2. Digital bodies¶
Cover Art- Nadia Attmore
This week’s emphasis was on creating a digital body using computational tools. The purpose was to investigate how the human shape may be transformed into digital geometry and tangible objects.
Research & Ideation¶
In week 2, I set out to develop my own mannequin body form as a symbol of my design approach and not just for decor.
I looked online for STL files of a woman's body, that had specifically the upper body that included the neck and ending just past the top thigh. While my initial goal was to use Meshmixer to 3D print the form, I found that the process would have taken too long and after considering it wouldn’t have 100% corresponded with my concept of constructing.
Because of the way Iris van Herpen handles the human body as both a digital landscape and a sculptural base, her work became an essential resource for this week. Her ideas frequently begin with body scans, anatomical mapping, and 3D-printed structures that modify or extend the shape beneath them. Rather than treating the body as a neutral surface, uses it as a venue for research. C hanging muscles, duplicating bones, or creating movement that resembles organic systems. Her approach shows how the physical body, when captured digitally, can become a creative tool for design rather than just something to fit clothing onto. This relationship ties directly with my cardboard mannequin concept and my greater interest in the body as the structural and emotional foundation of fashion.
References & Inspiration¶
My inspiration came from the fact that fashion is continuous creation and not an instantaneous process. It's trial and error, reconstruction, and shaping. Creating the mannequin out of the laser cut cardboard slices felt figuratively powerful, building piece by piece. Each layer becomes a part of the foundation, just as every experience shapes who we(I) are as designers and individuals.
Tools¶
- Cults3D
- ThinkerCad
- Laser cutter
- Cardboard sheets
- Hot glue
Process and workflow¶
Laser cutters use vector based lines, prepare your pattern like this:
File Specifications: • Format: AI, SVG, DXF, or PDF • Stroke Weight: 0.001 in or hairline • Hues: Red (#FF0000) = cut Blue (#0000FF) = engraving Green = etch / score (optional)
Organize the Card/Material Sheet:
• Fit pattern pieces tightly to reduce waste.
• Don't duplicate any lines; keep them open.
• To lessen misalignment, group smaler parts together.
Output: Clean vector file placed inside the laser cutter’s bed size (e.g., 24” × 18”).
Setting up the Materials: 1. Place material on the honeycomb or grid bed. 2. To hold it flat, use metal weights or magnets. 3. Move the laser head to the upper-left corner of your material. The crucial step is to focus on the laser.
Most machines use a focus stick or auto-focus.
Manual Focus: 1. Lower the bed till the focus tool fits beneath the nozzle. 2. Raise the bed slightly until the nozzle meets the focus stick. 3. Remove the focus stick. 4. Your beam is now focused for the sharpest cut.
Automatic Focus • Select "Auto Focus," and the machine will automatically adjust.
SETTINGS EXAMPLES (EVERY MACHINE DIFFERS)
Acrylic (⅛”)
• Power: 85–100%
• Speed: 10–20%
• Passes: 1
• Air assist: ON
Cardboard (Which is what I used.)
• Power: 30–50%
• Speed: 80–100%
• Passes: 1
Fabric
• Power: 10–20%
• Speed: 100%
• Passes: 1–2
felt
• Power: 25–40%
• Speed: 40–60%
Run the Job:
1. Close the lid.
2. Be sure the file name on the screen is the correct file set you want to run.
3. Press START.
4. Watch the entire cut and do not walk away.
5. Carefully remove the items for small sections, use a scraper or clean residue with alcohol if needed.
Step 1: Getting the Original STL¶
I had to download a 3D torso file to start. I obtained a preexisting scan from Cults3D, a website with free and commercially accessible 3D models.
I chose a woman upper body scan that resembled the silhouette I wanted to work with, including the entire torso, neck, shoulders, chest, and upper thighs.
Procedure:
looked up "female torso mannequin STL" on Cults3D.
The file was downloaded in.stl format.
For cleanup, import the STL into Meshmixer.
Navigating the Workspace¶
Right-click + drag: rotate model
Scroll wheel: zoom in and out
Shift + right-click: pan across the screen
This makes it easier to check every angle of your model.
Step 2: Cleaning Up the File¶
Since this was my first time using Meshmixer, I took the time to learn how to fix, simplify, and smooth the mesh so that it could be cut cleanly for future use.
STL import:
Analysis → Inspector was opened to automatically fix mesh holes.
For standing stability, a flat bottom was created using a plane cut.
smoothed the surface imperfections and edges.
The cleaned mesh was exported as edited_torso.stl.
Step 3: Adjusting Size & Scale¶
Go to Edit → Transform
Use the axes to scale the model up or down.
You can also type in exact measurements if you need a precise height/width.
This step is crucial if your digital form needs to match realistic human proportions.
Step 4: Making the Model for Slicing¶
Step 1: Upload the STL that has been cleaned
Import → Select File → Upload your STL that has been cleaned by Meshmixer
Step 2: Choose "Slice"
From the panel on the right, select the Slice tool.
Slice style- stacked slices (or, depending on your preference, pick Horizontal/Vertical)
Layer height/slice thickness: 2-3 mm
To look the 3D sliced result, turn on preview mode.
Step 4: Export the File
Export as SVG.
Step 5: Repairing Holes¶
If your torso or anatomy model has holes:
Go to Analysis → Inspector
Meshmixer finds gaps automatically.
Click Auto Repair All or fix them manually.
This ensures your file is fully closed before slicing.
Step 6: Assemble¶
The process was both repetitious and calming.
Cut→ Number→ Glue→ Repeat.
Final Outcome¶
