Caitlin's OBDF 110 Process Blog

  Working Paper Prototype & 3D Model Comparison Continuing to refine and work out the details this week, I added more functionality and details to the 3D model in Rhino to work towards a final version.  I will begin with my modeling in Rhino. Starting from my more basic prototype from last week, my intent was to add some very simple functionality to the object by making it possible for a small ball to be dropped into the back box where it will go down some ramps inside before popping out the bottom and then rolling down the surface of the pinball machine, hopefully bouncing off some obstacles and bumpers along the way. Ideally, I would have liked to make functional paddles work so you could interact more but it doesn't seem feasible for this project. The image below shows the plans of the ramps and where the ball will get dropped into and eventually exit the back box. The ramps inside are supposed to be tilted to ensure the ball doesn't get stuck inside. View of ball drop ...

Side view of paper prototype. We are now beginning to model and work through the design-prototype cycle for our final object. I decided to go with the pinball machine. I like the idea of making it so that a small ball can roll down and bounce off of the various bumpers and  objects on the pinball machine surface so I am trying to make it somewhat functional. Similar to my detailed drawing plans on post #6, I don't think that it is feasible to launch a ball as you normally would from the base with the pull knob, so I will likely put a ball-sized hole into the back box on the side. The idea would be that you can drop the ball into there, it can roll down a small ramp and out the top right of the pinball surface and will drop into a collection opening at the front of the model when it's done rolling. I've started modeling the object in Rhino. I started with the shape of the cabinet and back box. I created the cabinet shape by drawing a 2D view from the side then copying and lo...

As we prepare for our major papercraft project we are learning how to facet and unroll 3D objects in Rhino. This week we were tasked to create at least 10 different forms in 3D and unroll them into paper templates. To help narrow down what I would like to do for the larger project I created some objects that related to potential ideas from my last post. I also created some unrelated objects in order to explore how various shapes will unroll, if at all.  Simplified Espresso Machine The first form I created is a very basic shape of an espresso machine. I combined and cut away using solid rectangular boxes. When I tried to unroll the entire combined shape it unrolled in a complicated way with areas overlapping. In order to simplify the potential papercraft process I split the form into two parts. This will make it much easier to print and fold. Espresso Portafilter I wanted to try to recreate more of the potential parts of the espresso machine so I attempted a portafilter. I started w...

  RESEARCH - Zim & Zou "Genetic Manipulation" display from Zim and Zou's "Edible Monsters" project for la Rinascente, EXPO Milan 2015. While researching examples of paper-craft objects I was most impressed by the immersive scenes, bold colours, and fine details of Zim & Zou's creations. Zim & Zou are a duo of designers out of France that focus on creating physical creations as opposed to computer designs.  The scale of their paper-craft work ranges from small dioramas or objects all the way up to large display features the size of rooms for stores such as Hermes. Though their work is often part of high-end retail displays, they still have a purpose behind them, or at least an intention to ignite a conversation. The example above is titled "Genetic Manipulation" from their series of displays for their "Edible Monsters" project. It depicts a laboratory experiment in whimsical colours and shapes, the results of which are drippin...

All 13 Objects This week's task was to generate some hollow-form objects that could potentially be 3D printed.  Using lines, shapes, loft, and sweep-the-rail functions I created 13 capped hollow-form vessel objects. As I progressed, I started adding more complicated shapes and angles to the designs including text and even wingding symbols converted to shape. Towards the end I was distorting shapes and rotating them to create twisted, angled top faces. Unfortunately, not all of these will be suited to 3D printing due to some of the higher angles that wouldn't be able to print without support. Below are some closer renders of the hollow-form vessels. All were rendered with emerald gem as the material.

  Extruded and rendered designs in purple frosted glass This week's task was to design some rings in 2D then extrude them to create 3D versions. To see the results of my design, I sent in one ring design to be used with the laser cutter. I ended up making 11 ring designs. Only 9 more plus some fire from Mordor and I would have enough to help bring Sauron to power.  2D line designs I tried to make a variety of shapes and designs to explore the 2D design tools and become familiar with them. Most of the designs were created to fit my ring size, the only one that isn't is the one in the top right which was done to a larger ring size. I used a lot of splitting, trimming, and reflecting to combine the various lines and shapes into designs that could be extruded.  Non-rendered, mesh, and shaded view of ring designs. I applied the extrude function to all of the 2D ring designs. All were extruded to 3mm which is the approximate thickness of the acrylic/plastic that they could be c...

Testing out different materials. This week we are refining and rendering our top creation from last week's digital mash-up.  Unfortunately, I came down with a cold this week and was unable to attend class. I missed out on the feedback from others during critique but have enlisted the help of some family members and friends to help decide which creation to use and what to refine. The top creations that came out of the feedback I received were the cookie with teeth, the dragon bee, and the crystal hamster. The creation that had the most positive feedback and others felt was the most unique was the crystal hamster so I decided to go with it. Specific feedback that was given for the hamster was to better balance the placement of the crystals, create a more gradual size change across the clusters on the back end, and to add many more crystals. I agreed with the first two of those points but decided to go lighter on the addition of crystals so that the hamster was still recognisable...