Reflection

Digital making as the first interdisciplinary course that I chose for my last year study for my bachelor of Architectural studies, I realise this course is the most useful subject as a learning and working tool for my further architectural study and practice.

Through the learning process of digital and parametric design tools, I gained fundamental skills of operating hammers, saws, English roller and bar knife for metal shaping, which is a great way to transfer special knowledge of metal craftsmanship. the utilization of meshmixer, Autodesk 123D maker and Adobe Illustrator for all assessments demonstrate how the combination of software and hardware can refine model making process and make it efficiently, meanwhile, it also convey the theory of high technologies are changing human life.  

During the actual learning process, I do find some disadvantage of current shaping tools for these assessment, there are two major problems occurred: light reflection for photos and metal shaping. When I was trying to use Autodesk 123D catch to make a framework for my example,  the light reflection of my photos do case the misshape of the initial model, the use of semi-gloss paint for model’s surface and meshmixer do provide a pass way for adjustment but which is a hard process to make it as same as possible. Nonetheless, I realise there is a better way to achieve a finer point, which is the application of 3D scanner. Secondly, the shaping of metal is a terrified process through the whole semester, the best approach is using different type of hammers to create the shape patiently, and to improve this craftsmanship do need have enough experience which is hard for me in this short period. There is a minor problem that I think it can be possibly resolved is laser cutting, laser cutting as a new technology after industrialization do provide a quicker and more accuracy method to process 2D cutting, however, the skill of operating actual software is also need more practice for me to use the machine more proficiently.

Overall, I insist believe this course transfer lots of essential skills for my practice, as an interdisciplinary course, these skills are useful for all the students who learnt it and I do appreciated for all the knowledge that I learnt from this subject.

Kunsthaus Graz, by Peter Cook and Colin Fournier

Interdisciplinary Tutorial

First Tutorial

Final Skin and Reflection

Final Skin

The streamline shape of the basketball shoe which is natural and elegant.

At the beginning, I believed that the basketball shoe head would have been a streamline shape object to form, due to some the curve oppositely facing. The most difficult part was to smooth these streamline shape relative to each other, and keep them as streamline.
The two curved oppositely facing surfaces was not as hard as i had believed as due to my past object, I am now relatively comfortable at making any other curved surfaces. In relation to my reflection from last submission, my "mouse" didn't has curved oppositely facing. After little practice has gone into forming streamlined curved surfaces

How to make the skin, the hardest part. When I start working on that part, I used and experiment different techniques to shape the curve, like use wooden mallet to hit the edge or use semi-ball as a base to hit metal or directly use it to hit metal. We solved and discussed problems and techniques together which make everything easier and save lots of time to do more refine works.
It was also extremely difficult to get the same size of those  curve perfectly match the template, I used other tools like the tapered T-Dolly which has a sharp end as a support

Overall not just greater understanding in the methods of  digital making was able to be gained through creating this interdisciplinary skin but also take us different way of thinking. The variation of forms, functions, textures and life – cycles that different object embody, provides an endless and complex palette of materials that far exceeds the limitations of the typical wall, roof and floor. The resulting space may maximise these embodied qualities and/ or subvert the meanings of the objects to suit the new environment. Therefore, when objects are implanted into spaces to which they do not naturally belong and to which they appear alien, new rhythms and established as the new existing adapt and transform in order to co-exist.

Metal shaping

Metal shaping

Measure the length of the waffle shape. Draw an appropriate shape on the metal sheet by marker. Then cut it.

Key:

Watch out and make sure there is not another foot (yours or others) under the machine. Otherwise you may have to pay for the hospital for yourself or others.

Use the Marker to draw across the wood template on the aluminium sheet.

I then proceeded to cut it out using the large circle cutter, which gave me a good curve.

Using hammers in the workshop to bend it. make it like shape to cover the shape.

Then use small hammers to adjust it and clean the surface.

Use the Marker to redraw across the wood template.using the large circle cutter to cut again.

Use the roller to smooth the surface.

Using the tear drop stand and polishing hammer, any rough surfaces were cleaned up. Metal skin with dome metal shaping station and wood hammer.

Comparing with object at the end of the session it is clear that the skin sit more closely.

Laser Cutting

Laser Cutting

Make sure the line colour and thickness to red and 0.001(if you do not want to use laser cut in FBE Lab things would change since different machine may have different setting).In FBE design Lab they use VLS-desktop lasers VLS 3.50.

Using the laser cut machine to cut the shapes and assemble it

Key:

1.The sheet size should be changed since laser cut machine is suited for 300*600.

2.If you want to cut a 3mm thick plywood board. You should set your thickness in 123d make in 3.2mm or 3.3mm a little bit thicker.

Interdisciplinary Skin: Shoes

Interdisciplinary Skin:  Shoes

Pair up with a student from another discipline, in pairs produce some test shapes.

The object I choose is a basketball shoes which is my friend  from other disciplines interior architecture student.

That is his inspiration of his second-year project. It is a project that is design a restaurant, The shoes' curve and color which fit with his concept " By using curve wall and point light.