fab.Calendar

Digital Fabrication Studio S’14:

Zack Jacobson-Weaver

Carnegie Mellon Architecture

Lectures:  Periodic 45 minute to 1 hour slide lectures.

1.     L1:  Ethnography: Hybrid Intelligence:  To know what kinds of performance a focus group may need from a designed object a designer must be fully aware of the culture, not just the duties, of that group.  Explore simple tools for gathering data in the field on materials as well as practitioners.

2.     L2:  Hybrid Solutions: How has digiFab contributed to construction methods and quality?  What does the level of work look like?  Where is Carnegie Mellon?  How do we compete?  What is the nature of this competition?  Collaborative?  Client focused?  Human focused?

3.     L3: Industry: Hybrid Applications: What is the role of digiFab in contemporary practice?  How has the use of materials and craftspeople changed? Guest/Skype lecturers Matt Fineout (Turkey project), John Folan (PureFluum), …

Core principals: Basis for skill building assignments and small projects.

1.     Hardware constrained workflow: Modeling for fabrication (vs modeling for imaging) for 3axis CNC routing and vacuum forming.

·       Surface modeling/machining

·       Formwork

·       Material prep

2.     Software constrained workflows: (CAD/CAM, open sourcing) How to get files to talk to machines, CNC surface machining processes, surface finishing as a modeling option, automation, parameterization.

·       CAM affordances: process as form finding

·       CAM constraints: machining processes

·       Layered/Embedded functions (load bearing + cable routing + hardware integrating)

·       Software as scaffold

·       Self-organizing

3.     Material constrained workflows:  When and why do we use materials?  What variables need to be considered?  How do understand the limits and affordances of materials and apply that to design?

·       Strength-to-weight

·       Grain structures

·       Hardness/ Elasticity

·       Lamination

·       Altering performance

4.     Tectonic constrained workflows: (Interfacing, Integrating hardware, Joinery) Reviewing types of connectors, concepts of measurement/offsetting, kerf, fitting tolerances and raw material properties.

·       Joinery

·       Chamfering

·       Dog boning

·       Fixturing/Clamping

5.     Time/Budget constrained workflows:  How do we make choices about processes judiciously, even at the expense of skill building?  Is it better to design for learning, or deadlines?

·       Testing

·       Sourcing

·       Production

6.     Sequence constrained workflows:  How do we begin to imagine combinations of analog and digital design processes where one hardware/software solution to too limited?  What tools can be designed to efficiently move from one process to the next?

·       Secondary Machining

·       Multiples

·       Assembly

·       Jigging

·       Tooling

·       Workspace organization.

Assignments:

1.     Egg Race:  “Grain”, strength-to-weight, incorporating hardware.

2.     CNC surfacing:  Processes, tooling, step, pattern (perhaps as relates to performance)

3.     Material performance:  Plywood/laminate cutting (knife cutter), applied tension/compression, module design

4.     Forming/ laminating:  Composite materials design and assembly

5.     Secondary machining:  Design>Production>Assembly>Finishing