Module 4 yuheng tao 732672

1

DIGITAL DESIGN + FABRICATION SM1, 2016 Sleeping Pod

Yuheng Tao732672

Tim Cameron Group 3

2

Sleeping Pod Final Outcome

5

1.0 Ideation 1.1 Object1.2 System Analysis1.3 Volume 1.4 Sketch design proposal

2.0 Design 2.1 Design development intro2.2 Digitization + Design proposal v.1 2.3 Digitization + Design proposal v.22.4 Precedent Research2.5 Prototype + Testing Effects

3.0 Fabrication 3.1 Fabrication intro3.2 Design development & Fabrication of prototype v2 3.3 Final Prototype development + optimisation3.4 Final Digital model3.5 Fabrication sequence3.6 Assembly Drawing3.7 Completed 2nd Skin

4.0 Reflection

5.0 Appendix5.1 Bibliography5.2 Credit

7

1.0 IDEATION

8

1.1 Obejct

Plan Section Elevation

65mm

20mm

The measurement of the object was mainly done by traditional way, with rulers. What were measured included diameter of the sphere, the width of each rattan strand, the width of each rattan string which form a rattan strand and the length of each side of the pentagon form by strands.

9

3D Model Making Process Final Rhino Model

A sphere was first created to guide how six ring-shape surface should be twining together. Then adjustment of each strand was made by Gumball function to make the sphere more smooth and

accurate to the original rattan ball.

10

1.2 System Analysis

20mm

2.5mm

10mm

The rattan ball consists of 6 rattan strands weaving together. These 6 stands go below and above each other and thus form a firm self-supporting structure. Each strand is around 20mm in width and combined by 8 smaller rattan strings which are about 2.5mm wide each.

The pentagon gaps formed by stands guide the directions of where each strand should go. Also, the joints of stands are triangular which provides stability to the structure.

To weave these rattan strands, they need to be first soaked to soften the material and thus make it bendable. When the material gets dry, it becomes fairly rigid which make the sphere structure more stable.

11

1.3 Volume

Weaving technique was implemented in the making of the reconfigured model. The model also shows the screening effect brought by weaving system.

12

1.4 Sketch Design Proposals

Selective screening

The concept of this design is to offer screen selec-tively. The selection is based on different sensi-tivity over the face. Eyes and ears are the main tools that human get information with. Therefore, in order to offer a good sleep experience, the information-gaining process is expected to be hindered at some extent. In the design, rattan is weaved in front of eyes and besides ears to gain screening effect.

Dynamism // 3 dimensional support

The idea of sectioning is applied in this design. 5 strands are placed in a zigzag form to provide dynamism and flexible support to head. The flexibility of the support can be indicated by the idea that there is sufficient support to the head wherever the head leans in the sleeping pod. To connect these 5 sections, weaving mechanism is used.

Seat attachment

This design is for one the most common sleeping scenarios in university. The sleeping pod can at-tach to the chair and stand on user’s shoulders. The surface of the pod is formed by weaving strands.

14

From scribble to prototype

15

2.0 DESIGN

Samantha GohTao WangYuheng Tao

16

2.1 Design Development Introduction

Although it seemed that our sketch design in Module 1 were fairly different, we have agreed that our final outcome would be an object that can be worn around human body with cushion effect. We also reach the agreement on the fact that head and neck are the parts that need the most support and care from the design.

In addition, our sketch designs comply weaving material system at a high level. Therefore, we decided to make our prototype with rattan. In Module 2, we experimented the material a lot, which impacts on our final prototype and subsequently final outcome greatly.

By Tao Wang

By Samantha Goh

17

2.2 Digitalisation & Design Proposal v.1

Elevation AxonometricPlan

At this point, we decided that weaving would be the pre-dominent technique to be used in the design becasue of the strong bendability and resilience of the material. Also, weav-ing pattern could be useful in terms of screening.

As we discussed, the focus of this proposal is to offer ad-equate support and protection to head and neck. Hence, in this design, rattan is weaved around head and neck. In addition, space around ears is also taken into consideration because they are the main tool of gaining information when people sleep.

18

2.3 Digitalisation & Design Proposal v.2


We tried to add some more openness to this design but still considered about screening, privacy and personal space. This proposal also provide a solution on how the sleeping pod can be worn around the body.

19

2.4 Precedent Research

By: Niyoko Ikuta

Photo credit: Pinterest

This sculpture helped us to add more complexity and depth to our design. This is a quite fluid and dynamic piece of art. It uses several layers to create dynamism. This inspired us to layering rattan surfaces, which cannot only help with the aesthetic aspect of the design, but also achieve the cushion effect in designers’ manner

20

2.5 Prototypes & Testing Effects

Weaving Mechanism

Bendability of the surface

Weaved Surface

21

2.5 Prototypes & Testing Effects

Here is testing one major segment of the sleeping pod. The weav-ing surface is fairly strong and rather flexible. It could be bended around user’s neck in order to create cushion effect. On the other hand, the weaving pattern could be used as a method of screen-ing hence create privacy and draw a clear boundary bewteen public and private space.

23

3.0 FABRICATION

Samantha GohTao WangYuheng Tao

24

3.1 Fabrication Introduction

At this stage of the project, we have finalised the outcome we wanted to achieve, that is a wearable piece with serveral layers around neck and stand-ing on shoulders. The design would offer cushion effect that would provide comfort for head and neck and by layering, screening effect can be achieved to respond the requirement of being personal space.

After receiving feedback from Module 2, we were suggested to show more control during weaving, rather than totally based on hand-making. To achieve this kind of control, the precision of digital fabrication is what we needed.

Another point we were concern about is how to deal with ends of weaving. After consulting with peer and doing sufficient research, we have come up with a solution.

Therefore, in Module 3, our focus was on how to integrate the precision of digi-tal fabrication with weaving which is a more traditional way of making.

25

3.2 Design development & Fabrication of prototype v2


Sketch

This is final design of the project, our later work would be based on this Rhino model. It indicates the application of layering. To fabricate this, four layers are needed. Thanks to the feedback we have been given, these layers needed to be fabricate in a method is under our control, meaning that it shows the shape we assign it to be.

26

3.3 Final Prototype Development & optimisation

In order to analyse rattan strands better, iso-curves were extracted from the Rhino model. Thus the basic structure shows in a more real-istic way with strings rather than surfaces.

27


To increase to rigidity of rattan strands, weaving was done ac-croding to technique described above. Thicker ones would be horizontal ones in the final outcome and have curvature. The thinner ones are vertical and mainly used for connecting thicker strings.

28


We have then come up with the idea that we could clasps fixed on the boards with holes to help guide how rattan strings should go which gave us the control on them.

29


After first test on the mould, we found out that there are issues with it. Firstly, the boxboard material is not strong enough, thus after sev-eral inserting and dragging out, the clasps and boards with holes would both be not reuseable. Also, there are two many holes on it which was confusing to be used as a mould - a tool as a guide. Lastly, it is not in an approriate scale as well. Thus, in the second version of the mould, we used MDF and set coordinate system on it.

30

3.4 Final Digital Model

ElevationAxonometricPlan

31

3.5 Fabrication Sequence

1. Soak cane in water 2. Weaving strings

3. Assemble mould 4. Put strings in mould

32

3.5 Fabrication Sequence

assembling the detachable clasp from the bottom up as we need to take into account the vertical strings

creating cushioning effect by making big loops

33

3.6 Assembly Drawing

34

3.6 Assembly Drawing

35

3.7 Completed Sleeping Pod

36

3.7 Completed Sleeping Pod

Three layers on the left provide neck with support

Two layers on the left would curve around head

Strings around body is like armour protecting security and privacy

Adjustable knot

39

4.0 REFLECTION

40

4.1 Module 1

The first work we were assigned to do in this subject was orthographic drawing. I have got no such experience before and I was worried about how it would turn out. I tried to do what I learnt from Miralles and Prats (1987), observed the object carefully first, it could be simplified as a circle with wavy stripes inside in two-di-mensional. This encouraged me to do more sketches from then, it made me start to simplify an object to outlines when I have to do sketching. Although the draw-ing was still not presented well eventually, the process of drawing still left some positive impact on me.

I also tried the similar strategy in Rhino model-making. However, due to unfamil-iarity to Rhino and lack of practice, the model did not show how the weaving system works.

Apart from orthographic drawing and rhino models, we were also asked to de-sign objects to reinforce personal space. According to Sommer (1969), personal space refers to the area with an invisible boundaries that others would not be expected to come into. To protect personal space, realising the invisible bound-aries would be the method creative professions might take and this idea of realis-ing boundaries has guided me and even my group in further design although we were not sure what final outcome we had to achieve.

Miralles and Prats (1987)

41

4.2 Module 2

In Module 2, we pushed our design from sketch to more refined ideas as a group. One of the most important thing I learnt from this stage is that the best way to examine whether ideas working on the design is to actually make it realised by hands. We spent a lot of time trying different weaving techniques and patterns, tried to establish a self-supporting material system. This stage is when we ‘play around’ with the material the most and gain the most knowledge from the weav-ing system and rattan material. Meanwhile, we also were also guided by Scheu-rer and Stehling (2011), to simplify the model and prototype to as little information as possible to describe what we want.

42

4.3 Module 3

Our final outcomes reflected many aspects that have been mentioned in the reading. Kolarevic (2003) talked about how spatial envelop was applied before the construction of structure. Although our design was not directly made by digital fabrication, the concept of spatial envelop still impacted our project enormously. The curved surface we have made in Rhino by iso-lating isocurves guided us establish the bone structure we want eventually. The section concept Iwamoto (2009) mentions was about using sections as a fabrication tool to create complex geometries. Modelling software al-lows designers to take several cross sections through the form and reform a surface by streamlining parallel sections. This idea inspired us a lot especially when we refine the loops that connecting layers.

Iwamoto (2009)

45

5.0 APPENDIX

46

5.1 Bibliography

Iwamoto, L 2009, Digital fabrications : architectural and material techniques, Architecture briefs, Princeton Architectural Press, New York.

Kolarevic, B 2003, Architecture in the digital age : design and manufacturing, Spon Press, New York, NY.

Miralles, E & Prats, E 1987, ‘Cómo acotar un croissant’, Croquis.

Scheurer, F & Stehling, H 2011, ‘Lost in Parameter Space?’, Architectural Design, vol. 81, no. 4, pp. 70-9.

Sommer, R 1969, ‘Personal space : the behavioral basis of design’, in A Spectrum book, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., pp. xi, 177 p.

47

5.2 Credit

I feel so grateful and lucky to work with my teammates. Thanks for constant patience, inspiration and support!

Module 4 yuheng tao 732672

Documents

Transcript of Module 4 yuheng tao 732672