16. Wildcard week¶
Assignment¶
● Design and produce something with a digital fabrication process (incorporating computer-aided design and manufacturing) not covered in another assignment, documenting the requirements that your assignment meets, and including everything necessary to reproduce it. Possibilities include (but are not limited to) composites, textiles, biotechnology, robotics, folding, and cooking.
This week, I really want to try the machines, that I never used before. The original plan is to cut something using Aliko Waterjet, and the second plan to use the Digital embroidery. However, after I completed the pattern, I realized the output pattern was too complicated to be produced with the two previous mentioned machines. So I created a pattern using vector graphics software and then I cut with laser cutter and gave a translucid effect using the sandblaster.
Design a pattern¶
● Step1. find the my Wacom tablet that I have not used in a long time. I draw the outline of the pattern for laser cutting to cut the outline, also the internal lines of pattern for the mask using Adobe Illustrator.
● Step2. Drawing, and set up the line is 0.25. Actually, it does not matter, because I can adjust it freely. How to adjust the line, can check the previous weekly assignments. The outline has been drawn, which used to cut the outline of the design by a laser cutter, and I save it as PDF file, that can be download in the bottom link.
How to change the thickness of outline, is to enter the number here.
● Step3. Drawing, and keep on to be patient.
● Step4. Done, and set up it to be different color to make the line clearer (the aim to change the color, is for documentation. When the instructor evaluate my assignment, it is easily to see the outline. It is unnecessary. ) The internal line used for vinyl cutter to make a mask, and I save it as svg file, that can be download in the bottom link.
Expected result¶
For now, I decided to use the Aliko Waterjet cutter machine to produce it, but because of the virus, our Fab Lab closed. Then, I did the render in fusion 360, and the final results is expected like the image as following.(20, Apr)
First, I saved the 2D pattern as svg, and open it in Fusion360 by import the svg file.
Second, I extruded it.
Third, I click render, to see the results.
Produce¶
For now, I am not sure, which material will be used and which machine that I want to use. I just design the pattern to prepare for the wildcard week. Also, it took me the whole weekend, which lead to I do not want to draw anything recently. (20, Apr)
After asking our instructor, and referring to the assignments last year, I realized the pattern too complicated to produce using Aliko Waterjet, then I decided using laser cutter to cut the outline, and using vinyl cutter to make a mask, then sandblasting it. (15, May)
Laser cutter¶
I used a laser cutter to cut the outline using acrylic material. The details of process in the 3 weekly assignment.
Vinyl cutting¶
I used a mask on a vinyl cutter, put it on a surface. The details of process in the 3 weekly assignment.
I forgot to take a picture here, just a picture after sandblast.
Sandblast mask¶
The Sand-Blasting cabinet in our Fablab is an SBC 420 with attached vacuum system. The manual can be found here
● Step1. Turn on the switch on the both sides of the cabin, open the door, place the item inside the machine.
● Step2. Turn on the ventilation switch on the right side of the cabin.
● Step3. Make sure that the sand flow is not pointed on the window or the gloves and turn on the button and the switch.
● Step4. There is a pedal under the machine. By pressing it you can add more pressure for deeper engraving. I hold the gun as far from the surface as I can. Also the angle, I spray at a vertical angle. (Although my pattern looks good, I know, this is wrong. The angle should be in an angle between 40 or 60 degrees. Otherwise, the material will bounce back and slows down the blasting process, and deteriorating the pistol. The ideal distance is around 15cm.) The vinyl mask can come off if you put the gun too close or the flow will be too strong.
After cleaning, and tore out the unnecessary line.
Reflection¶
In this week, I did not faced the problems. Only one thing, it is wrong to spray at a vertical angle, after Ivan’s feedback. The angle should be in an angle between 40 or 60 degrees. Otherwise, the material will bounce back and slows down the blasting process, and deteriorating the pistol. The ideal distance is around 15cm.
Also, I forgot to take pictures in this process, cos I booked 2 hours for this, the time is not enough. I was busy to cut the outline, the Vinyl cutting. Next time, I will always remind myself.
