By increasing the size of each volume, they create intersections. After using Boolean Difference the remaining solid left has a narrow opening at the top which expands out below.

The bulbous nature of the geometries means that some voids are closer than others, adding a sense of fragility to the structure.

Some of the geometries intersect intersect beside each other as well as above and below, this creates links between the voids that suddenly creates a larger void that increases the sense of porosity.

The angled surfaces of the voids help to reflect light and create shadow showing depth. This combined with the thicker solid areas between voids reduces the feeling of permeability.

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Week Six Task 01

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

Key Attractor Points

Lofts

Grid Points

{Index Selection}

2.1

{Index Selection}

2.2

{Index Selection}

2.3

{Index Selection}

2.4

Paneling Grid & Attractor Point {Attractor Point Location}

Paneling

3.1

{Panel and Depth Variation}

{Attractor Point Location}

{Attractor Point Location}

3.2

{Panel and Depth Variation}

3.3

{Panel and Depth Variation}

3.4

{Panel and Depth Variation}

Task 01 Matrix

Flatter surfaces convey a lesser sense of movment than curved surfaces, however curves surfaces are harder to fabricate so a median needs to be reached. Similarly the angling of the panels was experimented with using attractor points and curve attractors, with specific points allowing for more control.

Hexagonal panels are more intricate and allow more opportunity for varied openings however as a panel they do not tesselate strongly. A pyramid is structurally strong and is developpable but it needed exploration to find a module that had openings to allow in light but also remained fabricatable on a small scale.

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Week Six Task 02

1.1

1.2

1.3

Key

1.4

Attractor Points

Grid Manipulation

Grid Points

{Attractor Point Location}

2.1

{Attractor Point Location}

2.2

{Attractor Point Location}

2.3

{Attractor Point Location}

2.4

Geometric Centroid Distribution {Index Selection}

Geometry Transformation and Scaling

3.1

{Domain and Scale Adjustment}

{Index Selection}

3.2

{Domain and Scale Adjustment}

{Index Selection}

3.3

{Domain and Scale Adjustment}

{Index Selection}

3.4

{Domain and Scale Adjustment}

Task 02 Matrix

Varying the grid with attractor points maintains a sense of dynamism carried on from part one of the module. Likewise, the arrangement of geometries needed to also suggest a sense of movement, however the geometries had a tendency to group together with the opposite effect. Increasing the domain and scale of the geometries helped to disperse them and created opportunity for interesting voids.

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Week Six

Final Isometric Views

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

Key

1.1

2.1

{Index Selection}

2.2

{Index Selection}

2.3

1.3

1.4

{Attractor Point Location}

{Index Selection}

2.1

2.4

{Attractor Point Location}

2.2

{Attractor Point Location}

2.3

{Attractor Point Location}

2.4

Geometric Centroid Distribution

Paneling Grid & Attractor Point {Attractor Point Location}

{Panel and Depth Variation}

{Attractor Point Location}

{Attractor Point Location}

3.2

{Panel and Depth Variation}

3.3

{Panel and Depth Variation}

{Index Selection}

3.4

Geometry Transformation and Scaling

Paneling

3.1

{Panel and Depth Variation}

3.1

{Domain and Scale Adjustment}

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Key Attractor Points Grid Points

Grid Manipulation

Lofts

Grid Points

{Index Selection}

1.2

Attractor Points

{Index Selection}

3.2

{Domain and Scale Adjustment}

{Index Selection}

3.3

{Domain and Scale Adjustment}

{Index Selection}

3.4

{Domain and Scale Adjustment}

Appendix

Process

These images capture the sense of light dispersion through solid and void that I based these two models around. The use of parametric softwere helped me to quickly generate iterations of form and compare them to previous tests. The end result I have fabricated is a product of digital process based around the idea of trying to gently direct light.

The main limitation was the material type and scale of the model- the larger the holes, the more opportunity for light to enter but the weaker the model. However if the scale were to be increased the concept would be more effective

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Appendix Process

In my early explorations I experimented using the voronoi command in Grasshopper. The mesh generated is similar to the final geometry I have used and was extremely helpful in visualising the placement of the final geometries.

The top left capture is of the voids Voronoi creates when BooleanDifference and the remaining images are an experiment with meshes using Weaverbird to explore the boundary between soild and void. The mesh solid has perforations that were intended to be similar to my final panels in Part 1 of the module.

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