Ring Samples

I went into the summer with some Rhino goals in mind, and I've been slowly working through a few of them with a series of ring samples. One of the goals was to increase my "organic" design skills, so I started with exploring curve networks. Coupling these curve networks with some solid primitive forms got me some simple but effective sample ring designs I was able to upload to Shapeways and get printed in a variety of materials. I think these samples will also be helpful to my students in ART277. I got various ring sizes printed to check the tolerances of printing, attempted to incorporate a "tension" held rutilated quartz stone and pushed scale limits. I've gotten about half of the rings from Shapeways, see below. TBC.

On the right in Pink - a stock band I created with curve network, attached to all ring samples. Left - Rutilated capture ring. 

Process capture of creating designs from solids.

With this ring, I tried to go as tight as possible to the minimum limit of material thickness for the top design. I'm calling it the "bite ring." I learned a lot trying to create the curve network for the top.  

The aluminum plastic on the left is hilarious to me because the design I created is meant to reference hammer texture. Oh, metalsmith humor. 

iAm packaging

Through this series of renderings, I am starting to consider the iAm project as a mindful, seemingly technological, product for mass consumption. These are my initial sketches for an internal packing method. I imagine expanding on this to include an insert about how to assemble the object, how to use the object, etc. All of this encased in a larger die formed or vacuum-formed container branded for sale.


















DFD & Frank Stella's Retrospective

On the way back from Spain I had a connecting flight in New York, so I decided to stay for a night and check out the Whitney Museum since I hadn't been before. After viewing the collection I made my way into the Frank Stella Retrospective, and oh baby did I fall in love with his work. I had seen many of his paintings before in books, but had never seen his sculptural "paintings." I am so glad I got the audio guide -- Stella was influenced by architectural structures and tools, something I can definitely relate too. Here are a few of my favorite pieces --- and I am especially thrilled about the most recent body of work of gray-scale sculptures created using digital fabrication processes!!!




La penna di hu, 1987-2009
Mixed media on etched magnesium, aluminum and fiberglass
La penna di hu, 1987-2009
Mixed media on etched magnesium, aluminum and fiberglass -- Side View



K.459, 2012
Tusk SolidGrey 3000, plexiglass, and steel pipe

K.459, 2012
Tusk SolidGrey 3000, plexiglass, and steel pipe

K.459, 2012
Tusk SolidGrey 3000, plexiglass, and steel pipe

K.459, 2012
Tusk SolidGrey 3000, plexiglass, and steel pipe


Circus of Pure Feeling for Malevich, 4 Square Circus, 16 Parts,2009
Stainless steel tubing, wire, Protogen RPT

Circus of Pure Feeling for Malevich, 4 Square Circus, 16 Parts,2009
Stainless steel tubing, wire, Protogen RPT


And of course, some 3D printed Stella ornaments in the gift shop -- Stella knows what's up.

Making a 3D Printer - Control Box

I made a box out of MDF to house the electronics for my 3D Printer. I started with some rough sketches, cut the 1/2" MDF on the table saw and then the 1/4" on the laser cutter. Here's what I've got so far: 





 It took a lot of trouble shooting to get the alignment just right. 




Both of the sides slide out for easy access to the electronics. 
Eventually I will paint the box after drilling a few holes in the top for the cords to go through. 

iAm - samples - installed

I've been working on sketching a new idea... Thinking about how to make arrangements to increase body awareness in the viewer. I am working with proximity, sensory deprivation, and the possibility of being near other people, to increase awareness in how we interact with objects and other people in our everyday life. The samples were designed in rhino, 3d printed, some were spray painted to mimic a final finish, mounted on the wall, and each given a pair of ear plugs.  






Compact Progress - Hinge Wires

So, I did it... I cut through the hinge. It doesn't look too bad! I'd like to think I knew this would work all along, but... Well you know I didn't mean to save this for the end.

Once I finish cleaning up the tubes, I think I'll solder together the magnet holders and start getting those inset into the opening and file out a little fingernail grip.

All is good.




I marked with a sharpie the part that is "unseen" when you move the compact hinge, in hopes to conceal the hole for the cords. 

I used a ball bur to "center punch" where I'd be drilling. 









The hole shows just slightly... not sure if I should square this out, or leave it rounded... thinking on it for a bit. 


Interactive and Multimedia Art - Exploration: Bang Bot

For our first small exercise in IMA, we were asked to create a "Bang Bot;" write a software program in max that can be initiated with a "bang," or push of a button, using a selection of additional MAX objects that have been introduced so far... Here are a couple screen shots and short videos (please don't waste your time watching them all the way - unless you're reeeeeaaaalllllyyy into it, some of the color combinations are really great) that show my process from start to finish....

All of the objects controlling one circle, this is eventually duplicated and the metros are varied for the 7 different circles that present in the final video animation/software... 

I eventually figured out that you can leave your patcher overlapped, but then rearrange the objects how you want them presented in Presentation mode.... Kind of like having patcher be the code behind the interface or presentation of your code/software. SO the sliders here are all overlapping but then in the Presentation they are all over the place... see video exploration 2 for clarity. 


A bang to initiate all of the bangs through a load message object. 




AND the final product... I could have kept on going and going with this... But you know...


Compact Progress - Plaster Molds

Yesterday, I designed and 3D printed a couple test molds for my compact mirror insulation. I poured one set of the straight side mold to see how it works... I also designed a tapered side mold to see if the plaster comes out any easier. I anticipate having to break the molds to get the plaster out, but anything to make it slightly easier would help.







Compact Progress - Neoprene Update

So my neoprene samples finally dried fully in the 3D printed mold... and they look like deflated cheesecakes! I will clean up one to fit in the battery insulator to test it's function... I'm also going to design a 3D printed mold for pouring plaster, and then pouring neoprene into the plaster.




Compact Progress - Cradle Hinge is on but....

WOW. I got a lot accomplished on this thing last week and never posted about it... But that could also be because this is one of those moments where you make something and it's just how you want it, and you're super happy - but then you realize you lost sight of your intentions... WHOOPS! I forgot the holes for the cord :(. I might be able to improvise something though...  Still thinking on how I will solve this problem without ruining my aesthetic.... TBC!

Before the hinge....



Yes, I did file out the entire hole for the cradle.... I am that insane.




A little book help never hurt.








I am using a couple magnets for the closing/clasping mechanism.

Seams got a little messy, but I got it in one shot!






I soldered the hinge tubes on almost perfectly, with what I'm calling the "Tim Method" - marking position with a file, rather than soldering with the tubes and no-flo. 


Stops pretty nicely... I will eventually cut down the tubes so that they flow more with the contour of the compact... and also figure out what to do with those wires... HA! Like I always say (?) /// (In making, well everything you do for that matter) There's never too many problems - you should always make some more for yourself... I guess I say that now ;)

Compact Progress - Internal Hardware Holder

For my compact, I am using (2x) 24 count LED Neopixel Ring from Adafruit, a Gemma microcontroler, and a LiPo Battery.

I took measurements off of each of these items and designed an internal hardware holder for inside both sides of the compact. The bottom has a more complicated holder because it is in charge of the battery and the microcontroller, while the top is simply holding one ring.
TOP of BOTTOM - neopixels & gemma

BOTTOM of BOTTOM - lipo & gemma
TOP - neopixels

e-NABLE Fellowship - Karuna's Trumpet Holder - Palm v3

I spent most of today designing version 3 of the palm attachment. Frankie and I had talked about the potential to eliminate the Velcro on the palm attachment by making a cap for the back - like a socket. The challenge now is figuring out the best way to print this object on a Makerbot... (This leads me to think another iteration is necessary - version 4 will have two parts that interlock.) I am test printing two of these hand pieces currently - one printing on it's "head" and another printing on it's "back." ...Wish me luck!  
I created this top part the exact same way as the bottom - curve network & extruded surface & offset surface solids.



I borrowed wrist curve from gauntlet to create profile.




This profile reminds me of Darth Vader - HA! 


printing on it's head - with supports - probably will fail, but why not try? 

e-NABLE Fellowship - Karuna's Trumpet Holder - Gauntlet V3

I am continuing to use the same techniques for building the surface detailing on the gauntlet as I had in v2, but I'm working towards integrating the functional parts with the aesthetic parts more fluidly. By offsetting surfaces that eventually are boolean differenced from the surface, I am able to add filets in areas that otherwise would be complicated to filet on the actual model. I have noticed in the print that these areas transition a lot nicer in v3 than in v2. 



There are still a few things I'd like to adjust in the form of the gauntlet (both functional and aesthetic), but overall I think these parts are relatively successful considering.

I am also very happy with the process I've found for creating varied surface heights - I am looking forward to spending some time outside of the fellowship developing more complex surfaces for wall relief patterns that can be CNC milled.

e-NABLE Fellowship - Karuna's Trumpet Holder - Hand

I've started working on the hand part of the trumpet holder for Karuna. This hand will be connected to the red dovetail section (that slides into the main body) by two recessed Chicago binding posts. I've downloaded the models for these screws from McMaster-Carr, to use in the design. I've also started to pull curves off of my existing pieces, so that I can start to recycle those design elements into the hand and gauntlet. I've also really quickly traced images of Karuna's hand to make sure that what I'm designing is the right size for his hand. His hand doesn't need to fit perfectly because there will be padding in the hand, but a general reference is nice.