module 3 jonathonkoop 242915

VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS ENVS10008_2013_SM2

Jonathon Koop (242915)Group 7

M3 FABRICATION

CREATING A MIURA FOLD PATTERN

First we tried to create a modified miura fold to see how would could alter the final folded form. Unfortunately our experimentation was a little too haphazard as we modified the pattern too much. However this was beneficial as we decided to keep the pattern very simple and any changes uniform.

Next we tried to use a simple pattern but overlaid onto a base shape. This also proved difficult as the miura modules did not conform to the base shape and when we tried to fold these it wasn’t very effective.

From there we decided to use square or rectangular patterns that we could, once folded, join together and then remove any modules if necessary.

FABRICATION DIFFICULTIES

Our fold patterns were created in Rhino so we could use them with the card cutter. Our initial design utilised both etch and cut lines as we thought this would allow our card to fold easily in both directions (mountain and valley folds). Unfortunately we found that the cut lines often tore the card we were using and negatively affected it on an aesthetic and structural level.

We also found that the materials supplied by FabLab were too thick too create the crisp folds we were looking for. The folded card also appeared to be very rigid and we were worried that it would not inflate very well. Furrthermore we found that using a large sheet of material (600 mm x 900 mm) made it very hard for us to fold the material.

The unsuitability of the card lead us to two important design decisions. We decided that we would need to use a lightweight paper, and we ended up using 120 GSM paper. We also decided that we would as A3 sheets as these were the most workable and easy to fold while still maintaining a decent size.

ARCHITECTURE IN THE DIGITAL AGE - DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING

Three-dimensional scanning involves taking and existing object and translating it to the digital realm.Digital fabrication is the opposite, taking a digital model and turning into something real.Two-dimensional fabrication involves tools like CNC routers and card cutters which cut sheet material which can then be manipulated into other forms.Subtractive fabrication involes starting with a block of material and removing parts, much like a marble carving.Additive fabrication involes creating an object layer by layer, a principal seen in 3D printing.Formative fabrication involves exerting forces, restricting materials, or using heat or steam to cause a change in the form.

For our project we used digital fabrication and two-dimensional fabrication. Firstly we used Rhino to create a 3D model of the form that we were hoping to achieve, and then simplified that form. As we knew that we would be creating the second skin from a developable surface we then created 2D digital models in the form of cutting patterns that could then be interpreted by the card cutter.

FIRST PROTOTYPE

Due to the difficulties we had with materials we were unable to produce a full prototype by week 7, however what we had showed that we were heading in the right direction. By this stage we had manage to connect 5 panels of miura fold together and attach them to our base. We had also made a makeshift bladder and were able to test the inflation. To our surprise it worked quite well.

CREATING A BETTER BASE

We measured Christina to find out what the dimensions of our base shape should be and were able to create a very simple base which we could attach the miura folded skin to.

We also created a few unique miura fold patterns to allow for curvature in the skin as it wrapper over the left shoulder, around the back and over the right shoulder.

DIGITAL FABRICATIONS: ARCHITECTURAL AND MATERIAL TECHNIQUES

The recent shift in the use of digital technology from design to fabrication has seen architects being able to design in new ways. From being able to design with specific fabrication techniques in mind they can tailor it so that it takes full advantage of the technologies, rather than using old techniques that may limit ways in which things are constructed. This can lead to new forms and new types of structures that perform in ways we have never seen before.

The fabrication process threw up a lot of challenges for our design. We had identified early that the card cutter would be very useful for the amount of folding we needed to do, but we failed to consider what material would work best with the machine and still perform how we wanted it to. The type of material had a direct impact on the complexity of our design and we had to simplfy it significantly (as can be seen in the changes made since the first Rhino prototype). Nevertheless fabrication didn’t stop us from executing the core parts of our original design, but gave us a more realistic idea of what we would be able to achieve.

FINAL RHINO MODEL