The DIGITAL FABRICATION Introductory Course is intended to initiate students in the use of advanced digital design methods and fabrication processes in an integrated way, to make physical things from virtual data. It will focus on the design, development of construction of full scale prototypes in a variety of materials, focusing on the transition between computer modeling and materialization.
Students will be introduced to the different digital fabrication processes available in the market with a series of comprehensive lectures, including discussions on specific case-studies. In the class, they will be guided through the use of Rapid Prototyping and CAD-CAM fabrication devices, by following design assignments specifically conceived to develop their skills. The course will give them the opportunity to test some of these processes, using the machines available at IAAC (CNC laser-cut, CNC milling and 3D Printing).
Besides the development of technical skills, the ultimate goal of the course is to inquiry how these new fabrication methods are changing the language of design, while challenging the traditional architectural process from conception to construction.
PREREQUISITES
Experience with computer modeling applications (Rhino or other) is a plus, because the course will require, but not teach, knowledge in using 2D and 3D design software. During the first 3 weeks of the term, IAAC will offer special Rhino classes for students who wish to learn or improve their computer modeling skills.Students must sign the ‘IAAC CNC Machines Protocol’ in order to be allowed to use IAAC’s digital fabrication equipment.
INSTRUCTIONAL / LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of this seminar the students should be able to:
1. Be conscious about the digital continuity between conception and fabrication, and have a greater intuition of the potentialities that can emerge from this condition
2. Develop a model for fabrication in a digital CAD-CAM environment
3. Generate a code to drive a CNC machine and use it to fabricate design parts
INSTRUCTIONAL / WORKING METHODOLOGY
The course will be structured in 4 main assignments, distributed in 2-week periods. Each assignment will be preceded by a general lecture, which will present the specifics of the exercise together with examples from architecture and other design fields. After this introduction, students will work on their own to develop their projects. In the following class, faculty will evaluate their explorations and demonstrate the use of machines for its fabrication. Students will then have an entire week to use the CNC equipment of IAAC and produce their assignment, which will be displayed together with the rest of class projects, in a public exhibition format.
