Computer Controlled cutting
Construction Kit
I wanted to avoid the usual modular construction approaches, as well as not have a very rigid shape.
I do a lot of generative art and one of the first things I had done was the Fractal Tree. My mother practices Bonsai and so I have been exposed to tree shapes there as well. Combining these two, I decided to try make a kit that allows you to construct tree shapes that are modular yet somewhat organic, or atleast allow for some chaotic movement as well.
I created a rectangular strip in Fusion, and added slots at 45 degree angles.
I parametrized the following factors :
- thickness of material, affects slot width
- proportion of length to width
- overall unit length
The first version was narrower and had staggered slots. There were two version of that - one with angled slots only at one end, and one with them at both ends. However, I realized that modules would interfere with each other at the joint. So I created a second version which was a wider strip but allowed symmetrical slots (although the staggered ones were preferable since they look more organic)
Assemblies into tree shapes
Various versions derived from the parametric in dxf
file name key - Tree "no of ends" "slot width" "Arm Length" "Arm width, optional".dxf
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank Mr Maitreya Nagwekar for cutting out one set of pieces, as well as the Fablab at The Somaiya School for use of their lasercutter, on an occasion when the RIIDL lasercutter and space had been prebooked for an event.