Saiqa Iqbal, Xiomara Armijo
Digital Fabrication
MAA 2010-2011, IAAC
The project was about to transform a given Lego Brick of specific dimension by using the software Rhinoceros as a modeling tool to print it by the 3d printer. The cylinders and the 8 corners was to be fixed for using each brick to join with each other as lego blocks.
Our aim was to create a structural skin which would hold a different entity inside. We wanted to design a form consisting object inside object to explore the 3d modeling advantage of the 3d printer.
Modeling the Brick in Rhinoceros _
1st step_ we divided the 6 surfaces of the given brick with 3 mm grid to ensure the minimum thickness for the 3d printer.
2nd step_ we wanted to give the surface the visual quality of a porous material. So we draw the surfaces with closed curves of varying dimensions. For having a different element inside, we draw some circular surfaces in the void spaces among the closed curves.
3rd step_ for the objects inside, we had run the command loft by selecting the 2 circular shapes drawn on the surfaces of opposite directions. We created the lofts in both x and y directions.
4th step_ we capped the lofts in both directions to have solid pipes.
5th step_ we meshed all the solid pipes.
6th step_ for the structural skin, we had run the command of planar surface by selecting each surface and its corresponding closed curves to get a porous surface.
7th step_ we joined all the surfaces of the brick to convert it into one object.
8th step_ we meshed the external surface.
9th step_ we extruded the meshed surface in internal direction with the thickness of 3mm.
10th step_ we had run the command Boolean union by selecting the external skin with each of the solid pipes to make the two objects to act as one object.
11th step_ we exported into STL file as a final step for printing.
Using the 3d printer_
_ after completion of the printing, we brushed the extra powder from the external surface of the brick. Then we further cleaned the brick with a small air machine to clean the delicate crissed-crossed object inside.
_ then as the final step we sprayed fixer over the brick to have a durable form.
