Welcome to Week 2!

Step 1: Knowing the Requirements

Assignment Requirements:
1. model (raster, vector, 2D, 3D, render, animate, simulate, ...) a possible final project
2. compress your images and videos,
3. and post a description with your design files on your class page

Step 1: Plotting the Branschito Curve in Octave

Above is the illustration by Midjourney, lets find Chatgpt, her words in red, for help on the suggested curve parameters too.

Here's a general approach you can follow:
Define the starting point and the ending point of the slope. Let's say the starting point is (0, 0) and the ending point is (x, y).
Determine the maximum angle θ_max for the Brachistochrone curve. This angle will depend on the height difference between the starting and ending points, as well as the length of the slope. You can use trigonometry to calculate this angle. For example, if the height difference is h and the length of the slope is L, you can use the equation: θ_max = atan(h/L).
Choose an angle value for θ within the range of 0 to θ_max. This angle will determine the shape of the curve. You can experiment with different values to achieve the desired demonstration.
Calculate the value of the constant a based on the chosen angle θ. You can use the parametric equation for x: x = a(θ - sinθ). Rearrange this equation to solve for a: a = x / (θ - sinθ).

Here's a link better than Chatgpt for my reference. It is just using boundary conditions to solve for a and r

Step 2: Correcting the curve sizing size

As the graph is not accurate by scale in x and y axis, I had to scale both units of the graph to be same size.

Step 3: Converting Raster to Vector

As the Jpg is a raster, I had to use inkscape trace bitmap function to convert it into vector accordingly.

Step 4: Postprocessing of image

Remove all the lines not required by removing the line and nodes with references shown in picture.

Step 5: Final 3D Product

Draw other curves in other layers and get ready to export these to be modelled in 3D.

Step 6: Exporting for Simulation

Import the files into Blender, use Material to color the mesh. Use Rigidbody settings and animate the video. This 10seconds video tooked 4hours to render on my computer.

Step 7: Exporting Blender Renders into Photoshop image sequence

Import the render images into Photoshop, use image sequence and animate and export the video.

Summary: What I did with the learning in 2023

:
1. Conducted basic lessons on GIMP and heatpress for children who are challenged.
2. Conducted basic lessons and codevelop 3D Designs lessons for Fusion360, Onshape and Shapr3D.
3. Conducted basic lessons and codevelop 2D Design lessons for Coreldraw, Photopea, Inkscape, Librecad, Photoshop, Illustrator for less fortunate and community.
4. When studying Fabacademy, I brought with my personal funds[sorry, children. I know its very expensive and I use the milk powder fees for these]: Clipstudio, Photoshop, Sketchup Pro, Procreate, Affinity Designer, Forger Classic, Aesprite. Currently still at the basics of these software. 5. I now prefer to use stable diffusion and midjourney (2023), Chatgpt(2024) to let my stakeholders create 2D design fast.
6. 3D design wise, I prefer Forger Classic for organic, Shapr3D for quick illustration, Fusion360 for Engineering models, Onshape for cloud designs and basic feeaturescript.
7. I also brought udemy lessons (these are the two prominent ones, I brought alot to do during my semi retirement) to fill my knowledge gap:
a. 3D modelling- by Mohmoud Shehata, Grant Abbitt, Rob Tuytel, Thomas McDonald, Milivoc Popovic, Autodesk Education, Sean Thomas,Alex Corderd, Bhaumik Patel, Bentristem, Chris plush, Jomarc Baquiran, 3D Tudor
b. 2D modelling- by Lori Jrill, Brian Jackson, Datec studio, MR Amani, Josh Werner, Stephen Koel Soren, Bernard't Hooft, Daniel Walter Scott, Louay Zambarakji. Simon Foster.
8. Haha. No wonder my wife said I spend too much on digital fabrication, but honestly i am giving up to be the best at this. It is so difficult and my priority as a dad to my 3 children is growing with every day.

My files, Free References and Learning Resources

• Blender Documentation - Essential for understanding the tools and features.
• Blender Guru Tutorials - Provided insights and techniques for realistic texturing and lighting.
• Blender Slope
• Octave plot
• Dxf Drawing
• Assembly stl