Course List
| Term | Winter 2012 |
| Class | ARCH 571 |
| Class Title | Digital Fabrication |
| Description |
Born from industry, digitally-driven fabrication technologies are poised to revolutionize the way that designers imagine and construct space. Digital tools have escaped the factory floor and now taunt the imaginations of architects from the basements of academia. No longer relegated to architectural novelty, digital fabrication will play an increasingly important role toward the conceptualization, manipulation, and assembly of the built environment. Arch 571, Digital Fabrication, exists primarily as a hands-on, technique-based introduction to material fabrication and construction through the use of digital tools. More specifically, the course serves as a platform to familiarize students with existing methodologies of digital fabrication while fostering an environment dedicated to [1] advanced material research, [2] iterative empirical experimentation, [3] and complex geometric manipulation. The digital tools should be regarded as collaborators and not necessarily as the focus of the class: the use of computer-driven tools are a means toward the course’s research agenda. The success of the research must ultimately be demonstrated through finely crafted material explorations. The course will require constant output of material experiments and iterative prototypes. The fabrication of class projects will require students to master the software and hardware of the FABLab’s computer numerically controlled (CNC) machinery: the Onsrud 3-axis router, Flow 5-axis dynamic waterjet cutter, Prototrak 3-axis bed mill, and the newly acquired Zund G3 knife-cutter. Course material will presented as software tutorials, handson demonstrations/labs, lectures, desk crits and juried reviews. The primary projects will be framed by specific Research Trajectories chosen by the students. The Research Trajectories pose complex geometric problems (such as the approximation/panelization of doubly-curved surfaces and the description/ unrolling of developable surfaces) to guide material studies. To augment the capacity of geometric research as well as the fabricated output, Arch 571 will incorporate parametric software tools. Combined with parametric tools (such as Grasshopper, Kangaroo, and Paneling Tools) the course can take full advantage of the potential inherent to the digital tools for the mass-customization of unique parts/panels/components. Qualified students must be proficient and confident with 3D modeling in Rhino and highly self-motivated. Enrollment will be determined by instructor permission. Previous experience with parametric or constraint-based modeling are beneficial but not required. Fine attention to craft and an appreciation for a ‘hands-on’ approach are strongly encouraged. Class enrollment is limited to 15 students. |
| Prereq | none entered yet |
| Crosslist | none |
| Required | No |
| Elective | Yes |
| Selective | No |
| Meets | Tuesday 1:30-4:30pm Room 2213 A&AB |
| Credits | 3 |
| Faculty | Maciej P. Kaczynski |
| Syllabus | Arch571_Kacynski_Winter12.pdf |
