2. Digital bodies¶

Research & Ideation¶

This week we covered 3D modeling. We started with the input for a 3D model, using applications like Makehuman where you create bodies from pre-set options or 3D scanning ourselves [include video]. Then we used applications like Rhino to work with the inputs and tweak it to our desired outcome. And our output this week was a 3D sculpture created using many 2D pieces cut in a laser cutter.

This exercise of modeling a 3D object and breaking it down into 2D pieces in order to build it is very important and I’m really excited to use it. Typically when I sew I make patterns based on flat objects. I use items I already own as models, laying the piece down over pattern paper. Or I use patternmaking books, using my measurements and drawing lines and angles where they guide me. In both cases I’m working only in 2D and the work of converting the 3D form into 2D has been done by someone else. As I get more comfortable with 3D software I want to start with the 3D object of the body (rather than 2D measurement lines) and create patterns (and skip a lot of the waste of many toiles to get the right fit!). This concept is also exciting to me as I think of building furniture and ceramics (something I’m new to)

Digital pPatternmaking by dulse1000

References & Inspiration¶

FabTextiles ¶

FabTextiles Mannequin 2017, FabTextiles Mannequin 2016, FabTextiles RIG Mannequin

'Fab Textiles is a cross-disciplinary education and research platform to investigate how production and culture can impact the way in which we consume and act in the fashion industry.' -FabLabBCN

Oyster Mushrooms¶

Photos from Unsplash

The Fabtextiles mannequins made me think about oyster mushrooms, with all the visible seams and pieces jutting out. Oyster mushrooms appear to be 3D objects created by 2D vertical panels packed together in a circle.

Xia Xiaowan¶

Portrait of the Other, No.14,Xia Xiaowan, photos by me

'Xia Xiaowan is a contemporary Chinese painter and sculptor. Best known for his three-dimensional, painted works, Xia has pioneered a unique process that mimics MRI sequence imaging. In his meticulous practice, many small slivers of form are painted on sequential panes of glass which, when affixed together, result in a holographic and illusory object' -artnet

Claire Morgan ¶

Courtesy of claire-morgan.co.uk

'What if I could create something that was both plastic and organic, something massive and viscerally violent, but at the same time so delicate as to barely even exist.' -Claire Morgan

Tools & Materials¶

Material	Details
Software	MakeHuman, 3D Systems Sense, Rhino, Slicer
Tools	box cutter, cardboard 6.6mm, cutting board, ruler
Machine	Sense Pro Handheld Mobile 3D Scanner, FLUX Beambox Laser Cutter 600x375mm
Fabrication files	[TO ADD]

Process and workflow¶

Concept¶

I wanted to make a mannequin from my body inspired by an oyster mushroom. This meant that I wanted to create a mannequin made almost entirely out of vertical lines crowding together in the center. Since the horizontal lines need to exist for structural support, I needed to reduce the size in order to hide them from the front.

Creating 3D Form - 3D Scanner¶

For this project I used a form of my body created with a 3D scanner (Sense Pro Handheld Mobile 3D Scanner),

Step 1: Scan body¶

to add

It's important here to be very still and move very slowly with the 3D scanner, because the scanner easily loses track of the 3D form. In order to do this, Jeanne stood still with the scanner, meanwhile I was on a chair with a swivel so that I could remain still as well and we could move the chair. Since i couldn't have my torso vidible with my feet on the floor, I stood on my knees and Stephanie ducked down and turned the chair

Step 2: Edit in 3D Scanner software¶

The scan from the 3D Scanner appears in the associated software on the computer and there are a few ways to edit it at this point to make it easier to work with later

to add to add

Trim¶

You can trim the 3D Scan in order to keep only the parts important to you. This is pretty intuitive on the software. In the top left corner there is a box "Trim". You can select this box, draw a straight line and delete the part you no longer need. I, for example, trimmed my arms at the shoulder.

Repair --> Fill¶

If there is a hole in the 3D scan due to an error in scanning, we can easily plug the whole by clicking Repair --> Fill. You can then use a paintbrush like tool to fill in the empty area and the software knows to fill in the space so that we have one continuous surface.

Repair --> Solidify¶

To finish the model, we click Repair --> Solidify. This solidifies the object, closing all the remaining holes (e.g., neck, arm, legs)

Step 2: Edit in Rhino¶

In my case I didn't need to edit my model in Rhino because I had already edited it using the 3D Scanner software. However, when I was doing some practice in Rhino before my scan, I learned the following commands which could be helpful if you miss the steps above. Note that all the following text in bold is done in the command line (top left). And thank you to Amandine Fery who's page I referenced to find these helpful instructions!

Rhino Commands¶

How To:	Command(s)
Trim	-Command Line -Draw line, use Shift key to create vertical or horizontal line -Command MeshTrim -Select the line you just created -Click Enter -Select the object you want to remove
Close Holes	-Command Cap -Select object -Click Enter

Step 2: Import to Slicer by Fusion360¶

Import Model¶

Once done in Rhino, save the file as .obj, then we can import to Slicer

Put in laser cutter / material info¶

to add !

Under "Manufacturing Settings" click the little pencil box in order to edit settings. This allows us to put in the dimensions of our laser cutter and the thickness of our material.

In my case, my laser cutter is 600cm x 375 mm, but I put in smaller measurements into Slicer because I was scared of getting too close to the edge. I don't recommend this! It's wasteful and the laser cutter is very accurate and has a camera so there's nothing to worry about.

For the material I used 6.6mm Cardboard, and I added -0.15 for the offset so that there was more wiggle room and it was perfect. Keep in mind that the slot offset should be a negative number

Choose Object Size¶

Choose an object size that can fit on your flat pieces / preferred amount of pieces. This is something I played around with after landing on my design, as the number of pieces of cardboard changes as I added more or less vertical/horizontal pieces

Play Around!¶

Construction Technique and Slice Distribution is pretty intuitive. I knew I wanted to choose Radial Slices because I wanted to get the effect of an oyster mushroom. But I had to play around a lot with the count and moving the horizontal pieces up and down to get the desired effect and not have any red pieces (i.e., causing problems in construction). If a piece is red or is in a spot you dont like, you can click "Modify Form" from the lefthand side and drag the pieces up/down and side/side

Back to Rhino¶

Designate Cut vs. Engrave¶

Now we import back to Rhino to finalize before sending the plans to the Laser Cutter. To finalize, follow the steps below

Step	Command(s)
1. Join Curves	-Command SelColor -Select any blue line -Command Join -Command SelColor -Select any red line -Command Join
Designate Layers for Cut vs. Engrave	-Command SelColor -Select any blue line -Right click a layer -Select "Change Object Layer" -Rename layer "Cut" -Command SelColor -Select any red line -Right click a different layer -Select "Change Object Layer" -Rename layer "Engrave"

Trim Pieces¶

In my case, I had more edits to make. I wanted to trim down the horizontal pieces so that the would not be so visible. I used the following commands to do so.

Step	Command(s)
Create Circle
Trim

Optimize¶

The final step in Rhino is to optimize the spacing. We want all the model pieces to fit cleanly on the piece of cardboard with the minimum amount of waste. You can drag and drop, and rotate the pieces. Personally I did a bad job. I initially cut the cardboard pieces to fit the laser cutter, but this created a lot of extra space. After the first set of laser cuts, I decided to cut the cardboard rectangles to be optimal for my map in Rhino. (clarify this)

to add map photo

Step	Command(s)
Create Rectangle
Rotate

3D Models¶

upload the 3d models of MakeHuman, Final 3d modelled body, 3D Scans, etc

Fabrication files¶

File: 3d modelling of mannequin ↩
File: Laser cut sheets ↩