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Project 4 – Design Concept
For project 4, we were asked to think of 3D objects and sketch it using isometric sketching. After that, these objects needed to be combined in one cohesive composition. In my case, I tried to sketch some objects but did not have an idea of how to combine them in one composition. What is more, isometric sketching of simple objects is tricky, and sketching complex models is even trickier. After some trials and failures, I was advised to go to the Fusion 360 and play with sketching and extrusion, loft, sweep, and so on there. After some time, I have got an idea of creating a composition consisting of playing card suits – a heart, a diamond, a club, and a spade. I implemented the modeling first, and only then tried to sketch them on paper. This was not the easiest part, because the models have complex shapes, but I already knew what I was going to do and this process was easier for me. Even though the sketch is not perfect, and there is room for improvement, I think it still translates my idea. The result is represented in the following image where the top part is isometric sketches of four bodies and the bottom is a top view of the composition.
Project 4 – Fabrication Final
For project 4, the main goal was to create a 3D composition that was later used to create a mold. The first step was to create an isometric drawing of objects that later had to be combined into composition using specially gridded paper. I tried to create this sketch, but it was not successful because I had no idea in mind. Then, I went to Fusion 360 and started sketching and using lofting, extruding, extruding, and so on. After couple of hours of trials and fails, I finally got the idea: a composition consisting of playing card suits (spade, club, heart, diamond). For this composition, I used mostly extrusion to create an effect of implied motion. To create a convex part on the top of it, I deleted the heart’s top surface. I replaced it with another convex surface (needed to adjust some parameters, the flow for this operation I found in one of the videos on youtube). This operation created two open bodies, that I stitched together using the stitch tool in Fusion. After I created all the bodies. I placed them appropriately and combined them using the combine tool. I also added micro beveling where it was needed. To create a valid mold, it was important not to have undercuts and not apply micro-beveling on the positive body’s bottom edges. After all these operations, I created a 6″x6″x1″ box, placed it appropriately, and used a “combine” tool to create a mold (negative model). Then I flipped the mold, and it was ready for fabrication. The actual fabrication took approximately 90 minutes. The result is represented in the following picture.
Project 3 – Fabrication Final
For project 4, my idea was to create a “covid pear” that would wear a mask. In a process of creating this surreal composition, I encountered a problem with a mask that could be solved by modeling a mask by myself. However, at that moment I had already combined my scanned pear and the head I found on Thingiverse, and they looked really good and interesting so I decided to stop right there. To create this model, I scanned ceramic pear found at the thrift store not far from my home using MakerBot Digitizer. In addition to that, I found “a full-size human head modeled … for placing headsets on” by lehthanis on Thingiverse. Both models were processed in MeshMixer to reduce a number of polygons and so on. After that, I transferred them into Fusion 360, where I first split the head into two bodies, so I had only the face, and combined it with the pear. After that, my peer and I printed our models overnight (it took about 5-6 hours to print both models) on a MakerBot 3D printer using the white filament. The result of final fabrication can be seen in the following two pictures.
Here is a final design for this project:
Sources: Full-Size Human Head Model for resting headsets on by lehthanis licensed under the Creative Commons https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:758647
Project 2 – Fabrication Final
For the topo transform project, I used the stacked slices construction techniques and the black museum mounting board. The laser cutter has specific settings for each material so it could be cut safely. In my case, I should have had only one pass, but it actually took two passes. All in all, it took about 90 minutes to perform this job. After cutting, I carefully numbered parts and later at home assembled them using Elmer’s fast-drying glue. I used styrofoam to stick my dowels into it to make the assembly a little bit easier, but at some point, something went wrong and one side of my model looks a little bit twisted. The result of this project is represented in the following pictures.
The following picture is a logo etch. To produce it, I used the given settings for the laser cutter for the material and did 10 passes. As we did two etches at the same moment to save some time, these 10 passes took approximately 40 minutes. After that, my classmate helped me to trim the excess material (I am too bad at cutting straight lines).
At home, I used my logo etch as a stamp, and I really like the result that is represented in the following picture.
Project 4 – Design Final
For Project 4, my idea was to create a playing card suits composition. In the design iteration post for this project, I talked about creating all four suits, but after inspection, I realized that some parts of the composition were too thin for the drill in the CNC router. I had to inspect all parts of the model using a measuring tool in Fusion360 and thicken them up where needed. After this modification, the model looked a little bit different, but it is okay. After placing all the bodies in the correct position, I joined them using the combine tool, and the result is seen in the following embed. This is a positive version of the model:
After that, I had to create a mold that would later be used in the final fabrication. I created a 6″ X 6″ X 1″ box and placed it over the model’s positive version. Then, using the combine tool, I got a negative version of the model, which is represented in the following embed:
To sum up, using the visual principle of contrast (when the qualitatively different objects and events occur in the same visual field) learned from references and the knowledge of parametric sketching and geometric modelings such as extrusion and loft learned from exercises, I was able to create an interesting composition consisting of playing card suits.
Project 4 – Safety Training
For project 4 we are working with the CNC router machine, which from first sight seems difficult to operate, but when you get to know it closer, it is not that hard and scary. During the safety training, we were introduced to the software needed to operate this machine: MeshCam and Mach3. In addition to that, we learned how to set up the software and what settings need to be adjusted. Just before my fabrication, one of my peers encountered the issue of MeshCam, adding extra weird lines of g-code that ruined his work. So it is important to check the g-code generated before starting the fabrication.
After the software is set up, the next step is to install foam block into the correct position on the printing bed and glue it down using a hot glue gun. The block should be centered relative to the drill; the block also has to be positioned in the correct z-axis position, so the drill just touches it, and it is hard to pull out the piece of paper. After the block is set up, it is important to ensure that the ventilation system is running and all the dampers are in the correct positions. After that, the machine can start carving. It is unnecessary to watch the machine constantly; we just need to check it once every 10 or so minutes.
After the work is done, it is possible to perform some postproduction operations, i.e., use a bend saw to trim the edges. It is crucial to perform this work with the partner. All the bracelets, sleeves, watches, etc., has to be removed before the work with the bend saw.
Project 3 – Design Final
The main goal for Project 3 was to create a surreal 3D composition. In my iteration post, I talked about how I acquired the 3 out of 4 objects needed for my design idea. The fourth object was a mask. I searched Thingiverse and found only one design of the mask that could work for me, however after downloading it and importing it into Meshmixer, there were some issues that were impossible to solve, and the only way was to model the mask from scratch. By the time I had this problem, I already combined my scanned pear with the face, and I really liked how it turned out – it was a surreal composition, and it was interesting and creepy, so there was no need to continue. Over the course of this semester, I learned that it is important to be able to stop when the assignment or project looks good, even it is not perfect or it looks a little bit different than I pictured it. Thus, Combining material processes such as addition with the “reduce” tool in Meshmixer and the “combine” tool in Fusion 360, I created an interesting surreal composition. So the final result for project 3 is represented in the following embed.
Project 4 – Design Iteration
For Project 4 we need to create a mold that we will carve using the CNC machine later. When I started working on a design idea and sketch for it, I was completely stuck. I tried isometric sketching, but I could not decide what composition I want. Then, after talking to the professor, I decided to go to Fusion 360 and just create various shapes and combine them. I spent good 2-3 hours and ended up deleting everything and starting over. And finally, the idea was there: I decided to create a composition with suits of cards (heart, spade, club, and diamond). I used sketching and mostly extrusion. I also played with the “Surface” tab in Fusion: I ended up deleting one surface on the heart and then replacing it with another smooth convex surface. This operation created two “open” bodies, which I stitched together. The result is represented in the following embed.
The next steps will be organizing these four bodies into a unified composition, adding micro-beveling and creating a mold.
Project 3 – Design Iteration
For my “Covid Pear” idea I found a ceramic pear sculpture at a thrift store, which later I scanned using MakerBot Digitizer. Because this scan was a little bit rough, I smoothed it and reduced the number of polygons (we need to do that so Fusion360 could “digest” it better) in MeshMixer. The result of it can be seen in the following embed.
I looked for a syringe on Thingiverse, but could not find any. Then, I painted syringe I found at home and scanned it, but the scan was awful, and I decided to model it in Fusin360. Here is a result of it.
I also searched for a human head on Thingiverse and found a beautiful model. First, I inspected it in Meshmixer because you can never know what people can share. I also reduced the number of polygons. Then I transferred the model into Fusion and divided it into two pieces, so I could easily combine it and my pear. For dividing the head I used an “Offset Plane” and “Split Body” functions in Fusion. This process was relatively easy and here is a result of it.
The final piece is a mask. I will talk about it in my next post.