New Years Resolution 2015 - Less Mass Customization, More Smart Manipulation

No teaching this term so there is time to advance some work, thinking, and research.  

It is computationally inexpensive to create mass-customization but when it comes to some fabrication strategies the desire for complete unique parts begins to take its  toll.  Given the ability to control, develop, define, and manage geometric complexity I am developing some work which seeks to use standard parts that are able to produce custom configurations.  I have begun to understand a hierarchy of part to sub-assembly to assembly and the cost / value ratio is not spread equally throughout that system.  Using catia to simulate kinetic movement, parts can be fabricated (or 3D printed in compressed forms), shipped, and then reconfigured or opened.

Here is an animated screenshot of standard parts (with consistent lengths) manipulated by one parameter.  I am studying the joints, rotations, and range of movement.  This represents a framework for the control of more robust manufactured elements.

Using Random Rules to Generate Form

Here are images of a new project where random rules are used to size and orient a box with one open side.

A hybrid design powercopy is used in a part body. Each solid powercopy is located in a framework with one insertion point. A design table pulls random numbers from an excel file. Missing boxes are dropped out with another random rule that allows for some of the boxes to be made interactive (hidden).

Below are additional iterations from a different perspective. The framework is also quite flexible so that can be manipulated by user inputs.

Here is a link to a zip file with the catpart file, the design table excel file, and a txt file with the rule I used to randomize the orientation and size of the boxes.

Menotme Nearing Completion

We will be setting Menotme on Thursday in Detroit for Dlectricity.

 

Neglecting the blog but busy nonetheless

Hard to believe it has been so long since the last post.  It was a crazy summer and then school started too, which seems to always complicate things.  I just returned from the Architect R&D Symposium in Chicago and the Taubman College Future of Technology Conference.  Both planted a number of interesting ideas.

Other news from the summer is that the Shadow Pavilion won an Architect R&D Award and a National AIA Small Projects Award.

I have been especially busy with our work for BLU Homes.  Since February our firm has been doing design work with the prefab company out of Boston.  It is an interesting match that grew out of our work with CATIA and our interests in construction and fabrication.  BLU uses CATIA to completely model the houses and provide customer customizations.  The model captures all the information and then produces all the shop drawings for the factory.  In many ways it is another arrangement of the key players in the construction process, for us a new form of practice which questions the roles and relationships of traditional practice.  Within one team there is design, manufacturing, marketing, and sales. 

I should have some images to show soon but until then here is an image of a recently delivered project in Massachusetts.  There are three prefab units that are used as a painting studio, photo studio, and media space.  The open house for the project was last weekend, during my last trip out to Boston.

Images of THR_033 from the museum

Dezeen picked up the tea house on the blog today.  Click the image to read their description:

 John also posted some great pictures from the opening.  Here is a link to his post.

Here is the smile scanner in action:

Research Through Making Exhibit

Sorry for the holiday delay in posting.  Once reviews were done I needed a break.  We have been working on the exhibit of the first group of Research Through Making projects.  The exhibit will be on display starting on January 15th.  I have been working with Chris Johnson to animate a few of the material studies that were developed at the beginning of the project.  In all there should be 5 interactive prototypes.  Still working on the drawings and repairing some of the models.  I'll post some images once the exhibit is installed.

The interactive pieces are an array of LEDs with a PIR motion sensor controlled by Arduino boards.  We tried various code options but in the end recycled the code developed by John Marshall on the FIRE project.  The laser cut paper models are investigations of various aggregation strategies for a structural system.


Shadow Pavilion paper studies from Karl Daubmann on Vimeo.

Shadow Pavilion prototype from Karl Daubmann on Vimeo.

Snow Cones

We had some snow last week.  I rushed over to the botanical gardens to check out the pavilion and was pleasantly surprised to find snow shadows, or maybe the opposite of shadows, focused piles of snow corresponding to each cone.  Now I am waiting for a good ice storm to see if we get icicles for each cone.

Next iteration of the folding panel

After trying a few options for the folding screen, here is one that uses the corner (or a fold in the surface) to open.  I was hoping for a more dramatic range from closed to open but the range is based on the range of the individual module.

I was a bit lazy with the animation, only a few versions to show the range of motion.  The panel as rendered is 7 feet high by 9 feet wide.

The next project with John and Cezanne

John, Cezanne, and I have been working / talking about the next project since this past summer.  While we are still in the early stages, or at least my part of it is in early stages, I had a break through with the assembly modeling component in DP.  The installation will be at a museum in Japan and we are trying to work with a repeated interactive module and origami.  Below is a simple animation of the repeated parts as they fold.  The top left corner is fixed, and as a result as the parts change, it impacts all the connected modules.

Below are a few of the parts simply arranged that also rolls the surface into a cylinder.

Hydrophobic Surface Mapping

I have been working on a new knowledge pattern project that maps the flow over a surface.  The bigger project is to develop a new form of tiling that incorporates performance into the patterning and surface subdivision.  In the first series below, you can see the various steps to the flow pattern (the original surface, the first knowledge pattern that creates a set of isocurves, and then the lines of flow based on the difference between vertical and the surface normal at that intersection.

Below are a couple of variations as the surface is manipulated.  The next immediate step is to capture the lengths of the lines and possibly vary the line weight to better graphically represent the impact of slope. (click the image for a larger view)

Another iteration. (click for larger view)

Below is an obvious example of water moving across a surface.  The Lotus Leaf surface is "hydrophobic", keeping it clean because of its ability to repel water.

Signs of Fall at the botanical garden

I had a chance to go out to the shadow pavilion this weekend to make sure it was still standing.  It is still there and the colors of the trees are starting to change.

Pavilion Photos

Here are a few more photos that were taken of the pavilion with a long exposure during the full moon.

All the big parts in place

Still some minor modifications to be made, but all the big parts were installed today with the help of Peggy, Alex, and Katie. The light and sound quality of the megaphones is constantly changing based on the variations of the site.

Most people walking along the trail don't know what to make of it, but they all agree "It's interesting" or "different".

Progress Continues

Work continued today. While it was nice to see it in the sun, there was still not enough shade created to stay cool. Four more "chunks" to install,maybe done on Tuesday. Once the final parts are in place the temporary bracing can be removed.

Big Assembly Day

Ngoc Thy, Alex, and I had a few extra hands on site today to help hold and rivet. Thanks to Dwight, Jessica, Craig, and Jen for giving up their Sunday. All the parts are on site now with five "chunks" left to install. We hope to have the remaining pieces installed this week.

Assembly on site

This week we began setting the base of the pavilion. The first stage is a bit time consuming as the first row is anchored to the ground and filled with gravel. The next stage will be the assembly and installation of the ‘oculus’ at the northern edge.

Shadow Pavilion cleared for construction

On Friday we received word that the Shadow Pavilion has been cleared by the University Review Committee for construction. Most of the parts are assembled and are ready to be moved to the botanical Gardens.

The site is being prepped this week and the installation will begin, weather permitting.

Ayaka Ceiling Complete

Ayaka Sushi is open. Here are a couple of images of the completed ceiling in the space. Once the panels were assembled in the shop Marshall and Alex spent two days installing the six suspended panels.

Because the panels fold over and are painted with two different colors, from one direction it is more white from the other more orange is exposed.

Progress of Ceiling Panels

We have been working on the ceiling panels for the most recent restaurant. The combination of the fold and color creates a ceiling that changes colors from different directions (at least at the "gills"). The open folds allow for HVAC and lighting to drop through the surface.

I will post images once the panels are installed in the space.

Research Through Making finds a site

We have been working on the Research Through Making Grant for about a month. Numerous models and scripts have been developed as a means of creating form from a series of laser-cut, sheet metal cone like elements. To get the project out of the workshop and into the world, we started looking into potential sites. We worked with the U of M Arboretum and Botanical Garden to identify sites that would satisfy their goals and ours. Below are the final images of the agreed-upon construction site. We hope to begin installation in about a month.

Entrance from the street

Entry to the Pavilion

Pavilion from landscape

Pavilion from the back side

Inside the pavilion

Process models