The second week of the course started on Monday, September 14th; the content moved from being drawing-based to 3D model-based, and our first project was to create a stand for a water bottle. The criteria included the following:
- Made from paper and masking tape only
- Strong enough to hold an average-sized bottle filled with water
- A minimum of 10cm in length
My initial design, the first picture displayed above, featured three equidistant cylinders which supported a platform wide enough to allow the water bottle to stand upright. Cylinders have enough tension in their shape to successfully support excessive weight, which is what brought me to the decision to use them.
Unfortunately, however, the first design did not reach the criteria of being at least 10 centimetres in height. I rectified this by placing the stand inside a fourth, wider cylinder - the second image displayed above - not only did this extend its length, but provided a stronger level of support to the stand.
The image below features the final product.
The loops on the sides of the stand were primarily for aesthetic purposes, but were soon discovered to be useful as handles which could separate the initial model from the large cylinder. This meant that the model was 10cm in length, but could be shortened at will.
One of the smaller projects during 3D Modelling graphics rotation week was to create a chair structure out of corrugated cardboard. The criteria included creating an unconventional chair design that deviated from the average four-legged structure. Initially unsure of my intended design, I took advantage of the corrugated texture throughout the project in order to strengthen the structure, as seen in the following image.
By lightly scoring the cardboard along certain parts, it became possible to bend it enough to form cylinders. We worked with masking tape as our main adhesive to connect cardboard, but as pictured, I also created slots in each tube, connecting them with added strength.
The finished product of this project was not successful. As you can infer from the attached images, it did not function particularly well as a chair. I had decided to create it on a smaller scale than would be useful to a fully grown adult, but due to a lack of time and foresight the design was not functional.
I learned through the project that it is important to create smaller models of your design before officially constructing it - if not that, then sketches or blueprints. While the method of construction was efficient, the design itself was a failure.
Moving on from the previous projects, we began to focus specifically on architectural aspects of 3D modelling. Our next project was a group collaboration effort to create a bridge that had the strength to suspend a remote controlled toy car over a gap. Before the project started, we were to individually draft model ideas on a smaller scale, again out of paper and masking tape. Two of my model drafts are pictured below.
Once we finished our models, we were put into the groups with which we were to create the full-scale bridge project. Our criteria featured another set of materials that we were constricted to:
- Cardboard
- Bamboo sticks
- Packaging tape
- Elastic bands
Upon discussion with group members, we came to the decision to use the bamboo sticks as a frame to support the main part of the bridge. To strengthen the sticks we taped several of them together, and to extend them we tied them using the elastic bands. These processes are pictured below.
Upon completion of the walls, the bridge was fully functional. We tested it using the toy car; below is the video of the successful test run.
Our next project within the 3D Modelling graphics rotation week was to create another sculpture - this one was to be made out of uncooked spaghetti strands and hot glue, and the criteria for the structure was that it needed to hold up three plastic balls. For the model drafts, we were given blue tac in the place of hot glue, and the structure only needed to hold up one ball. My draft model is pictured above.
The model draft, while technically successful, was not hugely efficient in holding up the plastic ball. The strands were not connected to one another and therefore would start to move outward under the weight pressure of the ball. The strands had to be planted securely in the blue tac in order to achieve the finished result.
Several problems presented themselves once we started the work on the full model. The spaghetti strands would consistently snap when handled with not enough care, and the hot glue would start to soften them when applied incorrectly. I realised that several strands had to be glued together in order to be strong enough to support the plastic. I devised the method of laying the strands on the wood when using the glue gun and leaving it flat to dry, and this proved successful - the method is pictured below.
Through this method I created the structure, and it was successful in supporting the plastic. It had a slightly boat-like structure, and the final images are pictured below.
