This week´s assignment was to model in 2d and 3d and using the laser cutter using a parameter. I did 4 simple projects in order to use different design softwares. I tried at the same time to build something useful for my final project. I focused a lot on building something helpful to input data, this means, to build an interactive survey. This were my 3 projects: 1. Build an interactive survey where the questions are shown in a cube and you can introduce the numerical information with a cube. STEP 1 THE INTERACTIVE SURVEY - BOX WITH QUESTIONS My first attempt to design my box, I got it from a box case model then I design so each one of the sides. Instead of thinking in 2d for a survey, I start giving a small step further to have a 3d survey. I used Inkscape to start my model. As I said before, Inkscape is like PainT brush, super friendly. The most sophisticated tool I used was unions between figures. For example, when I tried to draw a tree, I draw several circles that were overlapped and then I select them and then I select path -> union. Union is similar to weld in CorelDraw. With this instruction also I did the same for the symbol for men and women.
Screenshot 2016-02-15 11.46.30
Issues: The main problem I faced with Inkscape was to identify how to select the color of the lines. I thought it was going to be straight forward, but it was not for me. Colors are important since it is the parameter the laser cutter uses to identify if you are cutting or etching. That was my main issue with Inkscape in general. Box1-How to change the color of the outline of an object in Inkscape? Step 1 -- Select the object you want to change the color Step 2 -- View --> Swatches in order to see a set of tools in the right hand side of your screen. Step 3 --Select on the menu you have on the right hand side Fill and Stroke. Step 4-- Select the option Stroke paint and select the right option (the fifth square from left to right) Step 5- Select the Wheel option then select the red color and the look at the CMS option to see if the red line was selected. .
Screenshot 2016-02-16 19.47.17
Screenshot 2016-02-16 20.51.12
This is the design in CorelDraw.
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I faced a problem importing designs in inkscape to CorelDraw.

 

 

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STEP 2: The Interactive Survey- Build dodecahedron to input numbers into the survey Step 1-- First I tried using 123D Design and 123D Make since I wanted to try another figure in 3 dimensions. So I open a new document in 123D Design, make a sphere then in the options Send to --> 123D Make. Then I reduce the number of vertex to 7 so we have 10 sides. However I didn't like the design. I couldn't figure out in 123D Make how to make an dodecahedron with several penthagons, so I tried to make it myself by hand.
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Step 2-- Draw in Inkscape a series of penthagons such that I can build an dodecahedron.  This was quite easy since you only need to draw the penthagons and order them appropriately.

 

Hectahedron with penthagons

Step 3-- Print it in the laser cutter.

Hexahedron in 3D picture2

Step 4--  Try to design an dodecahedron with edge joints so I do not use glue and the edges can keep together. I used several tools in inkscape in order to make the joints.

Make joints manually in a hectahedron
Screenshot 2016-02-16 23.37.35
Final Dodecahedron
Box 2- How to make joints manually in Inkscape. Step 1- First I draw a straight line. Step 2- Second, draw one square and clone it as many time as you need. I clone it two times. Since I thought my design was going to be printed in a MDF therefore I thought the size of my squares should be 6 mm of height (3mm in each penthagon). Step 3- I placed the squares in the middle of the line. Step 4- I clone the straight line with the 3 squares on top of it 4 times (so I can have the 5 sides with these joints.) Step 5- I placed the straight line over the edges. Step 6- I select all the items, make sure that they are ungrouped. Then I use the path--> union tool. Step 7- Place the other penthagon that will be besides the one we just make below the one that has the joints. Be sure that the one you have on top is the one with the joints. Then use the tool path--> difference. Step 8-- Repeat the steps with all the dodecahedrons.

Step 5--  Print it.  I couldn't print it because of the same problem I have before, the inkscape file, could not be exported into CorelDraw.

STEP 2a: How to parametrize in Inkscape
Clone Step 1

Parametrization is really easy in Inkscape, and in this way you can change the size of your joints if it happens that you change your material.

 

Step 1- Select the figure you want to clone. Use Edit --> Clone --> Create Clone

 

Step 2- Select the original and click

Edit --> Clone --> Link to original

 

Clone Step 1

I downloaded Rhinocerous in order to learn how to parametrize in this program. I saw the tutorial made and shared by Severio Silli (click here to watch it) which was really useful.  However, I did not do my designs in Rhino but next week I will try to improve my designs in Rhino and use the parametrization technique.

 

STEP 3: Design a ramp to finalize the survey.
Design for Ramp
prototype of ramp 1
prototype ramp 2
Map of Mexico from the web
Map of Mexico in a Box!
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Finally the Survey in a Box! Thus, the letters were not printed since the color was not right. I need to try it again.
Idea: The is to make a ramp so when a person finishes the survey, after walking through a corridor of questions, she/he will drop a marble through the ramp and a sensor will capture the movement, and then a little robot will dance and say thank you.
Issues: It is extremely important to know the size of your material. I used a cardboard that was really weak from the inside and everything was a little bit loose. I realize the importance to parametrize, otherwise you waist a lot of time.

In order to learn more about joints and assembly, I tried to design my items manually so I can start thinking more about 3d.

 

Step 1 :  Watch the video from  .  After watching it I realize that playing with different figures can make you have cool ideas of objects you can build.  At the same time it helped me a lot to understand 3d design.

 

Step 2:  I draw a sketch of how to build my ramp and which objects I was going to design in order to assemble them.

 

Step 3:  Cut it in the lasser cutter (fortunatley I didn't have a problem exporting it from Inkscape to CorelDraw)

 

 

Step 4:  Play with it and build the ramp in different ways.

STEP 4: Build a box with Mexico on top and holes over each state so I can place LEDs inside them. When there is a good job match the light on the corresponding state will turn on green. If it is a bad match, then it will turn on red.

In order to print the map of Mexico I needed to vectorize it.  So first I copy a map from an image on the web, then I save it as pdf.  Afterwards I vectorize it on Inkscape by using Path --> Trace Bitmap. And finally you will have the vectors. At the end, delete the original figures.