week04

i really enjoyed working in FUSION 360. It is a completly different approachof creating 3D shapes on a computer. I am used to Software Solutions like Autodesk Maya, Houdini or Cinema4D - this programs are all based on Polygons and it's more about sculpting different shapes and a lot about eyeballing and feeling of an object.
Fusion is the complete opposite to this - it is super nice to work in such a precise way.

i started my process for this weeks assignment with drawing the sketches of all components that i had to assemble inside the body of our "streaming genocide alert" .

after the sketching i started the 3D modeling to get the actual shapes of every component. My workflow is usually really visual - so for me it is easier to imagine a body that could fit every component if i got them in my 3D space as well.

I started some additional measurements and played around with the components in space and came up with this shape.

andy and i talked a lot about how the streaming genocide alert could look like. We wanted to follow two different approaches. a wearable and a static, public version of it.

i was working on the wearable. So i decided on putting a little mounting on top of the casing. it has a hole at the top where you can put a carabiner.

The whole device is designed to to be worn on your belt or bagpack.

First idea scribbles and measurement sketches

I was really looking forward to this week, because I have been working with 3D programs for years, but so far I could only create digital models. Bringing these models into the analogue world was very exciting for me.

This week I didn't have any problems with the Fusion360 workshop from the week before to get familiar with the software. That's why I didn't watch any more tutorials, but tried to get to know the tool with the given task --> learning by doing, not by watching videos. :D

Modeling the models didn't give me much trouble. But when it came to printing the data, I had no idea. Fortunately Elisa is super good at 3D printing (she even has her own home!!!! ).
So she helped me to set up the Cura file and was able to show me the basic functions of the tool very quickly. She noticed directly that my design needs a lot of support material for the case, because I have attached many bulges to the case.

Due to my "unfortunate" design decisions regarding the case, Andy and I had to remove a lot of support material from the actual case. Some of them were almost impossible to get off.

While we were struggling with it, Kaj came by and gave a very good tip, next time you can't print the case lying down, but standing up. Then you need less support material and it should go even faster, because the ways for the head of the printer are not so far.

At the end all parts fit very well into the case! Except for the speaker - I don't know why, but I measured myself by exactly 1 cm, so the opening in the cabinet was way too small for the big speaker.
After I told Loes about it, she came by with a smaller speaker that fit exactly. :) YEJ

Another learning from this week is that UltiMaker only has a certain "resolution" for the size of components. I read on the net that you can print parts as small as 0.5mm.

That's why I equipped my shutter for the case with 0.5mm wide holes and pins. BUT the printer couldn't print it accurately enough, so the cover couldn't hold it.