mod3

Virtual Environments

Fabrication

Christian Paul 376 591

Semester 1/2012 Group 9

Design from Module 2

After some discussion, feedback and deep and

meaningful thinking, I decided it would be prudent to

alter the design of the bottom section, which was

previously simple ribbing. I was after a more “random”

look that feel closer in line with a waterfall. And I came

up with a whirlpool. Designing something like this is

simple enough. Just by using the basic technique we

use to create 3D panelling, by using the standard

pyramid panel type and the two panelling grids. BUT!

The sole difference: I rotate the outside grid just slightly,

And this is the result.

Design from Module 2 - Alteration

Design from Module 2 – Final Revised

Naturally, my model also had to be

unwrapped in 3 sections. This is the bottom

section unwrapped. Being composed of 40

spikes, there were a lot of pieces. Fortunately,

however, all of these ‘spikes’ are essentially

pyramids, and therefore each spike unwraps

as a single piece, rather than requiring me to

explode each individual point. The bottom

two pieces form a sort of bottom to the spiky

section. The only reason this section was

necessary was essentially to hide the bottom

of the spike section, which allowed me to be

free in allowing any joining material (mainly

tape) to be seen from the bottom, as it would

end up covered anyway.

Unwrapping - Bottom

Unwrapping - Middle

The middle section was incredibly easy to unwrap, simply by taking each layer from

the bottom up. There was no difficulty in unwrapping this section at all.

This section was not overly

complicated either. While there

are 40 pieces involved, there

are only four types of panel,

which are then repeated 10

times around to form the top

section of my model. In

hindsight I should have panelled

this section differently, it

would’ve been much easier to

unwrap and illuminate. But we

make do!

Unwrapping - Top

Unwrapped, Tabbed and Nested

The spikes of the bottom section, primarily to test how they would join together, and where tabs would need to be added for effective joining.

Seeing how joining the spike bottom section to the middle section would work, and how well it fit together

Prototyping

A section of the top section To see how well an individual piece of the middle section would retain shape.

My first and biggest problem with

fabrication was deciding how to

incorporate the lighting in my lantern. The

problem was that almost every piece (80

out of 89) was an individual, closed

section. And I wanted lighting from all of

them. To set up LEDs and wiring for 80

pieces would have been tedious, time

consuming and difficult, not to mention

ridiculously expensive. So I found a more

effective way to light up each section

from within: FAIRY LIGHTS! They were

perfect. 250 lights already formed into

one line, already wired and ready to go.

By building lights into each panel as I

Fabrication

By building lights into each panel as I

went, I was able to ensure that each and

every panel was illuminated from within.

This fixed several problems: coming up

with the amount of lights to do this

otherwise, the difficulty and time

consuming process of wiring 80 LEDs, and

the problem of trying to hide all this wiring.

By building the lights into each panel as its

constructed, the lights are hidden well

from view. Its slightly more time

consuming, but with an overall better

effect.

The very bottom section, pieced

together. This section sits on the

outside of the spike section, to hide

the joins, tape, and lighting wires.

The first layer of spikes, with a single

light built inside each spike. The

spikes are partially sealed (using

glue and tape), the lights then

inserted inside and closed

completely, again using glue. Elastic

bands were used to keep each

spike closed until the glue could set.

The orange post it note lets me

remember which spike is spike

number 1, which is important as all

the spikes were carefully numbered

so that the order could be kept, as

no two spikes are the same, and

would therefore not fit together

properly otherwise. the joins, tape, and lighting wires. properly otherwise.

Fabrication

The bottom section with 3 layers of

spikes. Only one to go! Because the

structure was made entirely out of

solid pieces, which were then fixed

The bottom of the very same

section! See why I made plans to

hide it?!solid pieces, which were then fixed

to each other under tension, no

underlying structure is necessary for

the model to retain its shape. By

building each spike, complete with

lights, in its proper order, I was able

to simply start at the centre and

spiral outwards, fixing the newest

spike onto the back of the previous

one.

Fabrication

Because of the way the lights

needed to be built into each piece

in order, I was not able to simply

build the three sections then nest

Fabrication

build the three sections then nest

them together. The entire model

needed to be built upon, one layer

at a time, at least for the first two

sections.

The final (top) section gave me at

least a bit more room to work. I was

able to construct the panels without

having to nest the lights inside each

panel, and put the actual structure

together independent of the full

model. Then, I was able simply to

thread the lights through each

“tunnel” section. Because holes had

been punched in the top of each

“mountain range” panel, this

allowed the light within these

tunnels to shine out.

Fabrication

Fabrication - Finished!

Use black electrical

tape to “seal” these

lines to ensure light

only comes through

holes

Rebuild/Blacken

stand for top section,

neaten lights inside

this area

Fabrication – What’s next?

Rebuild bottom

section to better

encase and fit the

model

Critical Analysis

From design to fabrication: A thousand and one things can go wrong! And there is never a way to

predict absolutely everything. A slight mis-measurement, a slip of the hand while slicing, can throw off the

entire model. The only way to accommodate for such problems is to make the best effort to ensure that

there are flexible options to solving each problem. If all hope is hinged on not making any mistakes, then

you are more likely to make mistakes than ever! But by allowing some wiggle room, some grey area in

which we can adjust for human error, then the process from transferring something from a PC screen to a

physical model becomes much more realisable. Easy, certainly not. But definitely achievable.

Fabrication in itself is a time consuming and patience testing exercise. Computers have a way of hitting

the nail on the head first time, every time. We as humans unfortunately don’t have that wonderful quality.

The best way we learn is by trial and error. Which takes time. Which isn’t always available when working

to a deadline.

The fabrication module has been a section I’ve truly enjoyed, although I’ve more often than not felt quite

rushed. If I had been able to complete this model at a more leisurely rate, I am certain that I would have rushed. If I had been able to complete this model at a more leisurely rate, I am certain that I would have

had time to iron out the small wrinkles and perfect the model to a much higher standard. Nevertheless, I

am very happy with the final outcome, although I will most likely continue to make small tweaks and fixes

to the model in the next few weeks.