May 28th: Reverse Engineering

Here is the link to my new slideshow, with some extra detail about my concept for this project.

As I attempted to get started on my reverse engineering project (accurately replicating a bluetooth mouse to later modify and build on top of) I immediately ran into some trouble with my workflow.

I haven't been able to figure out how to approach the many complex curves of this object in Rhino. I began with making drawings of different angles of the object, to attempt to trace and scale to match the measurements I'm taking along the way. My major roadblock here is that A) the object is difficult to tackle or begin to outline even with six different views of it and B) once I have some basic outlines (not entirely accurate yet, just to try to create a surface from) I'm not sure what to do with them.

I've tried to explore sweep 1 and sweep 2, but wasn't sure if they were applicable to my project as-is, and had trouble understanding how to modify my outlines to make those functions work. Then I attempted to use loft and extrude along curve, just to see what those commands would give me. They were both different types of failures.

My biggest problem at the moment is sorting out how to get started with such a complex item. Measuring distances that make up the curves is difficult even with the digital calliper, and I think I need a new approach. Maybe working from a solid object and modifying it will be more easier to begin, but I see that method as more difficult to achieve accuracy.

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June 6th: Initial Renders and Modification Progress

Some initial renders of my object while I work on preparing it for 3D printing. Changes may still be made to the model before the final print, so these are the initial tests. The process so far for reverse engineering this object has had a lot of ups and downs. The modification I'd like to make to the object is still in progress, but I focused on having a solid replication to build on first, represented below. One of the more difficult aspects of this has been managing the surfaces that make up each piece of the object and trying to make them seamlessly combine. When I begin to print the object, I'll see if there are any more changes I need to make. I may need to return for another technician appointment once I've gone ahead with my "modification" ideas. I've included images of the work in progress (essentially opening up the top of the mouse and adding teeth and flesh textures along the seams like a mouth) below the renders of the unmodified object. Addin...

May 23rd: Reverse Engineering

Project 2: Reverse Engineered Object For project 2 I will be reverse engineering an object and modeling it in Rhino for 3D printing later on. I looked around my house and came across a handful of "mechanical" items I saw as intricate enough to prove a challenge but still achievable given our time frame. My pick of items I saw as feasible are a pair of nail scissors and clippers, a Bluetooth computer mouse, and a USB stick. I decided to pair the nail clippers and scissors as a pair of objects because I didn't see either of them as being complex enough to model on their own. They are both tiny handheld items made of at least two parts. I couldn't figure out how to unscrew these yet but I know it's possible! The USB stick is also decently simple and symmetrical but I was interested in the way it joins and fits perfectly together. The Bluetooth mouse is much more organic in shape, which I find interesting. It isn't perfectly symmetrical and will take some clos...

May 21st: Laser Cutting

This week I made some changes to my rhino file, finalized my file for laser cutting, and cut out the first form of the model. As I progressed with my model I made a few minor changes to the design. I added more variety in the “branch” pieces, developing more of an overall shape and a bit of progression around the circle. I finished the engraving designs, outlining each of the circles and extruding them to the thickness of my material. I arrayed the branches around the circles and used boolean difference tools to subtract the intersections. I had my piece laser cut with multiple layers of engraving, one for lines and one for solid shapes, to ensure I had enough difference in values on the Trotec plywood I used. When assembling my piece so far I came across a few issues. I need to take another look at the points where the pieces join and create deeper cuts in the circular pieces to make for more seamless joinery. As is the piece is more difficult to assemble than it need...

OBDF 210 Cain Niedersteiner

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