fab.Assignments

Assignment 1:  Physical Digits

Due: 9.4

Using the methods introduced in the first Rhino Checkpoint, you will design and laser cut two acrylic 'bloxes' to be threaded one-into-the-other using one bolt, and one nut.  The blocks can be geometric primitives or complex solids but they must achieve several design solutions:

1. The bolt and the nut cannot be visible when the two blocks are threaded together.
2. The blocks must be 'closed' solids.  All the edges must meet cleanly and each facet of the outside must be one cut piece.
3. You may use adhesives to hold pieces of the block together, but the bolt and nut must be 'friction fit', held in place by perfectly cut acrylic.  They cannot slip into the inside of the block.
4. The two parts must be able to thread together and apart repeatedly.

Limited acrylic will be provide so test carefully.  You will need dial calipers to complete this assignment**

Deliverables:

• design sketches of overall parts and details
• process photos (phone cameras are fine for this one) and screen shots (do not render these models a.k.a. welcome to the real world)
• Assembled objects complete on 9.4.

Digital Keywords and Concepts:

• Units/Grid
• Entering values
• Dimension menu
• Measured Translation
• Offset curves
• Unroll Surface
• Isocurves off (object properties)
• Curve from object
• Select Duplicates

Physical Keywords and Concepts

• tabbing and joints
• perforation
• eliminate stresses
• tolerance (definition 5)

Reference File:  Rhino

**You may not have calipers yet.  Do not spend more than $50 for them no matter how fast you can get them.  If you're nice, I will loan mine to the class, and Zach Ali keeps a set in dFab.


Assignment 2:

...and then what happened?

Due (race scheduled for) 9.25

Using the methods we've covered in Rhino tutorials and our discussion on materials and geometry, you will design and assemble a zip-line racer for a common RAW chicken egg.  This zip-line ends at a solid wall.  Your job is to get the egg down the line as fast as possible, and survive the inevitable crash at the end.

Winners will be determined by whether the egg survives intact.  Surviving eggs will be ranked by speed X weight.  That is, if your speed in seconds multiplied by weight in ounces is lower than another survivor, you win.

The criteria for construction are strict.  Anyone deviating from these are automatically disqualified.

1. Parts of the racer may be laser cut and/or 3D printed.  Remember, 3D printing is time consuming but can make very efficient, highly functional parts.  You may not 3D print or laser cut the entire racer.  You MUST 3D print at least one part of the racer.
2. Absolutely, positively, unequivocally NO GLUE!  Make parts that fit together and you won't need it.  Make parts that are forced together (or intentionally break...) when they impact the wall.
3. You may include an existing piece of hardware as the slide.  This is the part that hooks onto the cable or allows the cable to pass through.  Think about friction (a mechanical property) and how car brakes intentionally create friction.
4. You may not encase your racer in a soft material such as cotton balls, foam or styrofoam, or air bags.  Dissipating the energy of impact must be a function of rigid materials and geometry.
5. You may use other materials to create the egg-saving super fast racers.

Please review dFab policies and procedures for 3D printing.  If you are going to print parts you should communicate with fellow classmates so multiple racer's parts can be situated into one build.  This will decrease congestion significantly!

Remember, weight counts.

Deliverables:

• design sketches of overall parts and details (not optional)
• process and final photos (phone cameras are fine for this one) Final photos must include before and after your race.
• Assembly diagram.  I want to be able to assemble your racer from parts.
• Assembled objects complete and ready to race 9.25.  There is no consolation race for late entries.

Slide Hardware
Minimum Size

PS...If it looks cool, it is.

Assignment 3:Self-guided RhinoCam tutorials

Due 9/23

Using the PDF guides under the tutorials tab of this site, create CAD (geometry) and CAM (tool paths) for a Rhino file.  Save them.  We will review files individually to assess you understanding.

For this assignment your "stock" should be 3/4" thick plywood.

You should create tools for your drilling operation and your profiling operation rather than selecting them from a 'tool library'.

They should have these specifications:

Drill:

• overall length: 4"
• shank and flute diameter: .25"
• flute length: 1"

End Mill (EM, Flat Square corners at the bottom)

• overall length: 4"
• shank and flute diameter: .375"
• flute length: 2"

Assignment 4: Reading 1

due Friday Oct. 4 at 10am.

On the reading tab, you'll find a link to Reading 1 and Reading 2, both on the same principal topic.  You will read these and apply this principal to your thinking about the studio project.

Post to the website, 5 ideas about how this principal might apply to your workflow and/or the design/fabrication of any of it's parts or the whole.  The ideas should be bulleted, and 25-50 words each.

Each group should post under the topic Assignment 4: Design Thinking: (and the key word).  You will know the key word.  Include your names in the title.

This posting precludes a discussion between group members on applications of the principal subject.


Assignment 5: Reflection

Due 11/1 1:30 pm

In 50 words or so, you are to write the most shocking, insightful lessons you took away from the fabrication and construction of your hoop house projects.  Please do this as individuals, as your memory of describing process and material problems to group members may be your greatest insight.

This is meant to be constructive and informative for yourself and others.  Watch for commonalities.  It is also meant to stress the importance of assessing what you've learned, so you can apply it in the future.  So be honest.

Assignment 6: mental Armor

Due 11/24 9pm.

The Pantheon, just past the coffee shop and the gift store...

You have learned that architecture is many-layered.  Between the inside and outside, layers.  Between mechanical and the occupied, layers.  Between frenetic and meditative, again, layers.  When something of great value exists, layers cannot hide it, whether visible or not.

The streets of Pittsburgh.

Sometimes technology allows the creation of great value and old ways of doing things get covered over.  But sometimes "value" is over-simplified to mean the affordances technology allows at the expense of things we shouldn't accept.

Really? Only a grand?

When technology can be layered over existing structures and create durable, meaningful value, one that does not sacrifice the human element, it has the potential for great impact.  It can make the ordinary, extraordinary.

For assignment 6, you will change something from ordinary to extraordinary.  This doesn't have to impact the whole world, but maybe it will.  It can change the way your body works.  Change your ability.  Change your apartment building.  Change your car.  Change your desk.  Change a space.  Create more value in it.  Even if only for yourself.

Parameters:

• Use the CNC Router ( you should have access now)
• Use at least 24" x 48" of 1/4" or thicker plywood
• Document and post your work to the website with a description of the change you have created and why it is valuable.

You may:

• Include any exterior hardware but it must be fully integrated into the design
• Paint or otherwise finish the material to match what it changes
• Include other materials for reasons of performance, such as flexibility, light transmission or increased grip.
• Include processes with the CNC router we have not seen, together.

This is hard.  It requires you to imagine the lifecycle of your idea.  And to do something wonderful about it.