Computer-aided Design
Assignment
- Learn modelling softwares
- Model a possible final project
Files
Gimp
In order to scale the size of a picture to make the file smaller I used Gimp to resize a picture of the philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. I resized the original picture (1240x1772 pixels) to two samller versions at (900x1286 pixels) and (600x857 pixels). I found that there was a proportional relationship between the size of the image and the file size of the image which makes this tool really powerful
Inkscape
I started using inkscape and learning how to trace a silhouette that I could use with the vinylcutter. I found three different pictures that I wanted to combine. My base picture was this donut:
I decided to put the famous Batman logo inside of the donut. In order to make it look good I deleted the surrounding edge of the logo.
Lastly I decided to add a silhouette of batman in the bottom of the donut.
In order to work with the pictures and for the vinylcutter to read them, I used the “trace bitmap” function In Inkscape, so that all the pictures would turn into vectors instead. Next week I will use it with the vinylcutter.
In order to learn more about Inkscape I decided to go ahead and make this game, as I saw to potentiel to making it into a press-fit construction which we have to make next week. Also I would have to get confident with the clone feature in Inkscape in order to make it work.
First I tried to make all of the parts that I needed and played a bit around with them.
The big problem with this model is that even though I used the clone feature to replicate alle the identical parts, I placed them all with the mouse. In order to better my mistake, I learned how to use the clone feature as a grid system where I could control the space between the individual parts.
The above model is not the final one since I need to know the thickness of the material I will be using and how much material the laser itself cuts away. It's something I will do next week when working with computer-controlled cutting.
3D software
Before doing Fab Academy I introduced myself to Blender as a 3D modelling software. I had also done a few tutorials on Fusion 360. So in order to learn something else, my instructor was so kind to give an introduction to Solidworks. I was trying to make a guitar by first drawing it and afterwards extruding the model, unfortunately I don't have a picture of it. From my experience with 3D softwares, I found that I liked Fusion 360 the most. It seems like it's the easiest to work with. I think Fusion 360 and Solidworks work in a similar way which is different from what Blender does. In Soldiworks and Fusion 360 I see myself starting by drawing in 2D on a plane and then extruding the parts needed afterwards to make it 3D. In Blender I start with a cube or some sort of simple shape which I then substract and extrude from. Both things has strenghts and weaknesses. Fusion 360 and Soldiworks is good for engineering stuff while Blender is all about details. This is illustraed by an anvil I made following this youtoube video.
The same shows whith this cup I made from another tutorial, (I'm aware the cup is far from perfect around the handle), which is not the sort of thing you see from Fusion 360 or Solidworks, which is why Blender is also used for animations.
Over the last few weeks I have made some sketches of how my final project might should look like. I decided to go with a cylinder shape which is the last one you see underneath. It was important to me to make something that did not look like the conventional box shaped safe you would think of.
The last thing I want to show is how the cylinder model looks in Fusion 360. I have made both a closed and an open version for when the storage space is pulled out. The model is made starting with two filled tubes which is then extrudet with circular sketches to make the wholes needed.
To see other the other times I have been doing 3D modelling, week 6, week 8, week 10 and week 15