ArtCAM – Art of Architecture  

This handout is designed as an accompaniment to the ArtCAM – Art of Architecture presentation being presented at Autodesk University 2016 in Las Vegas 11/16/16 at 08:00- 09:30.

Firstly, let me thank you for taking the time to download my handout and read about ArtCAM, and how it fits into the world of Art and Architecture.

The official information  

This session will introduce architects and designers to the world of modernizing installations with artistic designs, using software. Whether creating modern wave walls, artistic cladding, wall dividers, or something more traditional like corbels, appliques, inlays, and reliefs, this session will show you how to not only visualize the artwork but also how to manufacture the final design

Learning Objective 1: Understand the benefits of adding artistic designs to architecture Learning Objective 2: Learn how to expand your design possibilities within architectural designs Learning Objective 3: Learn how to recreate traditional techniques using modern technology Learning Objective 4: Learn how to create modern architectural installations

About the presenter  

Let’s start at the beginning, after years studying Art, Product Design and even Car Design, I decided to venture from England over to New York to become a Brand Packaging Designer, now that was a fun job, a 21 year old working in Manhattan (far too many stories to tell). Anyway, after a reasonable few months I missed the rain, fish and chips, pies and our national dish, curry, so I returned home and started working for ArtCAM, (that’s the product you’ll be reading about in this handout).

10 years later, after doing almost every job that you can on a product, and lots travelling to customers, I became Product Manager. That basically means, I get to talk a lot about the product that is like one of my children, meet some amazing people from around the world and do some fun things on CNC machines.

The bit I missed out from the story was my name, so great to meet you, and I’m Robert Newman, or just calling me Rob is fine.

I would insert a picture but I don’t have one of me without a hat on.

See:

So what is ArtCAM?  

Well that’s what the presentation is about, and I don’t want to give too much cool stuff away, but in short ArtCAM is artistic software that enables you to design and make your ideas.

Like these:

And here are some of the industries ArtCAM has been used for in the past:

Woodworking Architecture Signage Jewellery

Minting Ice carving Stone Carving Furniture

Confectionary Consumer Electronics Movie Industry Footwear

Packaging Hobby/Maker Card Engraving Theme Parks

 

 

 

What is covered in the presentation  

Now obviously I can’t expect people to listen to me talk for 90 minutes without knowing what the presentation is all about, so in bullet point format here it is:

Texturing – Panels, Wave walls, Cladding

Windows, Doors & Cabinetry – Unique Designs

Theming and Props – Theme Parks, Restaurants, Movies

Rotary - Columns and Posts

Appliques and Models – The benefit of using them

Making – How to actually manufacture what you have designed

Inspiration – I’m saving this one for the day, but I’m planning to leave you with two ideas you

will never have had before. (Hopefully)

To note; this presentation won’t be just about industries and examples; we are going to take a good look at how ArtCAM can be used to create the work seen in the examples.

Okay, so it’s a little vague in bullet point format, so if you want to look at these topics in any more detail, and how ArtCAM is used in them, I’ve expanded on them below, but not too much, and not with all the same examples that will be used in the main presentation. After all I don’t want to ruin the main presentation.

 

Texturing and Cladding  

Texturing in ArtCAM can done in numerous ways, each way to create unique designs that can be simply modified afterwards, and they can be uniformed and non-uniformed designs. Uses for these sort of designs include; exterior cladding on buildings, internal walling, cabinetry, furniture, doors and panels, art displays, and anything that you want to add interest to.

The 4 ways that you can create textures from are: from an image, from a vector, from a toolpath or just simple straight forward modelling.

 

      

1.0 From an Image, Left image, Right 3D model 

   

1.1 Finished Machined Texture                       1.2 Textured Cladding Panel for side of building     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Windows and Doors, Cabinetry  

Simple windows, doors and cabinetry can be designed and machined in ArtCAM, but the real power comes from adding artistic decoration in the way of appliques, carvings or scenes to a design.

2.0 Window Sash 

2.1 Decorative Doors 

 

Theming and Prop Design

From theme parks, bars and hotels to the movies (image 3.2), ArtCAM has been used to design and make custom work that is visually impressive.

Designs can come be simple vector construction and machining (image 3.0) through to full 3D models and more complex machining (image 3.1)

 

3.0 From Vectors – Tiki Bar           3.1 Easter Island Head fully modelled     3.2 Tablet of Ahkmenrah  

 

3.3 Traditional relief carving     

 

 

 

Rotary Design and Machining  

Why rotary design in an art of architecture paper? Well, think mainly columns; Tuscan, Ionic, Corinthian, the sorts of designs that have artistic elements to them.  

  

4.0 Ionic Column     

Not only can you design decorative parts of a column in ArtCAM, but the full column can also be designed and machined, providing you have the correct kind of rotary axis CNC to cut it on.

A step down from columns, is posts and balustrades, using the same technique as for columns, decorative pieces can be made for interiors or furniture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.1 Wooden posts     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appliques and Models

Appliques have many uses from adding interest to a plain environment to creating standalone theming pieces to create atmosphere to an attraction.

Traditional appliques have use in keystones, scrolls, centres, plinth blocks and onlays. By using ArtCAM’s modelling tools to design, edit and machine the design, reproductions and unique designs can be created and manufactured.

      

5.0 ArtCAM relief models    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making  

The part of the presentation where we will discuss manufacturing your designs. Whether CNC, 3D printing, laser cutting, waterjet, etc, Ill expand on how to create your designs using the toolpathing strategies within ArtCAM, and how to handle those complex cases that you may run into when trying to make larger pieces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.0 Machined parts        6.1 Toolpathed in software     

     

 

6.2 Toolpathed building sign in software 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspiration  

This is always my favourite part of a presentation, the bit where I introduce something new, that hasn’t been seen before, (or hopefully not). It will be towards the end of the 90 minute presentation, it will be visual and hopefully inspiring. But you will have to wait for it. 

 

Summary

In summary, thank you for taking the time to look through this handout, and I hope it has kept you interested enough to come to my presentation, The Art of Architecture 11/16/16 at 08:00- 09:30.

The topics in this handout are only a brief introduction to what ArtCAM can do in Architecture, but during the presentation the topics, Texturing, Windows, Doors & Cabinetry, Theming and Props, Columns, Appliques and Models and Making will all be expanded on to meet the learning objectives of creating traditional and modern architectural installations, and the benefits of adding artistic designs to your architectural designs.

If you have any questions please bring them with you to the session, and I look forward to seeing you at my presentation.

Rob Newman