Assignment 3 reflection

Assignment 3 reflection

Course Overview

BEIL 0014 provides the platform for me to learn physical and digital fabrication of materials. Arising new challenges in making and creating the objects and spaces  really improve my ability for digital making itself and communicating with teammates. This reflection critically reviews the strengths and weakness for tray and proposes related solutions to deal with possible problems or weakness in the processes.


Strengths:

Image 1 

Image 2

1 The edge of  tray perfectly fits the edge of the other one.

It is supposed to communicate with team member about the technique or methods used in the processes to fit the edge of 2 trays.




2 The surface of both trays are smooth and shiny.

Sanding and polishing make the surface to become more smooth.





 





Possible problems and solutions:


1 Taking out wood plank

Image 3

As it shown in the image 3, it is supposed to separate wood plank and aluminum at last. The  method
commonly used is using I shape screw key to prize up the tray. However, this approach may cause the abnormal shape of the edge. In addition, because there is almost no space between tray and wood plank, the barometric pressure will stick wood plank and tray together. In conclusion, both conditions make it becomes difficult to take out wood plank.

Thus, it is supposed to drill a little hole in the wood plank to connect inner environment with outside atmosphere and then drill a screw into the wood plank so that I can take the wood plank out by pulling drilled screw to keep the shape of the edge unchanged.


2 Overlapped edge

Image 5

Image 6

The edge of the tray can be overlapped because the aluminum will shrink after being hammered     
especially for the corner part as shown in the image 6. Actually I and my partner have made 2 overlapped tray.

we need to pay attention while hammering, cutting off extra aluminum while hammering and prize up
overlapped part to re-build edge can be solutions.


3 Irregular edge caused by hammering

Image 7

Image 8

When hammering the aluminum to build the shape as shown in image 7, the aluminum will expand and become to an irregular shape (image 8) which is not rectangular as before.

Thus, it is suggested to hammer the right side of the lateral rectangular not the left one to prevent the aluminum from expanding. Besides, we can cut off irregular part.

Image 9

Weakness:

1 The edge is not consistently even or straight

To handle this problem, it is suggested to use great strengths while hammering the tray. Because there needs to be no space between aluminum and wood plank so that the shape of tray can perfectly fit the shape of the wood plank. In addition, after taking out wood plank, it is better to rebuild the shape of tray by using another new smaller cuboid model. Furthermore, utilising a dolly could have enabled me to hammer my edges in a more considered way which would result in a cleaner finish.

Conclusion

In conclusion, by learning different methods how we turn a flat aluminum sheet into different rectangular shapes, I had greater understanding within the realm of landscape architecture in relation to my discipline. I really like the entire processes of making different projects. Provided by the specific guide from tutors, I improve my work by solving several new-coming challenges in my assignment. Besides, as an student who does not study industry design, I briefly get familiar with design industry and know the theory applied in it.

Assignment 2 Tank

Assignment 2 Tank

Main aim: to create the skin of the fuel tank which can perfectly fit the shape of the actual model.

There are 3 models which can be chosen as the model.

Below is the model we choose which is downloadable on blog, the total result of our mark equals to actual mark x 1.25.

1.25 ASSESSMENT MULTIPLICATION FACTOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

















(Custom tank for a CB550: Andrew Wallace)


Step 1:

Use Rhino/Grasshopper techniques to create a 3D model of the chosen fuel tank. It is available for us to directly download the documentation from blog as shown above.

Note: the model being opened initially can be seen as several lines, it is supposed to use grasshopper command to turn lines into reticulated body.


Step 2:

Use Autodesk slicer for fusion 360 to prepare fuel tank template for laser cutting.Specific waffle body can be seen as below in image 0 and 1.

Image 1

Image 0

Image 2

Image 3

Image 2 shows the specific setting and properties we selected for laser cutting.

Note: Some parts of the printed items are very fragile just like part Y-13 in image 3. In order to prevent breakage, we delete the assembling mark on this item to keep it unbroken.

In order to make sure the components of model can be assembled, it is supposed to make sure  every gap of the components is the same. And this should be modified and confirmed constantly to find the best result because big gap may make the model to be very loose (not stable) and small gap may make the model to be very tight(difficult to be assembled). We try several times by assembling 2 components with the same gap width. The width we use is 3 mm at last.

Step 3: Laser cutting.
 (equipment provided by the campus lab)
It takes long time for waiting.

 

Step 4 : Assembling model

Image 4

Image 5

For long components of this model, there are many gaps on it. This also means the friction between gaps may be added as well. Thus, it is really difficult to assemble 2 long components of this model.

Step 5 : As it can be seen in the image 4 and 5, there is no surface skin for fuel tank model, it is just a skeleton or frame. It is supposed to create the surface of the model by tape as below.

Step 6: Divide the entire surface of the model into 3 parts ( left part, right part, top part) as below:

 

Image 6

My individual part is the left part of the model as can be shown in image 6

Shape analysis

This is the lateral view of the left part.
It can be roughly divided into 3 parts:
1 Curve being bent towards inner space of the model at top

2 Curve which is almost straight at middle

3 Curve being bent towards inner space of the model at bottom

Step 6: Get the rough shape of aluminum ( Pattern making)

As it can be seen in image 7, we stick 3 A4 papers together with tape then make the shape of paper to be the shape of the left part of the model by scissor.

Image 7

Image 8

Image 8 shows how we cut the paper later. By this way the paper can fit the the first curve as  it is mentioned in shape analysis.

It is supposed to draw the shape of paper on the aluminum. Then cut away needless area of aluminum by tin scissor.

Note: Actually, the aluminum may stretch after being hammered, so it is supposed to cut away needless area in latter step as well.

Step 7: Build the Curve which is almost straight at middle

Note: This is supposed to be the step which is in front of building top and bottom curve because most of the area is middle curve and it keeps the entire shape stable.



It is suggested to bend the aluminum so that it fit the horizontal curve of the model. Then we need to put it on the metal ball as shown in image 9 and hit it will mallet to make middle curve.

Image 9

Image 10

 Image 10 shows it more specifically that how we build the middle curve..

Note: The middle curve may change its shape while hammering. Therefore, it is supposed to use timber model in step 4 to check the shape continually while doing this step.



Step 8:English whee




This is called English wheel in laboratory. It is used for smooth out the bumpy surface of the bowl. We need to choose one of the wheels on the top and assemble it on the equipment. Our aluminum strip should be placed and then moved or rubbed in between these 2 wheels.

Note: this is not done at last because English wheel can change middle curve easily.

Step 9: Build top and bottom curve

Image 11

 

Image 12

The metal horse shoe as shown in image 11 is used to make the edge of the torus. The red mallet in image 12 is used to hit the aluminum strip because the flat surface of the red mallet can make the edge perfectly fit the metal horse shoe. 

Note: that it is supposed to make the edge by mallet
 starting from the inner space of the torus to the outer side to make a regular shape.

Note: while doing this step, the middle curve may change its shape. Thus, it is supposed to do step 7 8 9 again and again to get the perfect shape.


Step 10: It is supposed to put left part on model then use mallet to hit it to get final shape.

Note: Do not hammer hard because our model is very fragile and easy to be broken

Step 11: Sanding and polishing





Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!