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The Fall 2013 team engaged a change of medium for the model: 3D printing. A method was designed to 3D print almost all of the componentry within laser cut plexiglass containers. AguaClara's 3D output model was evaluated in a more robust software Rhinoceros 5 in which students could manipulate the geometry and format it for 3D printing. This included re-formatting the objects to the correct material thickness at model scale and ensuring that components were closed polysurfaces with no naked or non-manifold edges. Structural considerations at model scale were also taken into account for both plexiglass and 3D printed objects. 3D printing was completed using Shapeways.com as well at at the Architecture Art and Planning department. All pieces were completed and cut and assembled; the model is almost completely finished. Considerations for moving forward include how scripting could engage the formatting requirements of 3D printing, how more of the model could be printed at once, and how the model could be simplified for representational purposes.
Fall 2014
The Fall 2014 team worked on repairing the current small scale plant model and began using AutoCAD to 3D print a small scale model of AguaClara plants. The purpose of using AutoCAD to print models of AguaClara plants, rather than using Rhinoceros 5, is to automate as much of the printing process as possible. The team evaluated multiple methods of converting a solid in AutoCAD to a meshed solid. In addition, the team looked into alternative printers that would be more compatible to printing using AutoCAD.
Spring 2015
The Spring 2015 team plans on optimizing the design process of 3D printing by using AutoCAD and Mathcad. Not only is AguaClara already familiar with both AutoCAD and MathCAD, but manually formatting the Rhinoceros 5 drawing file proved to be tedious and time consuming. This transition will involve updating the MathCAD to AutoCAD (MtA) code to include the extra formatting that is necessary for 3D printing. In addition to the change in the design process, the small scale plant model will be scaled down to a travel size. By the end of the semester we will create a small scale plant model that is technical, yet easy to understand.
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