INTRODUCTION

Introduction to Digital Fabrication course is focused on learning the use of three different machines: CNC Milling, Laser Cutting and 3D Printing. The objective was to fabricate different recursive geometries with the help of the machines. We focused not only in the geometrical design but fabricated a functional piece based on the characteristics of each machine.

CNC MILLING

Our objective was to create a model with basic geometrical shapes to be able to use as much machine operations as possible.

Strategies

Horizontal Roughing
Flat Mill 6mm
Flute: 2
Diameter: 10
Spindle Speed: 12000
Cut Direction: Upcut
Stepdown Control (dZ): 50%
Stepover Distance: 75%
Total mill time: 26 minutes

Horizontal Finishing
Ball Mill 6mm
Diameter: 6mm
Spindle Speed: 12000
Cut Direction: Upcut
Stepover Control: –
Total mill time: 5 minutes

Parallel Finishing
Ball Mill 6mm
Diameter: 6mm
Spindle Speed: 12000
Cut Direction: Upcut
Stepover Control: –
Total mill time: 13 minutes

Pocketing
Flat Mill 10mm
Flute: 2
Diameter: 10 mm
Spindle Speed: 12000
Cut Direction: Upcut
Cut Depth Control: 5%
Stepover Distance: –
Total mill time: 4 minutes

Profiling
Flat Mill 10mm
Flute: 2
Diameter: 10 mm
Spindle Speed: 12000
Cut Direction: Upcut
Cut Depth Control: 5%
Stepover Distance: –
Total mill time: 13 minutes

Clear Flat Tops
Flat Mill 10mm
Flute: 2
Diameter: 10 mm
Spindle Speed: 12000
Cut Direction: Upcut
Cut Depth Control: 5%
Stepover Distance: –
Total mill time: 18 minutes

LASER CUTTING

By using a basic geometric structure of squares and hexagons, we created a piece with the multiple configurations. Each piece has a different work in the structure.

Strategies

Material: Polypropylane 1.2mm
                    Black Speed 3.5 | Power 48      White Speed 3.5 | Power 60
Duration:
                   Black 12 minutes                         White 12 minutes
Technique: Interlocking
Tolerance: 0.8mm
Joint Type: Halved
Machine: RayJet 500

3D PRINTING

The objective was to design 3D printed nodes to join wire rods and create a geometrical piece. All the nodes have the same diameter but each one has unique holes.

Strategies

Number of Nodes: 20
Printing Time: 4 hours
Tolerance: 2.3 mm
Printer: Zortrax 200M
Material: Z-ABS
Supports: None
Infill Density: 0
Layer Thickness: 0.19
Print Quality: High

Introduction to Digital Fabrication – Recursive Geometries is a project of IAAC, Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia developed at Master in Advanced Architecture in 2021 by Students: Arunima Kalra, Brian Woodtli and José Manuel Asensio and faculty: Shyam Francesco Zonca, Lana Awad and Ricardo Mayor