On a cold winters night…

I am dubbing this creation the “Jacobs Ladder.”

We figured it took us about 2 and a half hours to construct, and that included a few set backs in construction. It stands, its sturdy, and I think I like it!

It’s alive!

Things are coming along pretty quickly. The ribs are finally being constructed and they are HUGE. We created a monster. A really really kick butt monster. Adam is a flippin’ CNCing machine.

Looks like we are getting in to the shop to CNC earlier then previously thought. Before we begin constructing, the plywood will need to sanded down around the edges. So, if anyone can make it earlier then noon, I am sure the help will be appreciated.

Plywood party. BYOB.

Connections (a little late) and Suggestions

I hear you have already done some weekend fabrication.  But thought I would through my connection thought up here anyway.

I have emailed steve about the final dates, and will let you know when I get a reply.  Otherwise, I had a discussion with Nate…and whoever else was behind his computer today.  I basically said that at this point you guys are a better judge of what you think is possible during this last week than I, so make decisions as you see fit.  However I did lend my thoughts in a few areas.  Basically we discussed the following + some expansion i have done here:

1)  I liked the last presentation, but we should update it according to our critiques by mike and bill.  i.e.  make the parametric reason clear, make the sugar studies vibe with the parameters, clearly explain the reasoning behind the project, and display differences found between the physical and digital world.

2)  Make the boards vibe.  Better organization, graphic design etc.  Please only one panel with “drift name.”  On one board include all references and project credits (students / tutors / past critics etc.)

3)  And obviously update it to fit our newest findings and newest renditions of the fence.

4)  I will email soon with final presentation time etc. so we can plan a bit better, but lets try for multiple projections etc.

5) Finish the full wall construction as we have always had planned.  Shoot for a construction that is presentation quality and has structural integrity. 

6)  My last suggestion…and maybe  the only that you were not already aware of: 

If it is true that this presentation will just a finalized update of the last presentation, it may be in our interest to take a small team and make a new panel or two about the projects “future.” 

This would:

a)  Take the project a little less as an art and geometry study, and more as a marketable option.  If we were asked to market our fence…how would we do it?  Maybe we make a 2-d laser cut plastic option.

b)  We could possibly do this by using our existing parameters on fence placement and permeability and use them for a better design for the “Murdochs” orange snow fences, or the WYDOT plastic snow snake fences we saw on the you tube vid. 

c)  Think about a series of designs, and maybe even a website where ranchers or highway departments could type in data and this changes the design of their fence.  The fence could then be laser cut and mailed to client.

I think this would be a very interesting addition and end to the project, and it would even give us something we could present beyond the halls of MSU.  So I would really suggest a few of you take it on.  Andy and Audya may be in a good position to develop our design into this stage, as they were involved in slightly different roles before.  Either way, organize as you wish, and best of luck

Please blog like crazy, the more Monika and I see, the more we can help.

Thanks for the hard work, 

drink red bulls, listen to metal music, and produce!

See you soon,

Shane

Monika

Presentation Boards

Hey Main presentation peeps,

How are the boards coming? I’ve signed you up for a 30min printing spot at 9am on Thursday morning.  Do you guys have some roughdrafts for the studio to look at and edit? Eager minds want to know.

test

$?! oh $%#@!

Hey, I wrote Steve to ask about helping to finance the project. I heard that there was an agreement to spend $70 per person? I don’t remember this but I can not afford anything close to $70 especially since we still have to reimburse people for both phase one and phase two.

Word had been passed around that the school might possibly help finance the projects. I asked steve and this was his reply:

Katherine,

I will have to discuss this a bit with some others here.  We do not typically do this as it establishes a precedent for every other studio to make a similar request.  What is the amount that you all are estimating it will cost?

Thanks, Steve

I don’t know how to reply because I dont know what our estimated final numbers are  but it seems like he is not really jiving the the idea. I know the school is low on money too.

Either way, we have gotten lots of physical and financial help with the CNC machine, some printing, and laser cutting thus far. Maybe that is all we can hope for and be grateful. wdyt.

Wall Section

here’s a few quick renderings of the section of the wall we will be constructing (minus the rib structure and the finger joint connections…)

Connection Sketch

Here is a quick sketch for review. The square panels will have fingers, or tabs, CNCed out. These tabs will inerlock and a hole will be drilled through the side allowing a screw or pin to slide through. Bolts will be used to secure it.

Sorry about the double pics, wordpress wouldnt allow me to post just one image. idk.

wdyt.

phase_04 [schedule]

We met up and established detailed parameters regarding the time line for the next two weeks, who’s taking care of what, and how the final presentation should be assembled.  The teams are as follows:

Grasshopper – Nate / Andy

Rhino [modeling+rendering] – Ron / Shandra / Nate

Materials [acquisition+assembly method] – Seth / Mike / Shawn / Nate

Fabrication/CNC – Katherine / Seth / Mike / ron / Adam

Presentation [assembly+component refinement] – Audya / Katherine / Adam / Andy

Rough schedule:

W03 – set up CNC and begin milling

M08 – begin full scale construction

W10 – board layout established

F12 – digital slide show finished

M15 – dress rehearsal + final revisions as necessary.

W17 – present

That hits on the main components and the rest of the work will be done interspersed with the big pieces.  In the end we should have the following for presentation:

full scale 8′x12′ section

renderings, including an exploded detail of assembly

grasshopper movies showing variation

digital slide show

presentation boards

phase_04 [preparing for final]

After intensive deliberations, deep philosophical pondering and a couple thrown punches we came to a mutual agreeable conclusion to wrap up the semester.  Instead of backtracking and trying to redevelop everything from square one, the consensus was to continue on with the already strong plan_B and clean it up.

Since it is impossible to improve the effectiveness of an existing snow fence in the sense of functionality (snow off the road is snow off the road), we have to define ‘performance’ in another way.  Based on the strength of our parametric process and research, the main benefit we have to offer is the ability to design the snow landscape itself in a completely customizable fashion.  This means we could essentially have a product catalogue where a client can pick their own drift design -or- input site specific variables to get a unique fence.  Since the wall would be constructed out of flat panels there could be a wide range of material options and price range -or- site specific salvaged material.

Project: ‘Unique Snowflake’ (…since every wall could be as unique as winter snowflakes…) wasn’t a well received name, so we have some work ahead of us.  And instead of ‘item: 001138′ we have the option of giving each wall variation paint color names like ‘sultry swirl’, ‘chirstmas eve’, ‘big sky blizzard’, and ‘sleigh-ride drive-by’.  Or not…

Basically we will be refining our existing work instead of doing more studies, which was deemed unnecessary.  We will have teams for the following topics*:

- Grasshopper code

- Rhino modeling+rendering

- materials scavenger

- fabrication

- presentation refinement

*subject to change as project progresses.