ASSIGNMENT

• Model (draw, render, animate, simulate, ...) a possible final project, and post it on your class page with original 2D and 3D files.

Preperation

Digital Images are electronic snapshots taken of a scene or scanned from documents, such as photographs, manuscripts, printed texts, and artwork. The digital image is sampled and mapped as a grid of dots or picture elements called pixels. Each pixel is assigned a tonal value (black, white, shades of gray or color), which is represented in binary code (zeros and ones). The binary digits ("bits") for each pixel are stored in a sequence by a computer and often reduced to a mathematical representation (compressed). The bits are then interpreted and read by the computer to produce an analog version for display or printing.

Few more parameters are:

• Resolution: is the ability to distinguish fine spatial detail.
• Pixel Dimensions: are the horizontal and vertical measurements of an image expressed in pixels.
• Bit Depth: is determined by the number of bits used to define each pixel.
• Dynamic Range: is the range of tonal difference between the lightest light and darkest dark of an image.
• File Size: File Size = (height x width x bit depth x dpi2) / 8 or (pixel dimensions x bit depth) / 8.
• Compression: is used to reduce image file size for storage, processing, and transmission.
• File formats: consist of both the bits that comprise the image and header information on how to read and interpret the file.

2D Designing

Raster and Vector Graphics

I satrted learning about raster and vector graphics, After searching i got an idea about the difference between the two. Raster graphics is an array of pixels of various colors,which together form an image.Raster graphics are"blocky," since each pixel increases in size as the image is made larger. A vector graphic, is composed of paths, or lines, that are either straight or curved. The data file for a vector image contains the points where the paths start and end, how much the paths curve, and the colors that either border or fill the paths.

I. GIMP

GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program (formerly General Image Manipulation Program), a free graphics editing package. It is typically used to do things like:

• Touch up photos
• Resize graphics
• Scan photos
• Create logos
• Create animated GIFs
• Export graphics to web format

Gimp is having its own features like Advanced scripting capabilities,Tile-based memory management, the image size is limited only by available disk space,Sub-pixel sampling for all paint tools for high-quality anti-aliasing etc.

Installing Gimp

1. Add GIMP PPA

Open terminal from Unity Dashor via Ctrl+Alt+T shortcut key. When it opens, paste below command and hit Enter:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp

Type your password when it asks

2. Install or Upgrade the editor

run below commands one by one to refresh your repository caches and install GIMP:

sudo apt-get update # update the repository
sudo apt-get install gimp # Install gimp

I have gone through the gimp tutorials and familiarised with basic tools and shapes for image editing. On further study i found a tutorial about making Abstarct wave effect from solid noise. I tried it using gimp, it was a nice experience for me to learn more about Gimp. The complete steps is mensioned in the gimp tutorial.The steps done and final result are shown below.

These are the steps i followed Steps

II. Krita

Krita is a raster graphics editor based on Qt 5 and the KDE Frameworks 5. It is having ability to work with raster and vector based designs. It is very usefull to create digital paintings from scratch.

Installing krita

1. Add Krita PPA

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports

2. Install or Upgrade:

sudo apt-get update # Update the repository
sudo apt-get install Krita # Installing krita

I have gone through the tutorials of Krita in the documentation page and familiarised with the tools. I have tried some drawings using bamboo tablet available in our lab from my experience it is very effective with tablets, easily we can draw the shapes using it.

III. My paint

My paint is another open source raster design software. One of the main feature i noticed is its painting symmetry property and i made a small drawing with it using bamboo tablet.

Installing Mypaint

1. Add Mypaint PPA

Open terminal from Unity Dashor via Ctrl+Alt+T shortcut key. When it opens, paste below command and hit Enter:

  sudo add-apt-repository ppa:achadwick/mypaint-testing
    

2. Install or Upgrade :

sudo apt-get update # Update the repository
sudo apt-get install mypaint mypaint-data-extras # Installing mypaint
    

IV. Inkscape

Inkscape is professional quality vector graphics software which runs on Linux, Mac OS X and Windows. Inkscape's primary vector graphics format is Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG). I am using Inkscape for the past one year for designing vector files for laser cutting. One main disadvantage i feel that while designing the dimensional objects is too difficult task in Inkscape. View More

I learned designing in inkscape from our Fab Manager Vinod Kumar and last year fabgraduates.There are a lot of learning tutorials avalable and can go through it to use Inkscape.

Insatlling Inkscape

For installing Inkscape in Ubuntu just type the commands in Terminal

sudo apt-get install inkscape

I tried to make a welcome board for Fab lab Trivandrum. The text can be typed using text tool and we cab change its properties like size ,fonts etc. I am planning to make a small desk top board with the laser cutter in transparent acrylic. The logo of fab lab and Kerala Startup Mission were downloaded from internet and using the trace bitmap option from the path menu the images were converted into bitmap so that we can engrave it on laser. My welcome board and is shown below.

I tried one more design in Inkscape,this time i tried a 3D Vector Sphere Logo, referred from youtube tutorial followed the same steps in that tutorial, this is the first time i am trying to design such designs in inkscape. The 3d vector sphere logo is shown below.

Download my inkscape design Files(.zip)

3D Designing

3D design is the creation of a product in a virtual environment such that the product has three dimensions (height, width, depth). Without digital prototyping, We need to use more budget physical prototypes. Designers usually take one of two approaches to 3D design and solid modeling: direct or parametric modeling. Direct modeling means you can push and pull directly on geometry use it for speed and quick changes. Parametric modeling means that the software maintains consistent relationships between components, So a change to one component is a change to all. There are number of softwares available, Since i am a bigginer in designing i am planning to go through some of them so that it could be usefull for my future.

I. FreeCAD

FreeCAD is a open source parametric 3D CAD modeler. FreeCAD is aimed directly at mechanical engineering and product design. Also fits in a wider range of uses around engineering such as architecture or other engineering specialties. I have gone through the tutorials shared by our Proffessor Neil Gershenfeld and tried to make basic designs ,tools ,shapes etc in FreeCAD. Later i made a case cover for My Final Project. My final project is a multimeter for measuring SMD devices, for that a case is required for keeping the electronics board. Here, I made a initial version of that case. One thing i feel about this software is it is more powerfull and easy to use, I need to go indepth in this and am really happy with it. The case i designed in FreeCAD is shown below(initial).

Installing FreeCAD in Ubuntu

1. Add Free CAD PPA

sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:freecad-maintainers/freecad-stable

2. Install or Upgrade :

sudo apt-get update # Update the repository
sudo apt-get install freecad # Installing FreeCAD

Download Fab ECT case file(.zip)

II. Onshape

Onshape is a professional 3D CAD system with parts, assemblies, drawings with version control and collaboration built in. One thing i loved is it is fully cloud based and no need for installations , it can be operted in any operating systems and can edit the design from anywhere, but only thing you need good internet connection thats all. I have gone through the tutorials and some how i made a drilling bit design using the sweep tool bar in Onshape.

Download drill bit File(.zip)

III. Antimony

Antimony is a computer-aided design (CAD) tool from a parallel universe in which CAD software evolved from Lisp machines rather than drafting tables.I feel it is good and easy one especially for parametric designs. I got a basics from the tutorials shared by Prof.Neil. I palyed with the tools and made a shape for 3D printing purpose. The insatllation steps and the part i designed is showed below.

1. Install dependencies

Open the terminal and type the commands

  sudo apt install git build-essential
    libpng-dev python3-dev libboost-all-dev
    libgl1-mesa-dev lemon flex qt5-default ninja-build cmake 
  

2. Cloning the repository

git clone https://github.com/mkeeter/antimony
cd antimony
    

3. Make a build folder

mkdir build
cd build
      

3. Build and launch the application

cmake -GNinja ..
ninja
./app/antimony

For me this worked, as some of my friends are getting some errors while installing antimony to know more. The design i made in antimony is shown below.

Download antimony shape Files(.zip)

IV. TinkerCAD

Tinker CAD is also a online 3D designing software by Autodesk like onshape. What i feel is it is good and easy than others and it is having nice collection of default shapes. I made a small text dispaly for 3D printing. It is very easy you can edit the shapes available in the collection.

Download test display File(.zip)

IV. Rhinoceros

Rhinocerous is an another design software.Rhino can create, edit, analyze, document, render, animate, and translate curves, surfaces, and solids, point clouds, and polygon meshes. There are no limits on complexity, degree, or size beyond those of your hardware. It is available only in Windows OS, Still i am using it for small designs for the past one year and is easy to use also. There are various tutorials available on youtube. The below showed 3D model is a small cup i designed in Rhino.

Download my cup File(.zip)

FAB ECT CASE DESIGN USING RHINOCEROS

Using Rhinoceros i tried to make my project case, In my project i need a case for holding the Electronics board already i tried this using freeCAD but i am faced some difficulties there. Here i designed the case bottom cover as well as the top part. The sketches are showed below.

I did the rendering of the part in sketch fab. First, I registered in Sketchfab and uploaded my part file in .stl format, Since i have designed my part in Rhino and sketch fab dont support rhino files(.3dm). So, I uploaded it and gave the material,light & scene settings and i got my part rendered. After editing we have to publish the design so that we can embed it in to our web page. Here is the rendered version of my fab ect case.

Download Fab ECT design File(.zip)

Summary

After going through all these 2D and 3D softwares, I have improved a lot in 2D and 3D designing softwares and have to concentrate some more in designing softwares for my future use . In 2D designing i like Gimp and Inscape than others, why because others are little artistic and am not that much good in that area. In 3D designing category i really loved FreeCAD a lot but the user interface is not that much good needs indepth study about the tools and menus, So i am planning to opt Rhinoceros mainly because of its user friendlyness. I have shortlisted the following softwares for my future use.

For 2D Design:

• Gimp
• Inkscape
• My paint

For 3D design

• Rhinoceros
• FreeCAD
• Antimony
• Onshape