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.

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.

$?! 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.

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.

Revitalize + Renovate

Hey guys,

I had an idea along for Ron’s idea of renovation. I saw this project in the July issue of Dwell magazine. The pieces are laser cut and weaved together to create a surface. I think this idea/technique can be totally adapted for us and it keeps with the idea of fabric. Just food for thought.

Source:http://www.tordboontje.com Title: Field of Flowers

SNOW DR[if]T STUDIES

COLLATED VIDEO [WITH EFFECTS!]

END RESULT DIAGRAM

To discover the properties of the way porosity, height, and orientation worked with snow. The DRIFT team mocked up a study using a wind tunnel constructed by Jake Ostilund for a fan to fit in. The tunnel would make sure the air flowing out would be in a linear fashion to focus blowing the sugar across the landscape.

The sugar was used as a substitue for its ability to flow and collect like snow.

While commandeering the Upper Gallery in Cheever Hall, Team DRIFT did 10 simulations using different wind fence mock-ups based on a porosity of 0, 25, 50, and 75%, a scaled fence height descending from 10 feet to 2 feet, and two iterations of using porosities of 0 and 50% but incorporating an angle of either 30, 60, or 90 degrees at the end of the fence.

Fiberglass

Continuing the development of the project we have been working with cnc’d foam molds in which to create fiberglass forms. There are 3 components to the fiberglass: the fiberglass mat (or cloth), resin, and hardner. The mat or cloth is the actually material. The resin is what wets the mat/cloth, giving its structural value. The hardner is added to the resin before applying to the cloth. The hardner, just like the name implies, hardens the resin. Once dry, the combination creates a very rigid material.

The steps are fairly straight forward. CNC a form out of the foam blocks. Preparation for the to lay the fiberglass on the foam mold has two parts: cover the mold with a material to keep the resin from eating the foam. Once dry, a release agent is applied to the entire surface, allowing the hardened fiberglass to be removed from the mold. Fiberglass mat/cloth is cut into shape and laid over the mold. The mixture of resin and hardner is mixed and applied to the fiberglass mat/cloth with a brush. Multiple layers are used to give the finished product its strength and rigidity.

Our studies revealed a few points that will be key in our final design. First, the fiberglass mat/cloth can be laid over very complex shapes with relative ease. Second, the mixture of resin to hardner is very key in the cure time and strength of the final product. Third, great care needs to be taken with the creation of the initial mold, as the final product amplifies any imperfections in the mold.

plan a : the spine on the landscape

Laser & Beams

When exploring aspects of laser cutting, it was evident that to achieve the full potential of the laser cutting for creating surfaces out of a non malleable material one would have to incorporate a laser cutter that does not work only in the x y and z axes but can do a fourth axis in an angle in relation to the other axes. This would provide the necessary part to achieve a flush cut and incorporate difficult angling of the joints. I found it difficult to create a curved surface composed of different parts with the laser cutter. Of course the scale that I am using will produce a more “ragged” edge, much like a pixelated photo.  Either a larger scale or a suped up laser cutter would prove this project to turn out better.