We designed our tile using hexagons that create undulations on the surface such that they form concave-convex surfaces. The forms seem to interchange, creating an illusion. When the liquid is poured on the tile it flows to the valleys and dips which contains it and creates an opposite effect as the tile itself does before it flows to the adjacent tiles. Looking at it, is it concave? or concave? 

We created a mold in order to duplicate the tile design. We used Rhinoceros as a digital tool to define the geometry of the hexagonal form on the mold, keeping the lowest point of the tile contour synchronized with the level of the connecting valleys with the adjacent tiles. We then used RhiCAM to carefully choose the right strategies and milling tools to achieve a surface that can show the pattern of the tile, at the same time to maintain a productive milling process (less than 2 hours to complete)

Once the mould was milled, we sealed the surface with four layers of sealant in order to cover the pores of the Styrofoam mold, followed by a layer of Vaseline to prevent the concrete from adhering to the mould. The mixture of the concrete used for each tile production was a mixture of 2400ml aggregate : 480ml cement : 400ml water : 25ml accelerator. The filled mould was then patiently vibrated to let the water bubbles out (hence no holes on the face)

Stage 1 & 2

GroupTEN approached brief of the 3D printing excersize with a vision to create a kinetic, 3-Dimensional form, exploiting all of the properties of the given materials. This was no doubt the approach taken by all other groups. So what made us different?

We did not look at creating a structure, or a string of points. We instead looked at creating a malleable surface. A moving geometry which would flow and adapt based on the applied forces.
Post Research & Design stage, we moved into understanding the techniques involved in 3D printing. A Rhino file was simple enough to draw, with numerous joints developed – each designed to test minimum tolerances of the printing material, both in terms of breaking and connecting to the plastic rods.

Sadly time ran short for our project, and our test pieces were not able to be printed.

Alas, we were able to print our pieces and explored the various assembly approaches available to us. Having a very simple and adaptable piece of geometry repeated many times allowed us to experiment with the form until we were happy.

This experimentation began with a single spine, from which all rods would meet at a perpendicular angle, and spin around. This created a form which was random and chaotic. Although the printed pieces were designed to limit the movement of each one next to it to 10°, the tolerance of the machine rendered this feature useless.

To overcome this problem, we decided to create the desired flowing surface by stringing the rods between two spines. This was successful, and provided us with a malleable, flowing surface, whose stiffness maintained its shape and form, but small movement through multiple pieces had the residual of a graceful form.

Connecting to the board was initially intended to be the standard “screw a hole” technique, employed by many. However, after exhausting our supplies of plastic rods, we decided to use our few remaining joints to create the connection to the board. Yes, it does use glue.

The flexible, malleable, adaptable surface  was created by something never designed to act as a surface. The possibility of 3D printing has allowed us to join the given material – plastic rods – into a graceful sculpture.

Ece Tankal – Akanksha Rathee – Dhwani Patel

The simple module unit is designed to create a curvilinear structure with linear wooden elements. Each unit comes together to form circles of eight or ten with joints possible in multiple dimensions. These unit circles create numerous possibilities of iterations with a vertical stacking of spheres. The curves can be manipulated in two half circles joined in opposite directions to increase the flexibility of experimentation.

We tested the stability of the structure through multiple options and the final result is a balance between the height and weight distribution of the spheres. The resulting structure is extremely light and is supported only by 4 laser cut pieces. This also gives us the advantage of reaching a larger height with less material because of the porous nature of the design.