Some more sketches

Im thinking of working primarily in solidworks for this project, 3ds does however create some nice organic forms. I have an idea to alternate iterations of petal forms around a centre pin, allowing for their rotation.

Or possibly riffing of some forms inspired by dandelions as I think they would come out nicely as 3d models.

More precedents

Some sketches

Project 3 - Grow

Patterns are the precedents from which we will create three forms to be printed on a 3D printer. Here are some examples of floral precedents which I like the look of. I think I will take inspiration from these and riff off some of my models from project one, making iterations using these precedents as a guideline and narrative.

Final revised render

Here I have experimented with caustics and applied a glass-acrylic like map to my model in 3ds Max. My choice of lighting draws inspiration from the colours seen in my final flower iteration, they create a moody, perfumed ambience.

This however only a screenshot, the original TIF file is too large to upload.

Final acrylic model

Here is my final acrylic model, picture was taken submerged in green water because the acrylic was too reflective. It really adds a sense of life to it, it almost begins to look like an organism.

Illustrator file

Final file ready for hand in.

File laser cut and ready to be assembled out of card as a test model.

Development for illustrator file

More progress

Some more development

A potential revised render? I think I want to incorporate both my solidworks bulb model and my final iteration (which is seen alone here) in a final composition. A glass or acrylic texture applied to my bulb would mimic more effectively its real life counterpart. The composition would illustrate my narrative well by showing potential gorwth and the 'bloom' effect.

Some better illustrations of my revised rendering ideas

Development and test models

Just some of my very quick, rudimentary models. They have helped consolidate my ideas on how to translate the digital form into a tangible object. They have also solved some connection problems and given me inspiration in just manipulating something with my hands.  

Quick ideas

Very quick concept sketch.

Disaster

I have encountered a few technical problems with the software. Illustrator refuses to let me import sections successfully and 3ds max has been lagging to the extent that it loads for unecessarily long times. I have been forced to abandon everything I have done up until now and begin fresh. I will take inspiration from my original solidworks model instead.

Basic modeling

Figuring out how to construct the stem piece. Perhaps some nice stitching to create a spine of sorts, then splay each slice for added volume.

Petal practice, not sure if this is gonna work.

Thicker acrylic and slotting experiments.

Progress

Here I have atempted to translate basic geometries into simple slices of acrylic, with the idea that they will be heat formed to hold a nice curve. I like the idea of a nice succinct form that is joined by slots. Below is what it might look like with added colour.

More volume would benefit this model.

Just some sketches of the basic geometries

Time to revise my technique!

Trying to make some test models, not sure why this is happening. I have checked and re-checked my units are set to 'mm' in 3DS Max. Even if this slice were scaled correctly against the A4, there are way too many faces. May have to re-think my approach.

More precedents

Sandblasted acrylic

Eberhash, retrieved from Flickr.com

Small frosted and dyed petals.

These are frosted and dyed flowers, a technique I wish to apply to my own model. It creates a nice glow and a means of adhering dyes to acrylic.

Progress

I have been thinking about taking slices from different angles. It occurred to me that my model consists of three or four main forms, which together compose the flower. The angles in which they direct themselves are erratic, so it seems logical to separate my model into these smaller chunks and then render their sections.

By exporting sections covering the most surface area possible at a time, I can translate my flower into two dimensions with a lot less hassle and far fewer pieces to cut out. It is rather difficult to articulate in words this concept, so above is a screenshot of my progress. A slice has been applied to remove the top half of the flower, revealing its core which has been divided into sections for exporting as Ilustrator files.