Assignment 6: So very late, so very sorry

I was looking for shelves at the time the assignment came up; I was looking specifically for shelves that fit under college bunk beds. Something so specific I thought I could craft myself. I made two version of the self, (because I knew one would probably not work). The second model fit better, the slot for the bunkbed's latter was bigger and was a able to tilt some to effective add more support to the shelf-- fit like a glove. Because I had extra wood I made picture frames :)

Assignment 5:Daniel Gomez-Latorre (sorry I slept through my alarm)

The hoop house project helped me realize the difficulties of working with a group. It was a real struggle getting a design that everyone was happy with, but it was in those stressful moments that everyones ideas harmonized and we were able to come up with a design. Once the design was set, group work became great because everything knew what their skill sets could provide for having a successful project. I know I played a very hands on part with the project, bending all the steel with rachel and being there for the welding of our most important piece, basically our crown. It was certainly a roller coaster ride, but I enjoyed it extremely, and can gladly say, that I, and our entire group was more than happy with what we had for the people of Healcrest.

Assignment 5 (emailed but posted now..)

Starting with seemingly unrelated study models, combining our ambitions into a single hoop house was an amazing experience. I learned a lot from my group members, from generating ideas, communicating them, and to building a physical structure. In the process and afterwards, I thought about "form following function" and "function following form," solving various problems (both in design process and construction) with a single triangular bubble module. 

Assignment 5 (it was emailed but now its posted)

The hoop house assignment taught me what it was like to work with other architects. In this profession you are almost always be working with someone else if not for someone else. People process design differently. Some people are structural some are aesthetic and some just want to build huge crazy grasshopper rhino models that can’t coexist with-in our laws of physics. You have to always stay calm and work around everyone’s hectic schedules. The most important thing I learned was how to communicate properly. 9 out of 10 times fights happened because someone didn’t understand what the other was trying to say. DRAWINGS make the biggest difference. You can explain it in words but when you finally go out and make it, there is probably going to be someone in your group that points out your project and says they don’t like it or that that wasn’t what they envisioned. Not everyone processing things in the same way you do, so you might have to explain the same thing in a few different ways before people begin to understand you. 

Assignment 1 (it was emailed and is now posted)

This project really taught me how to use a caliper correctly as well as how to feel more confident when laser cutting. You have to jump online quick and get a laser cutter time sooner rather than later and (if you can) make an “extra appointment” in case something goes wrong or people from the group before you run into your time slot. It also helps to prepare your file and have at least 5 extra sizes of bolts just in case one doesn’t fit. PRACTICE cutting ALWAYS!!! Its super important and helped a lot because 90 percent of the time the 1^st try wont be friction fit. I think if I did it again I would have tried other methods of assembly, (AKA pancake style) or friction fit with circles and cylinders. Overall this project helped me grasp and realize the main problems one will always have when dealing with a  laser cutter.

Assignment 6

Studio desks tend to get messy really quick and eat food on it becomes more difficult. I added value to my studio desk by creating an elevated platform that is only designated for placing food. That way your food won't get dirty from dusts the scraps that were left behind from model making.

Ana Mernik - Attempt #2

ASSIGNMENT 6: MENTAL ARMOR

At the onset of this assignment, I wanted to focus on the requirements (creating layers, using technology, and creating a valuable product) as well as my own wishes (to create something simple but cool).

I initially started with three ideas that would make my life easier. They included: a phone holder that would attach to the side of the bed, as opposed to keeping the phone under a pillow and sleeping through alarms; a hanger for multiple articles of clothing, not just one that takes up a lot of space in the closet but doesn't make use of the closet's height; and a new addition to doors that would allow one to have the key hole at arm's height but have the knob that opens the lock at foot's level for easier access if one's carrying too much in his hands.

 

I then focused on the first two ideas, and decided to pursue the second (the hanger) because of the mess in my room, and a real need for organization.

   

Next, I dove into the details of the hanger. I focused on different parts - the hook the curved sides, the bars, and the end condition - and began exploring what would fit me best. I decided to go with a thick rectangular hook thatwouldn't slide or swing along the metal bar in the closet. The hook is also attached to the hanger without the extra neck to provide greater stability and secure the grip. I made the sides thick for stability and the individual bars thin to allow layering of clothes over the same bars. The overall rectangular shape holds a grid that makes organizationpossible in a cluster of clothes. It also allows for greater flexibility in use. And the layout of individual shapes and sizes add visual interest and balance, while corresponding to the general function of some pieces (jackets, T-shirts, or pants, for example) based on the amount of space they take up. For an increased simplicity and because of my own laziness, all the clothes are meant to simply be folded over once or twice, then hung over the bars.

 

A couple of reiterations gave me a result I was happy with. Next was modeling the hanger in Rhino and then heading to dFab to CNC.

 

 

 

After spray painting the hanger to look like the rest of the hangers in my closet, the project was put to the test.

    

The hanger holds more than ten layers of clothes, makes efficient use of all the vertical space in the closet, is visually interesting, and creates more organization in my closet as well as my floor. By changing the size, shape, and use of the regular one-piece hanger, the product now has more value.

Assignment 2 - Egg Racer

My egg racer proposal consists of a holder that is connected to a box like structure using rubber bands. The holder is 3D- printed and uses roughly 2.7 square inch of plastic. It's formed using the size and shape of a standard egg and has latches on the sides for the rubber band to hook onto. The box has two laser-cutted surfaces that have latches on the side as well that connects with the rubber bands. It also have four quarter-inch diametered slots. Lastly a plastic sheet that is bent and lodged to break the impact, and upon it, the rubber band acts as a seat-belt type of system. My process through this started with the idea to lock the egg in place, and then somehow break the impact using multiple systems. The requirement of no using glue really made me think a lot about connection, and through this process, I learned material constraints even with 3-D printing, as the structure is rather weak. Also using multiple fabrication devices such as laser-cutting, wood-shop, and 3-D printing together, each solving different problems.

Chang Liu--Sorry this is late

Scarf hanger

When I was considering something can make my life easier, I thought about the experience when I went to Ikea. They were selling "scarf hangers". So why not make one myself? Or so in my design, I add some "rectangles" for hanging clothes.

Assignment 6 - Kris Li *sorry it's late

For the mental armor project, I started my design process by thinking about not only building something with a creative twist, but also making sure that I will get to use the final product. I examined the daily objects in my room and asked myself what needs to be enhanced. I decided to incorporate abstract geometric shapes into a shoe rack. The panels on either side of the rack are secured by eight poles running the whole length.
During the process of CNCing I've learnt how important it is to use the right type of tools. After the CNC machine cut out the complicated side panels, I make the poles in woodshop because such shape would not stay still on the bed during cutting.