2. Digital bodies

What the week looked like

This week has been super exciting with all the amazing material and equipment exploration i got to do. Have been wanting to learn how to use the in-house Lasercutter and 3D printers for more than 2 years now, and this week's exercise was the perfect excuse.

It was also a very humbling last few days, with the continued struggle with my website. However, the good news is that lessons have been learnt and i THINK i have figured out an ideal workflow, henceforth.

Takeaway from Global Session

This week's session was led by Anastasia explored the body, both as a canvas and as a conceptual framework. We reflected on how perceptions of the ideal body shape have evolved over time, particularly in response to technological and media influences.

The session also examined various artistic interpretations of bodies—both physical and digital—and how these representations challenge or reinforce societal norms.

We briefly touched on prosthetics, considering how their form and imagery have shifted over the years, especially through technological advancements.

Finally, we discussed a list of potential software tools to experiment with in explorations for this week.

Checklist for the week

Personal thoughts & Ideas

Bodies, in general has been a topic of interst for me for more than a decade. And this week's theme to think deeper about it has been extremely interesting.

After the global session, i had a clear idea of directions i wanted to look at. To begin with, i wanted to do something related to my body (exploration of which has been part of several of my personal projects). I was sure i wanted to work with Scans of my hands, my head and my torso.

This week i wanted to attempt a creative exploration of representation of physical bodies by bringing together a constant play between digital and tactile.

For the Theme of Digital Bodies, i wanted to look at what is it that the body meant to me, especially a "DIGITAL" body.

What exactly is a Digital Body to begin with? Is is something that is created digitally? Could it be something that exists online in the digital realm? Would it also mean my digital footprint? Have i already existed digitally? And i am already a Digital Body then, so to speak?

Dwelling into all of these possibilities, especially the fact that my Digital Data and Self aren't safe (no thanks to the lack of policies around Digital Safelty), there was a song that kept repeating in my mind by Peter Gabriel called 'My Body is a Cage'.

Some sinnepets of the lyrics go as follows:

My Body is a cage

But my mind holds the Key

I'm standing on a stage

Of fear and self-doubt

It's a hollow play

Still shapes fill my head

Set my spirit free

Big Idea : Body as Cage

Research & Inspiration

I looked at the references shown in the Global session by Anastasia and in the Local session by Mina, and found a few favourites, and a few whose work i was already aware of.

To me, the abstract works by Antony Gormley, the sculptures by Jaume Plensa and the kinetic sculptures by David Černý align with exactly what i feel is expected from this week. Their aesthetics is what i feel i can repliate through my explorations with Lasercutting.

I have been a fan of the works of Lucy McRae since her works fits in the realm of Specultive Fiction. I particularly enjoyed her pieces called Compression Cradle and Solitary Survival Raft that investigate how emerging technologies impact human evolution.

I have also seen the hyper-realsitic works of Ron Mueck before and i found his process of creating these larger than life scultural pieces extremely fascinating.

Softwares & Tools Explored

SOFTWARES:

1. Kiri Engine (for 3D scanning)

2. Meshmixer (for 3D mesh modeling)

3. TinkerCAD (for 3D modeling)

4. Make Human (for 3D human modeling)

5. Autodesk Fusion 360 (for 3D model viewing)

6. Slicer for Fusion 360 (for generating drawings for laser cutting)

7. Autodesk AutoCAD (for editing drawings for lasercutting)

TOOLS:

1. EinScan HD Pro Scanner

2. SIL CO2 Laser cutter

3. Ender 3 V3 KE 3D Printer

Exploration & Attempts

Kiri

To begin with, the first thing i was really excited to do was try digital scanning my body or rather parts of it. I downloaded the Kiri App, that was recommended in the Global session and began exploring on it, scanning hands and baloons!

For the first test, i got my student Yuvika to help scan my upper torso. She had apparently used this application before as well, so it was a really beautiful moment, learning from my student.

I was able to generate a very intersting 3D model from the scan. However, the 3D model was a lot more bumpy and irregular than what i had expected.

For the second test, i wanted to scan something smaller. I use Hands as objects within my Practise a lot and i was curious to try 3D scanning Hands as a way to document them. This time, i asked Shefali to model for me, wearing white gloves. I had assumed that the gloves would provide for more smoother surfaces in the 3D scan.

Despite trying multiple ways to scan the hands, i was not able to get a single usable 3D file. This made me realise that for more usable 3D models, i will need the object to stay completely still.

So, for my third test, i wanted to try scanning a static object. Continuing on my keeness to work with gloves, i filled one with water and put it in the freezer for a few hours.

Once the water had frozen, i kept the glove on a raised surface and tried to scan it, but i did not acheive any usable 3D models from the scan.

Not still giving up on the capabilities of the scanner, i did a fourth and last try, by inflating the glove and hanging it. I then attempted to scan the glove 3 times.

However, i did not get any usable 3D forms from this attempt as well.

These attempts made me realise the limitations that come with manual app based scanning, and also the complexities of what can and cannot be easily scanned with these Apps, for future exectation management.

EX Scanner

I also happened to get to know that we have a Professional level scanner in our University as part of the larger FabLab and booked time with Sangram, the Lab Incharge at The Somaiya School.

Sangram showed us how to use the EXScan Pro tool as well as the software. This being my first time useing this, he helped me scan my upper torso.

These are what the scans of my upper torso look like from EXScan Pro.

For my second attempt, i again tried scanning Shefali's hands and these are what the scans looked like.

These explorations with the EXScan Pro helped me understand the nuances and limitations of a Professional Scanner. And also that 3D Scanning is not a simple as it may seem, and infac getting a good scan is very very difficult.

Meshmixer

After my sanning experiments, the 3D model that i found most usable to work with was the First scan of my upper torso done on the Kiri App. I downloaded the 3D model and opened it in Meshmixer.

This is my first time using this software and used this opportunity to just try and explore the options avaialble. My attempt was to make the bumpy scan smoother and more even.

I feel i was sucessfully able to achieve the smoothness without removing too many details. However, this exercis has helpe dme understand the limitations of the software and realise that the best work flow would be to have a refined scan, to ensure a much smoother model. And that post-processing the model has it's limitations.

Watch this video on YouTube

TinkerCAD

Now that i had worked with 3D models that were from scans, i wanted to try my hand with softwares that could help make 3D models from scratch. having worked with building based modelling softwares in the past, i was quite excited to try my hand at this.

Hoever, since these exercises have a rather quick turn around period, i didnot have the time to learn a brand new softwar. So after looking around at the various options suggested in the Global and Local sessions, i decided to use TinkerCAD.

TinkerCAD belongs to the AutoDesk family and i have used AutoCAD in my previous years, and i felt extremely comfortable using it. Unlike AutoCAD which is a software you need to install, TinkerCAD is used online through a web browser.

Another amazing opportunity with TinkerCAD is that i could easily import existing model and start playing around with them, to get a grip on the software. I used Sketchfab to download this free model of a bust to play with.

And this is a detailed documentation of my explorations on the software and how i exported this model.

View my Google Slides presentation

Make Human

Since i wasn't really happy with the 3D scan from my explorations with the Scanner and Meshmixer, I tried my hand at Make Human. Knowing that i could import a 3D model to play with in TinkerCAD, i immediately downloaded and installed Make Human, with the hopes that i could have better luck with the 3D.

The software is pretty straighforward. It offers you extreme control in being able to numerically change various parameters of the human model. i played with the existing model and sculpted it according to my likings.

Watch this video on YouTube

Laser Cutting

As part of the learnings for this week, we were supposed to learn how to use the lasercutters in our FabLabs. Pranav, our FabLab instructor and Akhilesh, our Lab Tech. took us through the lay of the land, starting from how to book the laser cutter, to turning it on and eventually operating it. He also explained to us the details about the specifi model and fire-safety precautions.

Below is the workflow i followed for Lasercutting this weeks assignment, based on my induction.

View my Google Slides presentation

Final Workflow & Outcomes

For the final part of this week's assignment, i combined my learnings from all my explorations.

Step 1: Make Human

To begin with, i went back to Make Human and started refining the object shape as per what i had in mind. This time around, i really tried to edit and play with ALL the possible parameters.

Once i was happy with it, i downloaded the model as an .OBJ and .STL flie for further use. Since i cannot save the model in the free version of the software, below is the documentation of the exact edits i made to the orignal object.

View my Google Slides presentation

Step 2: TinkerCAD

Once i had my HUMAN object, i imported it to TinkerCAD, since this software has more freedom to play with and create 3D objects.

Keeping in tune with the theme i selected for the week 'body is a cage', i started creating forms and shapes intersecting with the HUMAN object. In order to make it more rugged, i sculpted out shapes from the caged additions, that looked like large bullet holes.

Now that i was satisfied with the scultped model, i exported it to be used for Laser Cutting and 3D printing.

Step 3:Fusion 360

In order to create a drawing for Lasercutting and 3D printing, i needed to import the TinkerCAD model into AutoDesk Fusion360, inorder to ensure that the curves and forms of the model were correct.

Once this was done, i created 2 separate compositions for the 2 different processes.

I simplified the model for the lasercutting version, as shown below.

And i used the exisitng version of the model for 3D printing.

Step 4: Slicer for Fusion 360

For the purpose of LaserCutting, Fusion360 has a additional plugin called Slicer, which helps to create 3D modles into sliced or slotter templated for lasercutting escpecially.

Below are the exact settings i used for Slicing my 3D model. I am constructing my physical model with 3ply corrugated and hence the setting in the software have been made according to the sheet size and thickness.

For this version, i selected STACKED SLICES as the mode of model assembly i wanted for my physical lasercut model pieces.

View my Google Slides presentation

Slicer for Fusion360 auto generates the drawing for lasercutting, once you approve the generated simulation.

Step 5: AutoCAD

After downlading the generated drawing or .DWG from Slicer for Fusion360, i opened them in AutoCAD in order to check it. Also, i wanted to create a more compact NESTING for the pieces than was generated by the software, and i sat and individually created a more compact drawing.

Step 6: Laser Cutting

Now that the drawing was ready, i got to testing and cutting the pieces on the lasercutter. The final speed setting i used was:

CUTTING Speed(mm/s) : 25 Min Power(%) : 20 Max Power(%) : 30 Priority : 1

ENGRAVING Speed(mm/s) : 100 Min Power(%) : 6 Max Power(%) : 7 Priority : 2

Once the pieces were cut and removed from the lasercutter, i sat and first created clusters from the pieces, like solving a puzzle. Then i proceeded to put these pieces together, with the assistance of my dad, who very graciously and enthusiastically agreed to spend his saturday night helping me assemble this model.

This is us assembling the model

It took us a bit more than 3hrours to assemble.

This is what the assembled model looks like

Step 7: 3D Printing

I really wanted to try and attempt 3D printing the model as well, so Pranav, our Lab Instructor quickly helped me setup the printer and get stared.

I used the Ender 3 KE FDM 3D Printer at our FabLab. The model took 6hours 53minutes to print.

Once the model was printed, we removeded the support structures to reveal the final model, that matched the 3D model completely.

Learnings & Takeaways

1. 3D scanning is NOT the same as 2D scanning. It's not as simple and not as precise. A perfect 3D scan would require a lot of prep and also, not everything can be scanned. Expectation management and reality check with respect to what i presume the outcome will be vs the actual capabilities and limitations of the tools involved.

2. There is a joy in learning new softwares and working across multiple softwares that can help enrich the design. And especially softwares that were designed to do singular things perfectly. I realised that for me, they took away the pressure of learning a completely new software from scratch and gave me time to explore different facets of the assignment more. I really enjoyed TinkerCAD a LOT.

3. Lablelling the pieces for lasercutting can be a B. And that it is super important to label them properly. While assembling the laser cut pieces, we realised that in some places the number engraved was on the flipped side and in some cases it was on the correct side.

4. Be it Lasecutting or 3D scanning or 3D printing, there is a LOT more editing and refining required behind the scnenes to get the required output. And things can go wrong. Many times. Remember to be patient with the machines.

Fabrication Files

Model for Lasercutting

Model for 3D Printing

Drawing for Lasercutting

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People to thank for this week

Dad: For helping me assemble the model, something that was taking too long to do alone and i had been putting it off for a while. I would not have been able to assemble this without his patience.

Yuvika: my student, who helped kickstart the first real exercise for Fabri, and made me belive that help would always be avalable for me from the students along my Fabri journey

Pranav: for taking time out and teaching us the lay of the land and using the machines at the drop of a hat

Akhilesh: for patiently overseeing and ensuring i had a correct workflow with the Lasercutter and 3D printer, and helping out when things didn't seem to be working smoothly.

This week in emojis: 🤓🧑‍🏭🤘🦾🗿😇