Week 5Assignment: design and 3D print an object (small, few cm) that could not be made subtractively
Programs/Machines:Replicator 2, Rhinoceros, Fluid Scanning, Skanect
Lessons Learned: Milk scanning, though simple, is not widely used because it is tricky to work with in post processing.
With technology progressing 3d scanning and printing is slowly being integrated into your everyday lives. Whether it is Facebook's "DeepFace" 3d scanning recognition software, or simply a integral part to your phone 3d printed, these technologies are proliferating every reality. While debate can be had as to the importance of 3d printing in particular, 3d scanning will have an extensive impact throughout your day to day activities moving forward.
My experience with 3d printing and scanning in the past is pretty limited. Through my studies at IAAC I have printed out models using the Projet Powder printer with some success. When using a powdered bed the model that is printed out has a real instability before it is solidified by various binders of a higher strength. When used in the past, the Projet is a amazing machine at times, creating intricate detailed models; while being a headache at other points due to errors in meshes when printing. I worked on a thesis project focused on the interstitial realities of urbanity in which I experimented with both 3d printing my model, as well as scanning parts of the city with a Xbox Kinect; which has its own limitations to take into consideration. In using the Xbox Kinect, I know that it has a focus of personal room based spatial gaming. There comes a point with the Skanect software that runs the Kinect that it does not recognize; small parts and large expanses of space.
In this exercise I wanted to scan a Caganer, which is a traditional "shitting doll" that is prevalent in Catalan culture. While Kinect and Skanect are programs I have worked with limitedly in the past, I wanted to push the boundaries and see how 3d scanning really works through milk scan testing. We set out on this scanning experiment by using the Fluid Scanning software and a holder for a simple webcam.
I worked along with Lana Awad in the design and development of a 3d milk scanner.
As you can see the actual shape of the caganer is unclear due to its color scheme.
Wanting to have a more discernable difference between object and milk I painted my caganer a solid color to contrast with the white milk.
Here we can see the view from the Fluid Scanning program interface. While there are many options within the program, manipulating the values did not affect the output view to a significant degree.
Red lines are a "model front" oriented scan, blue lines are a "model back" oriented scan.
The Fluid Scanning software outputs a .xml file, which is supposed to be able to be read by simple 3d gaming software editors, but we were never able to succeed in using. Instead of using the file that the software output, we opted for extruding the contours in a more clunky fashion.
Here we can see the resolution breakdown that occurred between "object" vs "scanned object". Resolution could be further detailed by A: Using a much larger object and similar milk submersion step depth or B: Utilizing a more fine detailed pouring method for executing the milk layers.
The outcome of the milk scanner could be helped by doing not only front and back scans but a left and right scan as well.
Reaction: I imagine the early inventors reaction to 3d fluid scanning with milk as similar of a reaction as early man's to fire. That being said, milk scanning as a "quick" experiment into 3d scanning has one thing in common with early man; they both are stuck in the stone age. While I did learn directionality is key to scanning, the process involved in milk scanning was more than I expected. However what I did take from the exercise is that I now understand the key components to modern day scanners, ie multi-camera set ups, infrared light, etc. While I was seduced by the sexy gifs produced by milk-scanning I would not recommend doing it, other methods would be more useful moving forward in your investigations.
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