Ceramic 3D Print

For the final project for this course we had to do a hollow print on  the ceramics printer 

We quickly brainstormed an idea for the model, we knew that we wanted an overhang of sorts, and that it had to have a continuous perimeter (rather than an object with holes in it), but we wanted something a little more complex than just a tube.

This is what we came up with:

With help from Bryan, we set it up in the ceramic printer, and 20 (ish) minutes later we got this 

Here''s the 3D printer set up (pics courtesy of Sherine)

Final 3d Object (3D Object update part 2)

To recap my previous post,
Zach and I were partnered up to create a self supporting, 3D printed structure. We were tasked to come up with individual ideas and put those ideas together to come up with something better

We ended up mixing these two objects:

(My design)

(Zach's design)

during our brainstorm, we strived to take one design that we liked and improve it with another design, rather than try to find a compromise.  We focused on specific elements of a design (triangular pyramid + heart shape, interlock pattern + taper, etc)  We went through a number of ideas (all which are illustrated on our brainstorming sheet) before finally settling on these two designs to put together.

We did a lot of experimentation, not really sure what was going to work out the best, sometimes needing to start from scratch.

Here is our final product:

The object took the teardrop used my initial triangular design with more faces, matching Zach's more circular design.  This hexagon shape gave it a lower canter of gravity, making it stronger and more likely to stay standing.We then took Zach's heart shaped windows and used them to support the top of the upside-down hexagonal pyramids.

Overall, I thought the project was successful.  I was happy with the outcome because I simply thought it was too complex to print. Even then, I was sure that if it was going to print, it would end up structurally unsound, or too fragile to be submitted. 

The only problem we had was that the incline of the curve at the widest part of the heart shaped  windows was too shallow, so we didn't get a very nice print in those specific places. 

This problem, however, wasn't big enough that it ruined the rest of our project .

If we were to fix this problem, I believe it would be as easy as changing the degree of the incline at the widest part of that shape.

        a.)  Function - The function of this object is aesthetic, as well as being sturdy and self supporting.  

        b.)  Form - The complexity of the triangles with the harmony of the symmetry, as well as employing some inspiration from Gothic architecture (in the windows)

        c.)  Self-supporting - Yes, it also balances well

        d.)  3D Printability - This project was mostly successful when it went through the 3D printer

3D object Update

Our previous assignment was to create an object that was to be 3d printed and that was self supporting, the next step was to partner with someone else in the class and mix the projects together to make something new and better.

I was paired with Zach, and together, after some deliberation, we decided that our best bet moving forward would be to use these two objects:



And so began our brainstorm

I'll explain our thought process,

after confirming which objects we wanted to put together, we had to make a decision on how. We decided that we weren't really fond of any of the ideas of mixing the initial objects (my "Argyle" and Zach's "thing 10", so we changed it to my "Argyle" and Zach's "thing 12" (which wasn't written down on the brainstorming sheet), and that's where we got our topsy-turvy/ upside down triangle design

from there, we wanted to make our object more solid, so we made the decision to add some columns, the only question was what kind of columns.  Some of our options are pictured above.

Then,, after a fresh look at the design, we discovered a flaw. The flat tops of the triangles were not self supporting, so at the bottom of the sheet,, we were brainstorming what supports we could use to be the most aesthetic.

Our first draft, without the columns, looked like this

We also played with the idea of something a little twistier..

This is the part where we hit a roadblock.  The columns weren't working and neither of us were really pleased with the result, so we moved to different support in the center

Here are the final 3 options, I've circled the central, sturdier support

3D Printed Hollow Form Object: Concept Generation

Finally, we're at the project we've all been wondering about. This is the project everyone has had in the back of their minds all semester, and like always were kicking it off with some concept generation. The challenge was to create an object that would 3D print without any additional supports, so here's what I thought of 

"Argyle"

"House"

"I don't know"

"Cupcake"

"Bell"

"Skirt"

"Decanter"

"Squish"

"Stairs"

"Box"

Papercraft Objects: Final Revision

We've reached the pinnacle of our papercraft unit, and our final project was to take the prototypes we have made, and create our final product out of them, with the challenge to push our creativity,

This is the object that I brought in (featuring my pet parrot for scale).  It's one of my favourite tubes of lipstick, that I would wear every day if I could. I came into class with a plan to produce a bigger version of that (about 3x the size) with purple cardstock and holographic paper

 

So the final product probably would have looked like this:

For my class last Wednesday, I brought my previously pictured paper prototype to be perused by my peers, expecting some positive pointers. Here's what I got:

• Work off of the idea of a trophy, rather than the idea of lipstick, so the size of the object and the holographic paper will make sense 
• Make it functional, like a lipstick tube.
• Use transparency paper, sure as acetate

Okay, so changing the way I thought about the project was pretty simple, then the next item on my list was to make the product functional. I had to do a lot of preliminary work, because I was predominantly puzzled by this professedly primitive doohickey (I was confused by the mechanics of a lipstick tube).

I did a lot of thinking:

(I don't expect anyone reading this to make sense of my gobbledygook, but hopefully it illustrates my pain)

Then, for the barrel, I settled on a design that I proposed would work like a screw,

I printed it off, put it together (not expecting much) and praise the 3D object gods because it worked.

Moving straight along, to putting all of my designs together, I made another digital prototype, including my phenomenal barrel design,, and the paper/ material that I would be using in the physical product. I also decided to use transparency like someone would use glass, so I would be taking advantage of it's transparent and reflective properties

 

(The lipstick inside will be holographic as well, although the render didn't show that)

My next step was to table all the fun stuff and begin the tedious and time- consuming task of tacking on tabs to my design.

Knowing I had 4 sheets of 12 x 12 holographic paper, and plenty of sheets of 11 x 13 acetate, I made sure that all of my designs would fit on those measurements, even though I still am going to test this design in Bristol board to make sure it works

Fast forward two days, A LOT of minor tweeks and the realization that people in hell are probably tortured by being forced to score, fold and glue acetate, I finally got to a product that I was proud of and that (sort of) checked off everything I wanted to accomplish with this design.\

• It's size and colour indicates more of a trophy
• It's technically functional. There's a hole in the bottom that allows you to push the lipstick up
• I used transparency paper, and I think it was really successful. The light from the holographic paper is reflected making everything look more intricate 

I switched up a couple things:

• Instead of holographic paper, I used black paper for the base. I decided after a while that holographic paper would look like overkill
• I changers the functionality from a screw mechanism to a push mechanism. I did this because paper is not a rigid enough material to make the screw work like I wanted it to 
• I got rid of the tube inside, by changing the mechanics, the inside was no longer necessary
• I decided the spiral would be my new lipstick, so I cut off the top and did it in holographic paper instead
• I added a little bit of casing for the outer tube in black paper- This will make it easier for me if I decided to add details later
• I changed up the blueprints as well, just to simplify everything further
  

Well, here I am. Parting ways with this positively painful, however personally prosperous, project. Although it wasn't particularly a party, I, personally, loved participating in this paper craft adventure

Papercraft Objects: First Phase Prototypes

For this assignment, I had to take my best design from my previous idea- generating assignment and create a prototype of what my final assignment will be. Because this assignment ended up being my lesson in extra planning and learning from failures, I feel confident going into the next phase of this assignment.

When I created this tube of lipstick in the first place, it looked big. I felt like the design looked more like a trophy than a tube of lipstick, so I decided to run with the idea. My first order or business was to find a beautiful, shiny paper to build my final project out of. I decided on this holographic paper to give my project an extra punch. I also decided to use some lavender card stock as a plan B in case all of my pieces didn't fit of the holographic paper.

  

I knew that printing a 24"x24" diagram on 4 pieces of 12 x 12 paper wasn't going to give me the big trophy that I was looking for, so I started thinking. I realized that I could bet more size to work with if I took all of the pieces apart and tried to fit them onto one sheet (which I, for some reason, decided to do by hand). 

 

It was about around here that I realized this step was only confirming what I already knew, that squishing pieces of this figure together would save space.

So I decided to look at my original diagram and do some measurements and figure out which pieces took up the most space

So, now that I knew that the sides of the octagonal prism would be my longest pieces, I knew that they had to be my benchmark,since there's not way I could split them between 2 sheets of paper. I made the sides of the prism about 11" long, while keeping the rest of the measurements relative, and decided to work from there.

Here, I decided to switch up my plan of attack, because I realized that if something goes wrong and I have to use my backup paper, the design will look a lot nicer if I have the top and bottom a different colour than the sides, rather than each side a different colour. I decided to fix my blue print so it would fold up lengthwise. 

I plotted the pieces on 4 12 x 12 sheets of paper, like the ones I would be printing on, with accurate dimentions so I knew exactly what I would be working with

All of this being said, the original blueprint has not been abandoned. The form is successful, the tabs were placed well -after a mishap I have also pictured- and all in all I feel like I have a solid option for how I will tackle this final project (my other option being the "lengthwise blueprint")

Right now, my plan is to print the blueprint on normal sheets of 8.5"x 11" paper and cut out the blue prints from the holographic paper while using the prints from the printer paper as a template. I have tested the gluestick on the holographic paper and although it doesn't work as well as I had hoped, I have a hobby-super-glue that I will be using with an old paintbrush