Ivy Skross: FlatFab

Concept:

For my Flatfab organic structure, I used seaweed and coral as my inspiration. In order to make my organism look like it was flowing underwater, I took a more freeform approach to drawing the tendrils. I wanted this piece to look like it could be a backdrop in a theatre performance of some kind.

Techniques:

I made the model in Flatfab. I drew each layer and then connected them by creating more branches of the sea plant. I tried to make the branches free-flowing and in many different directions in order to give it the appearance of being underwater. The organic shapes and asymmetry also give it the appearance of being a living organism. In rhino, I created a spotlight to add lighting and then rendered it.

Materials:

In Rhino, I used multiple colors of shiny plastic to give it the appearance I wanted. I used a variety of different green and bluish shades for the color scheme. If this were to be brought into the real world, I would love to see it made out of powder-coated metal sheets.

Delaney Conroy: FlatFab Render

Concept: I based my design on a conch shell in order to look at the negative space both in the structure of the design, as well as the opening of the shell.

Process: I played off of the organic and curvy shape of conch shells in this piece. I used a single rod in the center to shape on in order to match the axes. I removed this base and then went in with spine-like ribs to give more structure and form to the shell. It was interesting to match the curves of the shell, giving it a very natural feeling.

Materials: I rendered this piece in a semi-reflective, slightly translucent plastic that was tinted blue, giving it a deep sea feeling.

Delaney Conroy: FlatFab Model

Concept: I was interested in exploring the use of negative space in this medium, which lead to my model of a conch shell-like structure.

Process: I used a single rod to center the shape on and match major axes. After removing this, I added the spine like ribs. Shaping the curves to match from different views was challenging, but interesting, especially considering the opening of the shell.

Materials: I could see this model being made from a clear or tinted acrylic, as the light passing through it would give a life and glow to this shell.

Flatfab Model - Jacob Sears

Flatfab Model

Concept:

My inspiration for this design was that as a kid i always loved those balsa wood dinosaur skeletons they would have at museum gift shops, so i wanted to make something that sort of held that same theme. To make it more interesting than just a dinosaur skeleton i thought it'd be cool to make something more along the lines of an eastern style dragon, which in my opinion are SIGNIFICANTLY cooler than western dragons.

Process:

I started making the model by first drawing the body so i could have a base to build everything else off of after which i made the more straightforward pieces like the head and tail. For the legs i just branched off of the body making several segments that would turn different ways to make the legs look more dynamic and then mirrored it across to create the matching leg. For the ribs/ spines i made the initial spine and used the revolve operation to create a bunch of them across the body while matching the angle the body was going.

Materials:

Rather than making this out of balsa wood or cardboard like what i knew as a kid, i think it would incredible to make this out of a clear deep red acrylic so that it would look almost like stained glass and the red matching the symbolism of eastern dragons as good luck.

(unfortunately i wasn't able to figure out how to assemble all of the pieces in rhino, get everything to line up correctly and render it in time to turn it in)

Twinkle Shah Week 11 FlatFab Laser Cutting

Concept

I knew I wanted to create a modern architectonic structure. I wanted to use different shapes and make something that could be used as a building. However, I think that although it is building-esque, it wouldn't quite be practical as an actual building. I could see it more as an installation piece of artwork on display in a modern hotel, office building, or museum.

Ghosted Image Painted Black in Rhino

Layer Assignments in Rhino

Techniques

I started by laying horizontal and vertical structures from the bottom and working my way up thinking about how to make the structure taller. I used squares, circles, and some more organic shapes too. One mistake I made that I realized after assembling it was that I made the slots too close to the edges for some of the organic shapes. This caused it to be a bit fragile and it actually did break in my car, but I was able to improvise and use some tape to fix it. In the future, I will make sure to leave more than enough room for the slots to fit together sturdily.

Materials

In Keyshot, I assigned a translucent yellow glass to the horizontal components, and a solid blue glass to the vertical organic components. I made the vertical circles a clear glass. I placed the piece in an office building hanging from the ceiling with invisible fishing line. I think the way the light from the window passing through the clear circles, and through the yellow glass, but not through the blue glass, gives a cool effect and shows strong contrast in materials that work together well.

Hanging Installation Piece in Keyshot

Zoomed View of Piece in Keyshot

Here are some photos of the piece assembled out of the E-Flute Cardboard:

Jack Purcell: Project 3 - Laser Cutting

FlatFab

Concept: I wanted to create something organic using FlatFab. I also wanted to create a sculpture with a somewhat solid 3D form. The main reason I wanted to create a chicken is that it would be recognizable and that I have a friend who loves chickens, it's pretty much a custom between us that whenever we exchange gifts I get them something chicken related, so I've seen many different kinds of chickens represented in many different types of mediums, so I wanted to create my own.

 

 Process:  I used FlatFab to create this project. I'll admit I wasn't as used to its vector tools as I was to Illustrators tools, but I managed to create something I was happy with. Most of this project was post processing of the file. First I exported the FlatFab cutting paths as a SVG file and imported it into Illustrator. Second I exported that to a DXF that could be imported by Rhino where I fixed some of the errors created by FlatFab. I submitted the 3DM file to be laser cut but something was wrong with the line width and my file was sent back. Finally I fixed the file in Illustrator as it was the program I was more comfortable with, and sent it back and picked up the cardboard once it was cut. I did have problems where FlatFab didn't generate some of the connections properly and I had to cut and glue some pieces together to create the final model together.

Materials: While the material we used for this project was cardboard I feel that this sculpture would best be visualized in a transparent material like glass or acrylic, because I feel like the viewer could see all aspects of the sculpture at once and appreciate the form.

 

Ryland Smith Week 11 FlatFab

Concept: The medium flat fab presents, has a lightness to it in its planar segmented forms in 3-d space. In order to harmonize with the material, I sought to create a form that had a lightness to it, thus the form I sought had a flight in mind. I would create the form of a snake that could fly. By shaping the pieces to appear to flow organically and directionally, the form appears to have movement as if it might be in flight although standing still. The thinness of the body would allow it to appear airy pronouncing the lightness of the form.

FlatFab 

Process: Using FlatFab I created the body from using the pen tool. I created 2 perpendicular cross sections at the head. Then I made the head forms, top and bottom with the pen tool, and positioned them parallel to the body and on the cross sections. I then angled the headpieces inward. Following I created the wings top down by creating one side and reflecting it. Perpendicular to the wings I created pieces that would span them and then used a blend function across them.

Flat Pattern

Rhino Layered

Rhino Ghosted Black

Materials: In Key shot, I used Hard Shiny Plastic red for the head, I used Hard Shiny Plastic Black for the body and I used Hard Rough Plastic White for the wings. I chose these colors as the red reflects energy, power, and is ultimately eye-catching, like a phoenix, and like a cardinal. The body is black and sleek to complement the vibrant red and provide the body as well as the lithe nature of a snake. The wings have a bit of roughness to give them body but are white to reflect lightness and provide contrast to the black body. The Lazer cut prototype was in e-flute cardboard a light material good for rapid prototyping at a low cost.

Key Shot

Key Shot 2

E-flute cardboard model