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DIGITAL DESIGN + FABRICATION SM1, 2015 M3 JOURNAL - YOUR PROJECT TITLE

Jichuan Yu 657686 & Tom Harper 695363 Turor: Paul + Thursday 11:00

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Introduction Design development

The main aim of our second skin project is to create a wearable equipment to help the user to maintain the personal space.

And we strongly believe that the personal space required by people depends on the situations and scenarios that people are in. Therefore, since people constantly change the space they are in during the daily activity, the scale of personal space required by people is also constantly changeing. In order to adapt to the different situations, our second skin is moveable and dynamic.

The second concept that defines our second skin is the idea of warning effect. Our second skin do not create large space for the user, but the motion of the second skin is very conspicuouous and in this way to send signal to the surrouding people.

Firstly, we changed the design of the plate to create more visual complexity.

We changed many design of the joints to connect our different com-ponents in better ways. For exmple, we gave up the idea of the ball joint that we had last time. Because it can cause more complexity and what we really need is just moving the plates in one axis. And we used 3d printer

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The process of 3d digitization is a modern approach to aid in producing accurate and fast CAD models for the process for 3 dimensional representations and digitally based fabrication. The methods of digitization include mechanically based arms that measure the position of each joint in the arm the other key method is based around using cameras or a camera and a laser and image processing to calculate the 3 dimensional coordinates. The CAD process is the corner stone of the modern digital revolution, but the reason for this revolution is the power that digital fabrication can provide.Technologies such as laser cutting, plasma cutting and water jet cutting are the main examples of a subtractive 2 dimensional which have the key limitations be-ing that it is only a 2 dimensional process, the cut depth and the cutting radius; although with a laser cutter this has a very fine radius. In addition to this more exotic methods like spark erosion, EM wire cutting, simple foam cutting and ion and other beam tech cutting process exist and operate on a similar principle. Strategies to produce objects based around 2 dimensional subtractive processes largely revolve around sectioning into connecting planes.Similar technologies exist with additional that operate with 3 or more axis for sub-tractive processes such a CNC routers and CNC milling machines. These machines have the advantage of functioning for 3d carving, engraving and milling with the main disadvantage being minimum cutting radius.Converse 3d additive processes exist such as 3 dimensional printing which ranges from PLA printing, dual plastic, ABS printing, resin UV cured, doped, UV colourising, glow in the dark and a range of metal printing is available. But to capitalise on these techniques the machines need to be coded with g-code which is an established standard for controlling Numerically Controlled (NC) tech-nology. The code is quite simple

Architecture in the Digital Age - Design + Manufacturing/ Branko Kolarevic, Spon Press, London c2003

Reading Response Wk 6 Reading applied to design

===========================================(EXERCISE 1 : absolute , R offset 0)(done)N10 G71 G90N20 M08 M03 S1000N30 M06 T01 H01N40 G00 X0. Y0. Z5.N50 G01 X0. Y0. Z0. F350N60 X0. Y90. Z0.N70 X40. Y115. Z0.N80 X80. Y90. Z0.N90 X80. Y0. Z0.N100 X0. Y0. Z0.N110 M05 M09N120 M02===========================================Where the M codes denote machine commands and G codes denotes movements and in the case of additional dimen-sions are denoted as a, b, c and ‘(‘ ‘)’ acts as comments and N denotes line number. What brings this technology into a streamline and viable technology is the capability of CAM software that ties the CAD generated models into a viable g-code formatting.The beauty in this process can be seen when aspects of computer science like automation and computer generated pat-ens such as mathematically based variation, randomly generations and fractal maths to produce on mass not only custom-isable pieces but entirely new and original pieces.Another manufacture technique is that of bending / reforming, which is neither an additive process nor a subtractive but more simply is taking a material and bending it or reshaping it in another way. NC technology is even capable of produc-ing, in mass if needed.

How does the fabrication process and strategy effect your second skin project?

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digital productionBranko KolarevicModern technology has changed the way designers and architectures can create, this process can be optimised with Computer Aided Design.The strategies outlined in the readings start with generating three dimensional computer models and using the CAD soft-ware to further process these models into a format that makes the digital fabrication process as easy as possible common tactics involve taking sections or adding joins and subdividing the model.From here various Numeric Control (NC) technology and outsourced production methods can be used to continue the process. For 2 dimensional subtractive jobs there are machines like laser cutters, plasma cutters and water jet cutters, For 3 dimensional subtractive there are machines like CNC mills and CNC router. For 3 dimensional additive jobs there are various 3d printers available.These processes are often able to make things quicker and cheaper that are more accurate and more complex than what was classically producible. But the real strength of the technology lies in the ability to simulate virtually before pro-duction and to be able to repeatedly produce complex objects and edit any aspect and then produce another object with relative ease opposed to having to start from the start or rework an object.The “ seamless connection between design and making” that the text Digital Fabrication by lisa Iwamoto is clear to see in the methodology and the work of this project where parts have been designed and then produced harmony of each other. The CAM software works with the machine to give a smooth transition between loading the .STL for processing and providing a physical part that smoothly that the g-code is not even seen by the user. Not only this but one could go so far as to say that the process between conceptualising as part and holding that very part in your hands (or a scale model of it) is so fluid that once an individual is sufficient with a given CAM program that this process can be completed in less than an hour with no significant stress or strain upon the individual. The combination of 3 dimensional printing and laser cutting has allowed the components to be produced to a standard that would not be possible for a small scale production in a manner that is so consistent and reproducible.

Digital Fabrications: architectural + material techniques/Lisa Iwamoto. New York: Princeton Architectural Press c2009

Reading Response Wk 7 Reading applied to design

Our design project focused heavily upon the use of CAD generated 3 di-mensional models which were then printed in white ABS plastic making use of 3 dimensional printing to produce parts like the joints, the connections and the vast majority of the pieces, also the use of laser cutting to pro-duce the cut luna ply.In the case of our project the fabrication methods available have shaped what was produced and how it was produced. The use of 3 dimensional printing has allowed for rapid prototyping of individual parts for a quick turnaround in testing ideas and adjusting measurements to produce a working project with the least amount of wasted materials and time further to this the process allows for parts to be produced relatedly that would either require a high level of skill or a large amount of money. Not only has it provided a fast means of testing but it also lends itself well to batch runs of multiple parts for repeated production. The thin ply panels that were cut for this project were produced using a laser cutter which allows for fast production of shapes that would be difficult to produce by hand let alone produced repeatedly.

The use of 3 dimensional printing and laser cutting mean that the work is reproducible solely from the data files and any part can be revised and edited if the need arises.

Referencing from the lectures and readings, what is the implication of digital fabrication on your design ?

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Prototype optimisation-- Fixing Point Between Pipes

Following our idea of providing a base to allow our design pat-tern to sit on, we need to use the pipes to create a very rigid grid as a strong base to support the plates. This type of connec-tion solves the problem in fixing point, it successfully hold the pipes into the shape we want and allow us to create the grid and even other interesting patteen in the base part.

Prototype optimisation-- Plate Design

We changed our plate design from the module two, the original idea about plate in the module two was plain plates and we indented to use different colour on both side so that the second skin can show different effect when it changes. For the final product, we used a fence like pattern in each plate. Instead of a surface, we use single lines and extrusions to connect the sides of the quadrilateral. And same as before they can be rised as the user to pull the string that connected to them.

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Prototype optimisation-- Plates Design

Inspired by the precedence study, we found that this kind of pattern create much more opportunities in the visual effect. This pattern add much stronger visual effect on the second skin. Same as the precedent project, firstly, it creates the waving effect itself, which means the image viewed by people can be dynamic. With movable mechanism, the effect can be even more influencial. This is because, the tranceparency of this pattern make all the plates interact to each other and create a more complex visual system.

Prototype optimisation-- Flipping Plates

This is one of the most important connection joints produced by 3D printing in our project. The the two identical items besides it are used to secure it firmly on the pipes.

The small intervel is used to allow the plates to be inserted and accommodate them. The joints perfectly connect the plate to the base grid, at the same time allow the movement of plate to hap-pen.

The string is used to rise our plates up. We found fishing lines works very well in our project firstly be-cause it is very strong in strength and secondly it is almost invisible. It is tied on the plates through the holes, and it is placed through the little hole on the top of joint to further connect to other parts.

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Prototype optimisation-- Magnetic Clip

This item use magnet and 3d printing product to create a ' switch' like mechanism. There are mainly two functions of this item.

Firstly, it is used to release user's hand from the second skin. The end of the strings would be tied on the small item attached on the magnet. Therefore, users do not need to hold the strings all the time. Secondly, as the small item above is able to move along the larger magnet, it allows user to adjust the movement of the second skin easily.

Prototype optimisation-- Detaling

In order to make pipes to stay in the shape we want. We put wire through the pipe. This joint is used at the end of each pipe to

finsh and hide the cutting edge of the pipe.

This joint is used to place the pipesin shoul-der area of user.

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2nd Skin final design

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Fabrication Sequence

System One The Pipes of Base

System Two The Joints System Three The Plates

System Four The String

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Assembly Drawing

Firstly, based on the joint, place each loop of pipe into the hole.

The second layer placed above the previous 5 pipes and together form the grid.

Join them by the right joint type. The other type of joint also aligned along the second layer of pipe to allow the plates to be added on.

Insert the plates into the joints.

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2nd Skin

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APPENDIX

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