This document summarizes an introduction to digital fabrication course. The course objectives are for students to gain an in-depth understanding of various digital fabrication technologies and learn how to apply these technologies to fabricate objects. Topics covered include parametric modeling, CNC machining, 3D printing, digitizing, mold making, and prototyping.

1. Introduction to Digital Fabrication
Fall 2015 - Prof. Brian Oltrogge
COURSE OBJECTIVES
STUDENTS WILL GAIN AN IN DEPTH UNDERSTANDING OF VARIED
DIGITAL FABRICATION TECHNOLOGIES AND WILL LEARN HOW TO
APPROPRIATELY APPLY THESE TECHNOLOGIES IN THE ACTUAL
FABRICATION OF OBJECTS. TOPICS AND METHODS THAT WILL BE
INTRODUCED AS AN INTEGRATED PART OF A DESIGN WORK FLOW
ARE AS FOLLOWS:
- PARAMETRIC MODELING
- CNC MACHINING / POST-PROCESSING
- 3D PRINTING
- DIGITIZING
- MOLD MAKING
- PROTOTYPING
Basma Alharbi - Emidio Souza - Gustavo Martins - Abhimanyu Lakhey - Suzann Bigelow - Oliver Ostrander-Raupp - Ryan Alm

2. WHEN GIVEN THE TASK TO BUILD A DIGITALLY FABRICATED INSTALLATION
TO BENEFIT THE STUDENTS ON CAMPUS, WE FIRST NEEDED TO FIND A
LOCATION AND PURPOSE. WE FOUND THREE LOCATIONS THAT COULD BE
INTERESTING TO WORK WITH, ALTHOUGH THIS SITE THAT WAS CHOSEN
WAS A UNANIMOUS DECISION BY ALL STUDENTS IN THE CLASS. THE SPACE
WAS FILLED WITH PREVIOUS PROJECTS AND SCRAP MATERIALS (AS SHOWN
IN BOTH IMAGES). IT WAS AN EYESORE ON CAMPUS AND NEEDED TO BE
REVITALIZED IN ORDER TO BE A USABLE SPACE IN THE FUTURE.
ARCHITECTURE BUILDING
PREVIOUSLY USED FOR OPEN STORAGE
GREAT VIEWS TO NATURE ON CAMPUS
ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF NATURAL LIGHTING THROUGHOUT THE DAY
SOLID STRUCTURES TO WORK WITH
EASY ACCESS TO STUDENTS
POWER PROVIDED FOR LAPTOPS
QUIET ENOUGH FOR A COMFORTABLE STUDY LOCATION

3. ONCE THE SITE WAS SELECTED, THE CLASS COMPILED
MULTIPLE IDEAS IN COLLABERATION TO WORK THROUGH
SOME DESIGNS AND IDEAS. WE CREATED A DETAILED
AND ACCURATE MODEL IN SKETCHUP FOR THE EXISTING
SPACE, SO EACH STUDENT COULD BRAINSTORM SOME
DESIGN POSSIBILITIES WITHIN THE SPACE.
AS A GROUP, WE DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A
DESIGN THAT WOULD BE TEMPORARILY INSTALLED, BY
USING CONNECTIONS THAT WERE NONDESTRUCTIVE
TO KEEP ALL EXISTING MATERIALS INTACT. TO DO THIS
WE DESIGNED A RIB SYSTEM THAT FIT OVER THE WALL
WITH MININAL TOLERANCE, THEN CONNECTED THE RIBS
THROUGH A SERIES OF BOARDS AND WORK SURFACES.

4. INDIRECT
NATURAL LIGHT
DIRECT
NATURAL
LIGHT
WORK SURFACE
SECONDARY WORK SURFACE
REPLACEMENT SHELVING
WALL REMAINED FOR PIN UP
MACLAB WINDOW SCREEN
DOORS TO
STUDIOS
SPACE TO
REMAIN OPEN

5. ONCE THE SITE LOCATION WAS SELECTED AND ANALYZED, WE UNDERSTOOD THAT ONLY ABOUT 3 STUDENTS WOULD
COMFORTABLY BE ABLE TO STUDY HERE BECAUSE OF PERSONAL STUDY SPACE. WE DIVIDED THIS INTO TWO MICRO
SPACES IN WHICH ONE COULD BE TWO STUDENTS IN COLLABERATION, AND THE OTHER BEING A SINGLE PERSON IN
FOCUSED ISOLATION. TO FURTHER THIS IDEA, WE ROTATED THE WORK SURFACE PROFILE TO ALLOW FOR THESE TWO
DIFFERENT MICRO SPACES TO HAVE ENHANCED PROPERTIES RELATING TO ITS USE.
DIVIDE FOCUS EDGE STRUCTURE

6. [POCKET] [REMOVE]
LIGHT SCREENPRIVACY
DESIGN LANGUAGE FOR THE SCREEN
IS DERIVED FROM THE DESK. FIRST,
POCKETS ARE CUT TO CONTINUE THE
ANGLED MOTIF, HOWEVER DO NOT
PENETRATE THE BOARD FOR PRIVACY
REASONS. THEN MORE PRECISE
LINES ARE CUT OUT TO ALLOW A
CONTROLLED AMOUNT OF NATURAL
LIGHTTO PENETRATETHE SCREEN INTO
THE COMPUTER LAB BEYOND.

7. 60”
60”x60”
ADA Pulloff
80”
36”
36”
ADA & EGRESS ACCESSIBILITY
AS THIS SPACE IS SMALL IN DIMENSION, WE NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND AND
INCORPERATE ADA ACCESSIBILITY FOR CLEARANCES AND OPENINGS. THE FIVE FOOT
ADA TURNING CIRCLE THAT EXISTED NEEDED TO REMAIN SO THE WORK SURFACE
STARTS AFTER THE POINT FOR ACCESSIBILITY. WITHIN THE WORK SURFACE SPACE
ALL CLEARANCES PROVED SPACE FOR ADA ACCESSIBILITY. ALTHOUGH THIS SPACE
MAY NOT QUALIFY AS A ENCLOSED FIRE EGRESS STAIR, WE NEEDED TO MAINTAIN
PLENTY OF OPENNESS FOR MEANS OF EGRESS.THE SHORTEST PATH OF EGRESS STILL
REMAINS COMPLETELY CLEAR, IN FACT, IT IS ALSO CLEANED OUT AND ALL PREVIOUS
ITEMS IN THE WAY HAVE BEEN REMOVED.

8. DOWEL NUT
1/4”-20 BOLT (W/ BLACK OXIDE)
WASHER
TO SERVE AS A NONDESTRUCTIVE INSTALLATION
WE USED DOWEL NUTS AND BOLTS TO FASTEN
ALL PARTS ON THE WORK SURFACE TOGETHER.
THERE ARE NO FASTENERS THAT GO INTO THE
EXISTING CONSTRUCTION SO THERE IS NO
DAMAGE DONE. AFTER USING THIS METHOD,
AS A CLASS, WE WERE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND
HOW IMPORTANT TOLERANCES AND PERFECT
MEASUREMENT ARE.
THE SCREEN DID NOT REQUIRE AND HARDWARE
TO BUILD, ONLY A COUPLE WOOD SCREWS TO
KEEP FROM FALLING FORWARD. THE SHELVING
UNITS REQUIRED CUSTOM LASER CUT 1/8”STEEL
PLATES WHICH WERE SCREWED TO THE CNC CUT
WOOD SHELVES. THEN, THEY SIMPLY SLIDE INTO
PLACE.

9. DURING THE PROCESS OF DESIGNING AND FABRICATING THIS INSTALLATION
WE WORKED WITH SKETCHUP, RHINOCEROS, GRASSHOPPER, SKETCHING, POST-
PROCESSING WITH POWER TOOLS, PROTOTYPING, DIGITIZING OF SPACE, PRECISE
MEASUREMENT, INTERFACING WITH THE INDUSTY OF DIGITAL FABRICATION, AND
THREE DIFFERENT CNC ROUTER MACHINES ON CAMPUS.
WE USED DIFFERENT METHODS SUCH AS DRAWING ON THE COMPUTER AND
SENDING STEEL FOR LASER CUTTING. WE USE BLACK OXIDE CHEMICALS TO
PERMANENTLY BLACKEN BOLTS FOR AESTHETICS.
AFTER UNDERSTANDING HOW TO USE ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT TOOLS AND
METHODS,WE ARE ABLETOTAKETHIS INTOTHE INDUSTRY AND US PRECISION AND
CRAFTTO CREATE AMAZINGWORK. INTHE INDUSTRYTODAY DIGITAL FABRICATION
IS ESSENTIAL FOR KEEPING AHEAD OF THE WAYS OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.