The process
Design is an area I'm very comfortable in. So I will start by documenting the tools I already use and have experience with before I start with the new software. I'm excited to use Fusion and Blender based on the comments of the FabLab Network. I am a huge fan of the golden ratio as a concept, and I believe the best designs come from nature.
Raster and vector 2D design:
I have been in this field since 2001, working with Adobe apps. I am a fan of vector graphics and I will share my approaches in the coming sections.
One of the elements I need in my final project is a way to connect two pieces such that they can be removed and replaced.
Option 01: Adobe Photoshop
01 | Creating a new file, changing the name, RGB color, and selecting size and background color
02| I used the brush tool and the circle shape to make this design
03| When zooming in, I can clearly see the pixels — which is what raster design is
- Feedback: I usually used Photoshop to fix or change raster images or add channels to a picture.
- Challenge: Resizing raster images is not a fun thing to experience
Option 02: Adobe Illustrator
01 | I created a new file
02| using the shape tools to draw the main parts of the design
03| I used the pathfinder option to unit the path of both shapes
04| Exporting the image as SVG as a vector shape
- Feedback: I find it a very useful tool to explore vector shapes in SVG to be used later either for vinyl cuts or 3D designs
- Challenge: Sometimes I need to add more path points for a better 3D design
3D designs and modeling:
I also have basic experience designing some of the items I needed for my work, especially designing and printing medals and award plaques.
Option 01: TinkerCAD
01 | I logged in to my account on TinkerCAD and created a new 3D file
02| I selected the ball and the cylinder shape to create the join I designed in 2D tools
03| I moved the objects and resized them to create the final shape I needed
04| I used the aligning options to make sure the objects are aligned on the x, y, z axes
05| To compare things, I imported the SVG I had exported earlier from Illustrator into TinkerCAD
06| I selected the file and the size
07| There is a huge difference in the 3D shape, even though both designs were expected to be the same object
08| the orientation and the size of both objects are the same. this is the original document
09| This is one of my old projects — creating a conveying gear system
- Feedback: It's easy to use and was good enough for me in my previous projects.
- Challenge: There is a way to simulate the movement of the shape but I might need more time. I also want to use more software, but time is a challenge
Option 02: Fusion
01| I was very excited to use it. I uploaded the invitation letter for the Fab Lab Students license
02| Unfortunately it was not accepted and I contacted FabLab and am waiting for this issue to resolve
03| After a few weeks I got access and was very excited to install the educational version of Fusion on my local device
04| Installation was completed. I started to look for some tutorials suggested in the application
05| I tried to open a design I created in TinkerCAD: opened the file in TinkerCAD → press export → selected opening in Fusion
06| I made sure to select to include all the objects with all details
07| This is how the file looks — it's clear that it was meshed and not imported as objects
08| I also tried to start from scratch making new shapes
- Feedback: It looked interesting but I need more time to explore it
Option 03: FreeCAD
01|
- Feedback: I spent most of the time allocated for FabLab on trying to get Fusion. My schedule these two weeks is very busy and it's not easy to find the time. I will surely use it for my next week's assignment.