1.2 PARAMETRIC DESIGN & CUTTING

1.1 WEBSITE

Softwares: Figma+Dev, PhotoShop, VS code
Files: ClassWebsite.fig
ChatGPT: Website.Prompt1,

Softwares: Rhino 8, Grasshopper Devices: Lasercutter Arch Shop - 500/200 PSI (find name and exact calculations used)
Files: AstroChain.3dm , AstroChain.gh , AstroSigns.svg

TRIALS & TRIBULATIONS AND THE LESSONS LEARNED

Attempt 1

Attempt 2

I was extremely indecisive about how to make this website at first. My initial idea was I really wanted to create a tab system for going through the assignments, to remind me of digging through a binder.

I made an initial sketch of this idea on Figma and wrote this prompt into ChatGPT to create the website. But upon going live, it looked a bit too retro for my liking. The color pallet also didn’t resonate with me. So I went back to the drawing board.

I think at some point the anxiety of needing a fully flushed out website with cool interaction faded away and I allowed myself to just create a layout that made sense in my mind for this class. I chose a color scheme what was easy and stuck with a white background.

I also spent some time searching on how to create quickly and easily create an html code from my Figma, and I realized that it’s not so simple as a plug-in. I acessed Figma Dev Mode for the first time ever, and was able to see the individual code blocks for each page and export. In my first attempt it had issues displaying images and working on interactions. But with a bit of help from ChatGPT, I tried adding the page interactions.

For this project, I wanted to test the limits of cardboard prototyping. I’ve used cardboard for prototyping physical UI in the past, and most of them not only felt structurally unstable but looked horrendous. So for this week, I wanted to make a wearable jewelry/decor piece, and made a sketch for a chained necklace with zodiac embellishments. The idea is, since remembering your zodiac chart can be hard, with this necklace, anyone can assemble their own birth chart using the chains and charm pieces as a visual reminder.

When designing wearables, its always important to pay attention to the measurements: after finishing the project, I realized it’s a bit too long to wear as a necklace, hence it becoming a decor piece ;-;... In hindsight I should’ve also set a parameter for what sizes are visually appealing to influence the sizing.

Use parametric modeling for more than just complex geometries: I actually really loved using grasshopper for this project because it made it extremely easy to model multitude of types of chains, without knowing the exact specs of my material as I CADed from home.

To start thinking about my parametric design process for the chains, I first drew out a few versions of the chain links that could be visually appealing, but also structurally sound and fit together well. I didn’t want the chain coming lose with movement, and I also didn’t want it breaking apart into separate layers because the chain is too thin.

I created some variables and set some basic algebra equations to parametrize my design from my sketches above.

The variables I set were..

x - cardboard thickness
a - chain link thickness
g - chain gap size

derived variables...
i - chain internal gap size
w - chain link width
h - chain link height

With these variables hoped to influence characteristics such as the thickness, fluidity/movement, and durability of the final chain.

I laser cut two plates, a test plate with multiple versions of the chain and charm to test tolerances and a second plate of the final chain and charm plate.

Assembly was fairly easy, and the chain ended up being very fluid and versatile with movement. Chain links would occasionally knot together if a link became horizontal though. I noticed that in assembling (my process was simply twisting the links open and fitting a closed one within), the twisted cardboard piece was a lot weaker than the unopened links.

I liked the rounded chain with no gap the best. It swung freely, and felt secure. It also was the easiest put together due to the curved edges. With this information, I made my final adjustments to the sizing and made an array with grasshopper for the final laser cut.

PARAMETRIC DESIGN

PARAMETERS

LASERCUTTING

ASSEMBLY

FINAL PIECE

AstroChain Overall Grasshopper file | Divided into two sections, the top being the actual drawing of the chain and 3D representation, and the bottom being arraying the drawings into a vector file for lasercutting.

Initial variables set with number sliders and derived variables set.

Chain arrayed (sorry I think the fillet wasn’t on preview for the array when I took the picture!!)

Test 1 - Thin Square Chain with Gap

Test 2 - Long Rectangle Chain with gap

Test 3 - Rounded Chain, no gap

Finally, I took this image of all the astrological signs from google and added it to Adobe Illustrator, converted it to a vector through image trace, then exported it as an .SVG file.

In Rhino, I modeled the charms as drawings, setting the connection opening to the grasshopper parameters. Lastly, I attached the signs to the charms that just manually drew on rhino.