All posts tagged 3D Printing
Flexible Grids in Self-Structure Exhibition
Our flexible grid research project is currently being exhibited at Le Lieu du Design in Paris. While preparing materials for the exhibition we decided to try and build a longer version of the flexible grid. Our previous grid prints were sized to take up roughly half of the print bed (5″x7″) of our Objet Alaris30, but for the exhibit we wanted something bigger. We ended up being able to get an 8″x20″ version, and learned a number of lessons along the way.
3D Printer Reproduction Continues
Assembly of the RepRap Mendel coming along slowly but surely. The physical assembly is nearly done. We’ve been using the SolidWorks model as our guide. After building one or two of the individual assemblies (the Z-drive or the Y-guides, for example), you begin to perceive the design logic behind the RepRap: get close, assemble, adjust, repeat. This is the second in our series of posts on building the RepRap Mendel.
3D Printer Reproduction Begins
We’ve begun 3D printing our second 3D printer. We are using the Objet Alaris to print the parts for the RepRap Mendel, the second generation of open-source self-replicating 3D Printers. So far, we’ve managed to print most of the parts and gather most of the off-the-shelf hardware necessary. We’re ready to start putting it all together.
Med Mart 5: Panel Fabrication
As we developed our precast panel surface geometry, we found ourselves increasingly pushing the limits of our rendering engines. We knew that natural light could potentially reveal different effects on the complex surfaces, and physical models would be the only trustworthy method of study to ensure a more predictable final product. The fabrication process of the model paralleled the fabrication process for the full size panels. Our close collaboration with the form-liner and precast fabricators helped to fine tune the design beyond our initial assumptions.
3D Printing Flexible Grids
We’re constantly looking for new examples of what we can print using our 3d printer. I tend to enjoy the prints that have lots of little parts that can move. It’s great to print something with over 600 parts, and not have to put all of those pieces together. We worked on a part in the past that had a ball and socket joint and we found that we could minimize the gap between two pieces to .1 mm (.00394″) and they would still be separate after printing. Recently we made a Grasshopper definition that used the grid components to create a set of flexible grids.
Objet Alaris30 3D Printer – Update
In a previous post, we promised an update of the Objet Alaris30 3D Printer after we had used it for a couple of months and put it through the paces of a regular production workload. After four months of regular use, there are a number of things we’ve learned…
Xenakis’ Reynolds House
We recently had the opportunity to produce a physical scale-model of an unbuilt design of Iannis Xenakis. Xenakis was the Greek/French composer, music-theorist, and architect, best known for his use …
Objet Alaris30 3D Printer
We have spent our first week with our new Objet Alaris30 3D Printer and it’s an impressive piece of hardware. There are upsides (accuracy and ease-of-use) and downsides (noise, smell), but overall this is a very impressive entry-level 3D printer that is certainly architectural office-friendly. Read on for our first-impressions…