My first proposal for a potential semester project was a sculpture or figure with special abilities—a humorous eBuddha giving wise affirmations and reminding of one’s goals. The technical and technological idea was very ambitious. A second outline describes a more abstracted figure and got a more practicable technological concept. Due to lack of time and its complexity, it would be difficult to realize the revised concept as well and I decided not to do it. A third version got a reduced and different technological core which in turn would totally change the original idea. The eBuddha would become a toy. So, I discarded my proposal of a potential semester project making an eBuddha.
Creating an (Almost Only) Digitally Fabricated Artwork
What will it do?
Exploring aesthetics, new possibilities and unique features of digital fabrication, I want to create an artwork almost only based on digital fabrication. The work would use different processes, materials, components, input and output devices.
Who's done what beforehand?
Certainly, there’re contemporary artists using digital fabrication to create artworks. Computer-controlled cutting and machining, digital 2D design, 3D modelling and 3D printing, electronics and multimedia are manufacturing techniques at least partly used to create an artwork. Some few examples:
Karl Heinz Jeron creates small robots being able to sing, dance, fly and quote Joseph Beuys.
Arnold von Wedemeyer uses computer-controlled photography to create time lapse shots.
Thomas Eller uses computer-controlled cutting to create his photography-based installations and sculptures.
Karin Sander creates installations based on 3D scans and prints.
Olafur Eliasson employs approx. 70 creative people working in (almost) all fields. A nice project he did is called Little Sun.
I want to integrate light. So, I will work with at least one LED and a phototransistor in order to control it. Measuring ambient light and possibly even proximity, I will create an interface to inspirit the artwork. This interface requires at least one PCB w/
at least one microcontroller
at least one LED
a phototransistor
an on/off optional switch
a voltage regulator
At the moment, I still don’t know which other components or materials are exactly required. Certainly, I will work with one of these:
Filament (3D printing)
Carving wax and casting material (casting and molding)
Some wood and/or acrylic glass
Where will they come from?
Used materials and components are standard fab lab inventory and should be available. Possibly, I will have to get some additional casting material and/or wood and/or acrylic glass.
How much will it cost?
Depending on additional materials like casting material and/or wood and/or acrylic glass, some extra costs could accrue.
What parts and systems will be made?
A voltage regulator*
An input device* measuring light and possibly even proximity (phototransistor)
An output device* w/ at least one LED
A microcontroller board* w/ FTDI connector and LED
Body and additional elements of the artwork handmade, 3D printed, casted and molded, computer-controlled machined and/or cut
*If these components are mounted on different PCBs, an additional connector is required.
What processes will be used?
Research and creation
Project management
Digital 2D design and 3D modelling
3D printing and/or casting and molding, computer-controlled machining and/or cutting
Electronics design and production
Embedded programming
What tasks need to be completed?
Drawing up the idea
Drawing up the technical and technological concept
Drawing up a detailed production plan
Manufacturing and assembling the artwork
Progressively documenting each task
What questions need to be answered?
How will the artwork look and what will it deal with?
What is the schedule?
From now, Tuesday, May 19
4 days of drawing up the idea
2 days of drawing up the the tech. concept and a detailed production plan
5 days of 2D designing and 3D modelling
4 days of designing, producing and programming electronics
6 days of fabricating body and additional elements of the artwork
2 days of assembling the artwork and finishing the documentation