Xiomara Armijo_Saiqa Iqbal

_ In this assignment we dealt with a given section having a dimension of 500 mm X 500 mm

X 350 mm to have a ribbed chair by using the Laser Cutter. The process of modifying the plain simple section into a waffled one is given below:

1._ first create a base file having separated layer for each of the major commands (base, contour, ribs, intersection, fabrication) along with their sub layers for x and y axes.

2._ selects the outer surface of the given section. Then apply the cage edit command (bounding box on). the number of control points can be manipulated by changing the x, y, z point count.

3._ moves the control points to get the desired shape. Keep the two outer layers of control points in fixed position to maintain the given section in the 2 ends_ select the contour x layer. And command

Contour in x direction.

_ specify the distance between contouring according to the material distance and the grid resolution.

_ select the contour y layer and command Contour in y direction in the same process.

­­­_offset the curve lines of the contours inside. the sections can be manipulated with the control points.

_ select the rib layer and use the command Planar Surface for the each contour curves with their offset curves to get the ribs.

_ maintain the two layers Rib x and Rib y for the ribs in x and y direction.   

_ Select another layer for intersect, command Intersect by selecting the ribs x and ribs y.

_ select another layer for drawing a pipe in on of the intersection line. The pipe diameter should be the thickness of the material.

_turn of all the offset options except the Mid and the Center.

_ move the end of pipe ( name it Pipe x) to middle of the intersection line. then make a copy of the pipe (Pipe y) to the other end of the pipe.

_ copy the two pipes together to the mid point of each intersection lines.

_ by selecting the ribs one by one run the command Intersect between that rib with its corresponding pipes.

_ split the joints from the ribs by the command Split.

_ selecting the ribs one by one run the command Unroll Surface by selecting the ‘Rib X Unroll’ and ‘Rib Y Unroll’.

_ move the unrolled ribs away from the origin.

_ select the objects of Rib X Unroll and Rib Y Unroll layer and run the command Duplicate borders.

_ move the selected curves away from the rib surfaces.

_ name the pieces by numbers.

The following images show the concept and the process for laser cutting and fabricating a 3D waffle structured Bench as an assignment for our Digital Fabrication class.
This Bench is a collective design done by Ushma Nichani and Amay Gurkar.

The following images show the concept and the process for additively manufacturing a 3D Lego brick as an assignment for our Digital Fabrication class.
This 3D block is a collective design done by Ushma Nichani and Amay Gurkar.

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 _

1^st step_ we divided the 6 surfaces of the given brick with 3 mm grid to ensure the minimum thickness for the 3d printer.

2^nd 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.

3^rd 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.

4^th step_ we capped the lofts in both directions to have solid pipes.

5^th step_ we meshed all the solid pipes.

6^th 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.

7^th step_ we joined all the surfaces of the brick to convert it into one object.

8^th step_ we meshed the external surface.

9^th step_ we extruded the meshed surface in internal direction with the thickness of 3mm.

10^th 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.

11^th 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.

One bench for two,

The idea was to have a street sofa with the possibility that two people will use it.

you can seat on the edge or seat like a king in you Neighborhood street sofa.

Checking the seats and Having reference for the size and direction

Modeling the surface with cage edit

The Y ribs – we make it in a way that some of the ribs go in one direction  of the assembly , and some on the other of it, so it will be an easier means; that some could be directed up and then the X ribs will be stand.