02

Computer Controlled Cutting

This week I thought it would be cool to try and make the Vitruvian Face.
A little ensemble of little guys with parameterically defined features .
A little collection of goofy little dudes with exchangeable features (noses / mouths / eyes, etc)
A little crowd of monsters with a bit of personality.

Vinyl Cut Abomination


Certainly didn't initially set out with the idea to peel off my face, but I guess now my laptop can be haunted...
  .-.
(o o) boo!
| O \
 \    \
 `~~~'

Initial cardboard laser cut doodles

CAD Model

Inspired by Alfonso's metal sculptures, I thought I'd try that sheet metal folding feature in Fusion 360 and chose what seems like a reasonable k value estimate of 0.5 for cardboard. I only started CADing about 2 or 3 months ago, but I do enjoy the process. Made up some fun parameters and gave it a hexagonal base design w/ some nice holes in the back of the head for the world to look through. After CADing up the first pass and playing with the parameters. I realized I must have gotten some of these parameter set ups wrong, but I actually really enjoy how crazy they look (especially top right face).


Here's the finished CAD model of the vanilla parameters. Added some of those wood working fits on the hairline & will make some wedges out of cardboard to ensure it doesn't unfold by itself. Then worked in the ears / mouth / neckline all with some very simple press fits - just intended to give the structure a bit of support. The ears are intended to be the "modular" part of the model. They can be removed and easily replaced with other funky ear shapes.

Finally unfolded the design & add some holes for living hinge mobility. This took way way way longer than it should have. Fusion 360 crashed when I tried to rectangularly pattern the holes, so instead I did a lot of copying and pasting with not just a little eyeballing. Really ought to be a way to do this faster.

Assembly

I saw the angel in the corrugated cardboard and carved until I set him free.


After some futzing he's smiling at me! Happy to be born. I pilfered a couple scraps to finish the joints & give him some hair/horns. In the end, I had to scissor him out a little since the cardboard I was using seems to be thicker than the 3/16 cardboard which the presets were defined for.

Then painted! But unfortunately the promised crowd of Vitruvean buddies will unfortunately have to wait...