2D Design

Concerning the 2D design, i tried two different softwares, Adobe Illustrator and Inkscape, to realize all the icons of this website. I think that the two software are very similar for both functions that you can use and for the interface. By the way, there are some differences that pushed me to prefer Inkscape on Illustrator:

• Inkscape is faster than illustrator
• Inkscape is open source
• Inkscape runs on Linux

I made a green circle of the same dimensions of the div in which it is contained and each time i will use it for the base of the icons. I will publish one new icon each week....so stay tuned to watch this masterpieces of art -.- ....

3D Design

After the lesson of last Wednesday, we've organized a short internal workshop on Solid Works. I was completely new to 3D modeling softwares except for Grasshopper, in which i have a basic knowledge. So i've decided to learn something new and i started with Solid Works.
With the idea to build a 3D model for the shell of Fab Snail, i've started by looking at how a shell is made.

It turns out that shells, like many others natural structures, are described by really complex mathematical models. I suggest to visit the following links to have a general idea on the mathematical description of a snail shell:

• Fibonacci Numbers and Nature : Short description of maths in nature
• The Golden Mean

In the first place i wanted to use 3 equations (one for each axis) to completely describe the contours of the shell...but i found that modeling with 3D sketches in Solid Works is a pain in the xxx!



So i've decided to aproximate the model using only two equations to generate a parametric Spline on a plane:

x(t)=1.1^t*cos(t)
y(t)=1.1^t*sin(t)

Defined between [0, 5*pi], which describes a logarithmic spiral:



After obtaining a parametric Spline on the frontal plane, i started to experiment with extrusions. The only method that i found efficent (and i am sure that it is not the best -.-) is:

• Make a spiral on the front plane
• Make an offset of the spiral
• Connect the original spiral to the offsetted one with interrupted lines
• Use the lines to draw circles in perpendicular planes
• Use the lines to draw circles in perpendicular planes
• Loft between circles every 180 degrees using borders as guidelines

The final result should be something like this:



Well...i know that this is not yet a snail shell but at least now i have a starting point.
Here there are the SLDPRT files for download (DOWNLOAD FILE1 - FILE2 - FILE3)

UPDATES

Check the following weeks to see more 3D models that i've designed with different softwares:

• week3 : I've used Antimony to design a car track
• week5 : I've re-designed the Shell of the snail in Rhinoceros (and this time it is much better!)
• week5 : I've used Antimony to design a trebuchet
• week5 : I've used Solid Works to design several models
• week5 : I've used Solid Works to design different parts of my final project

Conclusions

It was interesting to start exploring 3D modeling. Unfortunately i got struck in the problem of making a spiral starting from parametric equations.Maybe Solid Works is not the right tool to make this kind of shape. During next weeks, i'm going to try different 3D modeling software to find the one that can fit my mindset and i want to become able to distinguish when to use a software in respect of another.

In particular, i'm really curious to try Antimony. I had some troubles with my linux distribution and i hadn't the possibility to test that software this week.
I've also planned some improvements for the model:

• Use a spiral starting from Fibonacci Rectangles (this should give a shape more similar to a real snail shell)
• Make an offset of the spiral
• Make a render of the model
• Find a way to replace the lofts with other techniques