#arch333

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Exercise 06.2: Kinematics and Path | Robotic light painting on the Agilus

An exploration of generation of form in a two-dimensional plane using Grasshopper and the Kuka Robot. An introduction into robotics that is engaging and enjoyable in watching the drawing take shape. 

The rose is inspired by its symbol of balance, and the belief that the beauty of the flower expresses promise, hope, and new beginnings. Accompanied is the symbol that has become synonymous of luxury and sophistication, the brand logo of Gucci.

Collaboration with Evan Crawford, Justin O’Connell, + Everritt Phillips

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Exercise 7.02b: Stereo Fidelity | Investigating the production of advanced typologies through 3-D stereometry and the fidelity of photometric scanning (Rhinoceros, Grasshopper, KUKA, 3D Scanner) 

Since the geometry for Stereo Fidelity, Exercise 7.02a was fairly simple due to a technical error in curves in our first attempt, the 3-D scan of our object turned out pretty clean. There were no deep curves or cuts that went in too deep into the foam, nor were there holes that were cut, so the scanner was able to capture most of the information and retain the integrity of the original artifact.

Collaboration with Evan Troy Crawford

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Forbidding FabLab

Greenfield brings up one of the most important yet overlooked aspects of of the digifab culture that goes back to the early versions of a visual user interface from Macintosh. Mac revolutionized the personal computer field by making it more user friendly and easier to access. Apple continued this development from its early pioneering stages and made it one of the most bought and beloved personal tech. One of the biggest hurdles to this kind of manufacturing on a smaller level is the overall user unfriendly nature of machines and software that would make this revolution realistic. Of course, other factors would play a large role which he described in terms of logistics, etc. But rather overlooked is the overall forbidding invitation that the machines pose toward potential users.

In other words, how do you get someone who is largely unfamiliar with the level of technology required to get relatively comfortable with basic concepts? I think that more access and a broader user base outside of institutions would help inform the design of the machines themselves. Increasing accessibility has no material advantage, however. Within the capitalist system, there is not much incentive to open up a free machine library with materials to the general public.

The next best step could be pay-per-use. With a broad enough customer base it could be viable. But then Greenfield mentioned material scarcity. It would have to be shown that paying for the service would actually be worth it, and that comes with advancement in the tech itself.

So - research on. It won’t get us to utopia but we’ll be closer.

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Take 2

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Material Trust

Response to Toward a Pedagogy of Material Systems Research, by Sean Ahlquist, Catie Newell, Geoff Thun, and Kathy Velikov

Sean Ahlquist and co. put forth the generative idea of a curriculum, a comprehensive approach to a living pedagogy. The masters of science in material systems is everything about materials, means, methods - and lots of madness. The goal though is relatively clear - retrieve this realm of study from engineering majors and expand its architectural relevance. This is done by researching systems that are responsive to their surroundings, that in some way influence or read cues in the environment and in turn generate feedback or produce data. To get there, one just has to approach the idea inside out with all its interdisciplinary connections, and that’s why a Ph.D. in Material Systems is only the tip of the iceberg in this curriculum. Knowledge has no end in a thorough (if not hot) pursuit.

What would the authors have to say about the Matthew B. Crawford texts, about degenerative behaviours, jigs and gizmos? I think they would say that degeneration is part of the process of ultimate preservation of skills and knowledge. In a sense, it’s like Rem Koolhaas’s argument - true preservation of structures and their relevance to life must also include purposeful destruction as its counterpart to permanence. In layman’s terms we call it controlled demolition.

The material systems curriculum here at Taubman College builds on the crumbling skills of past methods of making and explores new territories. It’s not degenerative, but a careful discovery and hyper-awareness of material alteration in pursuit of applicable knowledge through the resulting manipulation. A kind of material trust fund for future makers and users.

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EX 6 KUKA

This exercise was rather challenging since it was the first time using KUKA. It took a long time to get the machine ready and figure out why the machine only goes step by step instead of a continuous smooth action. Also, the first photo took with the square shape was really bright since the IOS on camera was too high. 

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Jig vs. Gizmo

Let the games begin.

Response to The World Beyond Your Head by Matthew B. Crawford

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The Era of Benjamin Buttons

Couple thoughts here for The Glass Cage by Nicholas Carr. It seems like we trade attention for automation. In some cases, it benefits us by freeing up our mental resources, allowing us other pursuits - i.e. grocery story vegetables versus growing your own food. The grocery store is rather automated. 

An example of this phenomenon lies close to home. Recently someone left the third floor lasers unattended while in use (resulting in the large reminder sign on the door) and their material caught fire. Contrast the smooth sailing of the laser cutter with the lunky, lo-fi machine called the Zund. Yes, that’s not something you leave unattended, not for one error-free minute. In these automated systems, you’ll find higher complacency on the laser, lower complacency on the Zund.

Finally, does Nicholas Carr’s writing mean that turning a page versus scrolling on a screen might actually have an impact on knowledge acquisition? Perhaps. But these are manual actions, not cognitive. Our mind’s ability to translate information, as he says, is threatened by the automation of thoughtful processes, i.e. problem solving with or without a calculator. In fact, as automation rises, a sense of personal responsibility decreases, and excuses abound. All knowledge is information, but not all information is knowledge.

Response to: The Glass Cage: Automation and Us, by Nicholas Carr