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DIGITAL DESIGN + FABRICATION SM1, 2016 M4 Reflection

Yuling Guo717222

MIchelle #9

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1.0 Ideation 1.1 Object & measured drawing & digital Rhino model 1.2 desing process & reconfigured model 1.3 Three design concepts 1.4 Reflection on M1

2.0 Design2.1 Design development intro2.2 Digitization + Design proposal v.1 2.3 Precedent research2.4 Design proposal v.22.5 Prototype v.1+ Testing Effects

3.0 Fabrication 3.1 Fabrication intro3.2 Design development & Fabrication of prototype v23.3 Design development & Fabrication of prototype v33.4 Final Prototype development + optimisation:3.5 Final Digital model 3.6 Fabrication sequence3.7 Assembly Drawing 3.8 Completed 2nd Skin

4.0 Reflection.

5.0 Appendix5.1 Credit5.2 Bibliography

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M1.0 IDEATION

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1.0 IDEATION 1.1 Object & Measured Drawings & digital Rhino model Plan and section

Detail drawing

I chose the umbrella as the object in M1. The type of the umbrella I drew was folding umbrella. Generally, the umbrella ultilized a skin and bone system. The standard umbrella’s bone system is integraded with eight ribs and a handle. The fabric cover is the skin part of the umbrella.

During the process of measuring, I used the measuring tape to measure main parts of the umbrella. The right triangular ruler and protractor were used for measuring other smaller components.

In addition, I used Rhino to draw my digital model. And I think my digital model displays a stronger view than the measured drawing.

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1.0 IDEATION 1.2 Design Process and reconfigured Model

I was inspired from the last step I folded. And then I drew a similar one. I continued to simplifying the original sketching step by step. Finally I got this pyramid. This pyramid has become the significant elements of my concept model.

I used plasticine and timber sticks for making the concept model. The inspiration of the timber sticks came from the ribs of the umbrella. I used plasticine as the fixed joints in order to connect every timber sticks and made it stereoscopic. The reason why I use the light background here is generating a contrast between lightness and shadow.

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1.0 IDEATION 1.3 Design Concept 1

Based on the elements of pyramid, I will keep using this idea into my first design concept. There is a linear shape with many smaller pyramids going around the user’s neck, and it aims to protect the user’s neck when she/he is sleeping on the sofa or chair. Because I think users would sleep comfortably when both neck and head are supported by one object.

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1.0 IDEATION 1.3 Design Concept 2

These two larger elements here were inspired from the shape of an open umbrella. These two are designed in embracing the human body. The umbrella has a skin and bone system. So that these two large elements would be covered with the fabric. Simultaneously, the stretching fabric will provide the soft feeling for users.

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1.0 IDEATION 1.3 Design Concept 3

Its exterior part is one three dimentional pyramid. The elements which arounded the neck are inspired from middle part of the umbrella. That is a octangle. Its aim is same as the first design concept which used for protecting the user’s neck.

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1.0 IDEATION 1.4 Reflection on M1

The purpose of module one” ideation” is provding the basic knowledge of the umbrella, and developing concepts from its knowledge. The process of measuring umbrella can help me understand the umbrella’s structure, connection and potential function. And then the umbrella inspired me that three design concepts. From the workshop, I learnt the basic skills of digital drawings in Rhino. So I can draw the umbrella in Rhino on module one. And I think I will continue to apply Rhino in next modules. Because it can display general ideas of my concept and intention. In module 1, I think the sketches of my three design concets went well. But the issue is that the scale of my measured drawings were not accurate. And I corrected this problem in this journal.

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M2. Design

My team’s members:Ding Wei David Chen(758298)Hao Lin(743375)Yuling Guo(717222)

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2.0 Design 2.1 Design development Intro

Inspired from module 1’s object analysis, measurements and three concepts. I will explore more ideas based on the skin and bone system with team members. We deicided the refined model, the lateral prototype will be developed and generated from it.

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2.0 DESIGN2.2 Refined sketch model

We mainly used the idea of pin joints from the umbrella. Starting from the first reconfigured model, it was translated from the part of the umbrella ribs. Move on to the second sketch model, we thought the timber sticks could be ultilized and tested. We satisfied the structure of the second one, but it was too fragile. So we decided to put more layers in order to make its structure stronger. As shown from the last image. Henceforth, we used the steel wire to connect parallel timber sticks, aim to make it more flexible and keep it stability.

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2.0 DESIGN2.3 Sleeping pod proposed design

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2.0 DESIGN2.4 Personal Space Research

For this part, we are going to explore the personal space and how the personal space influence design. We took photos from the several perspectives. In order to create a sense of privacy and protection, we considered and tried different postures, to see what would happen when the person was sleeping, whilst measuring how much space each person would use. In addition, referred to the knowlege from one lecture. We also considered the effects from the surrounding environment of the user.

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2.0 DESIGN Precedent applied to the design

The Burham Pavilion creates a large open space with its unique curvilinear form, derived from the principle of using the skin and bone as structural members. This informal open-oluminium structure is designed to be a recycle instalation that could be easily rebuildt and also promotes the idea of public discourse. The repetitive useof curves gives the pavilion a more organic form. We thought that precedent study is similar to a shell. Developing the idea from a shell, a closure and curvelinear structure was created. The sleeping pod can be folded and it can cover the user’s head when the user was sleeping on the table. Its purpose is preventing the light and providing a sense of protection, privacy. And then, gas permeabiity was considered, what knidof the materials would be used for the skin part. So that, keeping developing, second design was achieved. It consists of flexible layers, fabric and two openings, and can be closed when put on one user’s body.The third design uses the idea of repetition and fluidity. It was inspired from the precedent study’s steel frame structure. It can be folded in order to achieve aim of semi-closure. Even sleeping at the public space, this sleeping pod will provide user with sense of privacy.

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2.0 DESIGN2.6 Design Develop Concept: semi-closure

The design is based on the key word semi-closure that we found in the precedent. The user’s face can be semi-hidden or fully hidden by the device.Because it is installed on the wall, the view is blocked by the pieces of the sleeping pod, so that other people are hard to see the user’s face when they walk by the user, which provide a perspective of safety.

Besides of this, people are also hard to see the user’s face from a distance. When they walk closer, their view would also blocked by the device.

In addition, the user can decide the position of the sleeping pod, which means they could control the sleeping pod for semi-closure position or fully closure position.

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2.0 DESIGN Prototype and testing effects

Fully enclosure provide the sense of privacy for the user

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2.0 DESIGN Reflection on M2

Module two aims to keep generating concept from module one. However its difference is that I have team members this time. Three of us had seven design concepts at the beginning of the communication. We had to choose one from them. After deciding the option, we kept generating the ideas and considered how to apply this reconfigured model in the sleeping pod. The issue our team met is lacking of the time and communication. Therse caused our poor presentation and unclear intention. In order to overcome this stuck, we planned to have the meeting weekly, and shared our ideas and knowledge in google drive. Another issue occurred in module 2 is the unclear intention. Because our team tried to explore more functions of the sleeping pod and satisfy more sleeping positions. Because of it, we paid less attention to our main intention. After m2, we will have to delete some meaningless functions and images in order to generate a stronger intention.Although there are some problems ocurred in M2 presentation, I think our prototype went well in the aspect of the structure. It can help us decide the sleeping position of the user.

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3.0 Fabrication

My team’s members:Ding Wei David Chen(758298)Hao Lin(743375)Yuling Guo(717222)

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3.0 Fabrication 3.1 Fabrication Intro

In module 2, we tried to create a sleeping pod that could be used for mutiple purposes and fit variety of sleeping positions. By focusing on too many applications we failed to accommodate the basic criteria. Our design was scattered and confusing. Its intention were also unclear and as a result our design performed poorly. This time around we changed the fundamental principle behind our design and focused on one sleeping position with one purpose, to create a comfortable and safe sleeping pod. Using our understanding of a skin and bone system we adapted the complex geometry of our original prototype and reconfigured it into a structuraly sound pod with layers of soft fabric and wool to maximize comfort.

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3.0 FABRICATION3.2 Design development and fabrication of prototype

The new design focused on the comfort and stability. This comes in the form of a new digital design that still incorpoates the original style, whilst making it is stable and comfortable to relax on. The addition of the skin being the fabric stuffed with wool, creates a comfortable pillow for a head to rest on. Now materials were introduced in order to meet the stnandard measurements of the sleeping pod, by replacing the boisa wood with its much stronger cousin MDF and replacing the steel wires that cause a lot of discomfort with aluminium rods with fied ends.

As we decided that we need a more stable ans rigid structure we began testing different shapes and forms. In the end, we came up with a closed hexagon supported by several triangles and were held together by metal rods instead of the steel wire that we used earlier. By repeating the same pattern layer by layer we create a much more stable design that kept the original form.

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3.0 FABRICATION3.3 Reading applied to design

As technology progress, the need for traditional design practices begin to aim as once manually competed processes can now be done with modern machinery. Customary drawing can has been figitized, physical models being digitally replicated and manual fabrication is no longer needed. Digital practices combine the notion of designing and making into one process, compelling a seamless transition between designing and building. The new found ability to efficiently produce quality designs that are also easy to edit has almost rendered conventional drawing obsolete. Physical models on the other hand remain ever so important, showcasing certain dynamic aspects like lighting and shadows produced from different angles.

Digital fabrication has granted us the ability to efficiently and effectively create the numerous components needed for our sleeping pod. By digitally modelling the complex geometry of our design we were able to grasp s sense of the approximate size, form and funtion. This allowed us to freely adopt our design during the development and fabrication stages, helping us by highlighting the structural issues that plagued the project.

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3.0 FABRICATION3.4 Prototype development crucial components

One of the major components that we has to test was the joints. To see whether or not they could support the weight of the structure. As triangulation forms the most crucial part of the design as it is the only thing keeping the structure up. Getting the right angle, size and height of these triangles plus the friction between the joints would determine whether or not the structure would stand. Previously, we connected the joints and segments together with a flimsy steel wire that could not hold the structure together. We also had to change the baisa wood into something stronger.

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3.0 FABRICATION3.5 Prototype optimisation and prototype optimisation effects

The overall effect of the sleeping pod is to provide a stable platform that is comforatble and safe for the user. As every user is different in size we must care to that requirement, in response we adjustable segments to the sides of the design. These teeth like structures form the base of the main structural triangles, by adjusting the height of these triangles we could change the height of the sleeping pod.

The skeletal structure of the sleeping pod is quite hollow. It contains a noticeable gap between each layer. So in order to create s sense of safety and security we added a layer of fabric stuffed with wool, essentially a pillow that would wrap around the user’s head blocking light and sound. The soft nature of the pillows combined with the irregular form and mediocre soundproofing, creates the perfect illusion of safety for the user, allowing them to have a pleasant experience. Our design is made up of 182 individual pieces, the pieces are grouped up in different

categories for different sizes. We did not need to control our design because of the simpticity of each component, leaving the only complicate assembly. Due to the repetitive nature of our design we were able to save material, time and money by grouping pieces togerther in tight formation. For the later lazer cuts, we realized that by placing the edges together we could save space and time.

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3.0 FABRICATION3.6 Sleeping pod final design

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3.0 FABRICATION3.7 Fabrication Sequence

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3.0 FABRICATION3.8 Assembly Drawing

Outer Frame

Inner Frame

Adjustable Supporting Teeth

Shims

Stable sheet

TubesTapes

Layer 1

Layer 2

Layer 3

Layer 4-13

Stable sheet

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3.0 FABRICATION3.9 Reflection on M3

Module 3 aims to let us become more familiar with using Rhino. The benefit Rhino brough to us is that detailing displaying the structure , intention of our sleeping pod. Rhino also help us testing the stability, connection of the digital model without using any materials. It is an effective and efficient way for us to save the time and money. Simultanously, we can change ideas easily by Rhino. In the process of module 3, our group mainly focus on the stability of the structure and option of sleeping pod’s ma-terials. From the reading, I learnt that the digital fabrication can help us produce the individual pieces of model precisely. In addition, I think our team did well in assembly drawing. It is clear to show how the individual pieces cennect together.

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4.0 Reflection

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4.0 REFLECTION4.0 Reflection 4.1 Performance Sequence

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4.0 REFLECTION

Before learning this subject, I liked making physical models by myself and these models aim to display my project’s concept. However, sometimes, my physical model cannot produce a more general idea of my drawing’s purpose and form. From the reading, I learnt that the “reverse engineering ”is the digital fabrication process often begin with the translation from physical models to digital representations via three dimensional scanning. Overall my team’s design process, we applied two dimensional fabrication techniques in laser cutting over 200 individual pieces required for our sleeping pod. It is efficient to use digitally modeling calculate the size and form of each individual piece. Digital modeling also helped us finish our design, by creating several prototypes without wasting any raw materials, whilst giving us the ability to freely add, subtract and change the size of individual elements.

Laser cutting allowed us to quickly and efficiently produce significant components of how design with a much stronger material. The MDF we used proved to be much stronger than the balsa wood we previously used. Certain components of our project had delicate forms that were too difficult to manually cut, due to its irregular form and the tough material, leaving laser cutting as the only available option. Before the process of laser cutting, we used rhino to design a project that could physically built, we were able to display each individual piece, where they would go and if would all work. As time progressed so did our design, it is efficient for us to use rhino display all the ideas without the use of physical resources, it has saved a lot of time and money for the project.

In addition, I think the challenging aspect of the studio is the process of testing our prototype’s stability. Because stability is one intention of our project, we tried to approach the most stable structure in our design. Consequently, we had three plans for testing before the final model. We laser cut some individual pieces and then tested each plan. Luckily, one of those plan can be strong enough to support one user’s head. After module 3, we improved the model by deleting all the soft pillows. Because their color did not match well with the skeletal structure. Another reason is that it is better to only use the main structure itself support the user’s head. By continuing to explore ideas for our team’s model, one more function has been generated. As shown from the performance sequence, another way for using this sleeping pod is sleeping on the exterior part in the skeletal structure.

I think the collaboration and communication in the team become better than previous time. Our module 2’s presentation failed to communication and our intention was unclear. How we overcome this stuck? In order to have more communication, every group member attempted to attend the meeting twice a week or three times a week. We shared all the resources in google drive. It is convenient to display ideas for others.

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5.0 APPENDIX5.1 Credit

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5.2 Bibliography

Precedent Burham Pavilion: https://www.google.com.au/search?q=burnham+pavilion&biw=1440&bih=792&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj7msX_qZfNAhVmJ6YKHcfBBHgQsAQIMw#imgrc=TaiaUIK059yzkM%3A https://www.google.com.au/search?q=burnham+pavilion&biw=1440&bih=792&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj7msX_qZfNAhVmJ6YKHcfBBHgQsAQIMw#imgrc=QMqLbdGrTphVlM%3A

Digital fabrication: Architectural+material techniques/ Lisa lwamoto. New York: Priceton Architectural Press c2009

Architecture in the Digital Age - Design + Manufacturing / Branko Kolarevic, Spon Press, London c2003