2. Digital bodies¶

RESEARCH & IDEATION¶

Is resurrection embodied? Throughout many spiritual and physiological systems, there are keys to recovery of the soul and mind - typically upon a death or loss. In our modern era, we are removed from rituals that require a respectful opportunity to be humble in our internal need for release, to make the internal adjustments necessary to align ourselves.

Once this week's theme of "Digital Bodies" was proposed, I was immediately inspired by the Kemetic 'Ka'(𓂓, vital essence), the animating force behind the unique personalities we embody to ensure the power of our will. This symbol is depicted as 2 arms upheld, a depictation initially interpreted as "surrender" yet in actuality speaks to the underlying evidence of our actions, deeds and behaviours that provide the charge to our charisma and character. Interesting the way our 'selves' are fed (as the Egyptians believed the Ka needed sustenance), upon surrender and release.

Image Citations: Tumblr, Egyptian Museum in Cairo

Other Readings for Background and Context ::

⤷ Soul, Double, Life Force? The Ancient Egyptian Concept of Ka

⤷ The Ancient Egyptian View of the Human Psyche — the Ka, the Ba, and the Akh

⤷ The Body as a Toolbox in Ancient Egypt

Inspiration¶

Other Fabricademdy Alum that inspired this work are as follows:

⤷ Teresa van Twuijver, Amsterdam

WHY: background research, straightforward approach to programs, linear process

⤷ Catherine Euale, Barcelona

WHY: alternative software suggestions, where they progressed this project

⤷ Nanditha Nair, India

WHY: inspiration of research, clear execution + similar final project

Tools + Software¶

Our task was to learn how to use the 3D Scanner, 3D modelling software and the Laser Cutter to create something in response to the human body.

MAKEHUMAN

INTENT: Generate a model of the human body
SOFTWARE: free, open-source software for creating realistic 3D human characters
USE: customize your human form for printing and laser cutting.

CREALITY

INTENT: Generate 3D scans of our own bodies
SOFTWARE: CR- Scan Ferret 3D Scanner from Creality.
USE: explore the virtual representations of our body.

RHINO 3D

INTENT: Modify and Repair these meshes in Rhinocerous 3D.
SOFTWARE: 3D modeling software for design and architecture, available with a free 90-day trial.
USE: edit and adjust models; most technicalities take place here.

SLICER FUSION 360

INTENT: Slice our models and obtain an ODJ or STL file to laser cut with Slicer for Fusion 360
SOFTWARE: An extension that converts 3D models into slice-based designs for fabrication.
USE: Translate 3D model into 2D planes to be engraved and laser cut.

3D Models¶

MAKEHUMAN

Choose your figure. I used the "Benchmark" Pose in Makehuman. (you can customize gender, ethnicity, height, weight, facial expressions and poses).
Insert your body measurements under the measure tab (the program will give you a visual of where to take the measurement).
To finish, Export the file (option under save tab) in “wavefront” OBJ and “stereolithography” STL formats.

CREALITY

STEP 1: set up a good background. We used a green background to avoid objects being picked up by the scanner. We also set up a rotating table covered with green fabric so that we could experiment with both rotating ourselves. ROTATE SLOWLY.

STEP 2: make sure the scanner is at a good distance and what is in the camera is ‘green’ [close/appropriate], not ‘red’ [further/readjust].

STEP 3: There will be areas that will be difficult to capture such as under the chin or top of the head. Go to Mesh Settings >> Hole Filling >> Closure. A tip is reducing faces to reduce the time needed to upload. This will reduce the resolution, but it's ok; found at the bottom of slider.

STEP 4: Export >> Name File >> Format as 'OBJ' or 'STL'

Tajahobj by ellis.tajah on Sketchfab

RHINO 3D

1. Import OBJ file:

Open Rhino and choose your scale (we used mm because we are in Amsterdam)
It will open as a mesh
Under the viewport tab choose to render or shade
Double check: watertight mesh >> command >> SelectShow Edges → Naked Edges (use command “FillHoles” to repair open/naked edges)

2. Split limbs:

Make a box and encompass the body
Make a vertical plane and extrude it to a flat surface to split arms
Select the whole body
Mesh >> Boolean >> Boolean split>> Enter Command [SelMesh]>> Delete NOTE: this is THE MOST important step; it repairs our meshes. We can slice our meshes, join them and repair.
Delete unwanted limbs you selected

Depiction of Vertical Plane

Export as OBJ and STL formats

Here are some general tips for getting used to Rhino:

There are 4 different perspectives that shape the image you will view the model from
- Top, Perspective, Front, Right
  - 2D - parallel projects
  - 3D - what we can see
- Clicking the “View Port” becomes blue
- If you lose orientation, look at bottom left of the screen to see where you are going [sometimes it may seem like its moving up when its really going in the opposite]
  - when modeling, click the box where the names of "front, top, etc" are to see full view
  - For Wireframe [edges], For Ghosted [both shaded + edges]

COMMANDS

Shift + G = Movement

Shift + S = Scale

Shift + Z = Taller

Shift + A = Cylinder

SELECTIONS

To Select 2 [more than 1] = Click Shift + Click both
To Deselect one and not the other = Command + Click
To Select Everything = Draw a click
Window Selection = Top Left to Bottom Right [will only select what is within the window]
Pan = Shift + Right Click [same lens that can move side to side]

surrender by ellis.tajah on Sketchfab

SLICER FUSION 360

Import STL file, choose original scale from the drop menu on the left (pay attention to scale - we used mm, as we are in Europe)
Define Manufacturing Settings: we had to fit them on 2 cardboard sheets so I needed to assess measurements often [mine below]

Unit: mm

Height: 475.000

Width: 136.329

Length: 222.066

Thickness: 3.000
Define Construction Technique: I used stacking for mine
Slicer will convert your 3D form into 2D parts. On the right side, you will see 'Cut Layout' - make sure there are no red's, this means there is an error.
You can shift each slice around and add or remove slices to achieve a fully functioning model ready to laser cut.
Get plans: export to DXF (to re-open in Rhino to prepare for laser cutter)

Laser Cut + Assembly¶

I found a very comprehensive and thorough guide on laser cut from ⤷ Teresa van Twuijver, Amsterdam of Amsterdam, 2019. Here is a summation below I modified based on my model.

Turn on the computer, import your flashdrive
Turn on the operating panel on the laser cutter. when you turn it on, wait then press reset button.
Open windows
Open the hatch put the material [in this case cardboard] in the laser cutter
Check if the material is flat on the surface - insert weighs on the very edges, make sure the laser head does not hit the weights - that will be a major problem!
Import file from desktop. Delete "Duplicate". Select "Open Shape >> Auto Join"
Check the file: adjust lines and colours. Delete "Outline".
"Control A" - select all the shapes, make sure width and the height are smaller than cardboard
Set the blue dot in the left top corner of the canvas with the red dot button in the toolbar
Set the speed and power for cutting and engraving and assign colours to them (blue cutting, red engraving)
For 3 mm cardboard we used speed 300 | power 60 to cut and speed 400 | power 20 to engrave
Calibrate the laser cutter > push escape on the machine and adjust the nosel
Use a block or to calibrate the Z-axis (screw the laser up or down)
Move the laser to the left top corner for calibrating the Y and X axis
Upload file > escape > file > choose > set logic original > enter
Close the lid
Turn on laser machine and turn on the ventilation (green button under the computer)
Run a test on a small part of the material > push start for operating and pausing
Recalibrate when needed
Laser cut the uploaded file
Stay with the machine when cutting in case of fire
When done, turn off the laser and the venitlation (green button) and remove the material carefully
When the material is very thin, make sure to cut the inside first and the outline later – you can do this by using different colours and adjusting the cutting order (colour on the top goes first)

Construction¶

Constructing was the fun part. Meditative, repetitive and making sure its aligned. The assembly instructions from Slicer were straightforward, all you had to do was line up the engraved marks and align from "Model Issues". Overall, I learned a lot and was able to apply what was learned to intregrate this knowledge.