Digital Manufacturing
DESCRIPTION: Often a structure is limited by the methods that can be used to produce it. Even if material constraints allow a configuration, the production constraints may take precedence and require iterative redesign until a producable object is devised. In this way, the methods of production of an artifact, which traditionally has not been the architect's concern, become constraints as real and as critical as any other constraint born of regulation or client. Architects need to understand the processes used in construction. To this end, Dr. Howe has conducted studios on numerous occasions that brings digital production processes into the problem as design constraints. Students are asked to follow conventional design steps according to a brief, with additional constraints of production processes added on top. For example, "a structure can only be produced using sheet stock, with numerical control (NC) cutting equipment and folding". These production constraints inspire a tremendous amount of creativity in the students, and leave them with a clear understanding how certain materials behave under a variety of conditions and loads.

OBJECTIVES: All studios and courses taught by Dr. Howe under the Construction / engineering theme rigorously conform with National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) Condition 13 Criterion 7 "Collaborative Skills", Criterion 15 "Sustainable Design", Criterion 18 "Structural Systems", Criterion 19 "Environmental Systems", Criterion 21 "Building Envelope Systems", Criterion 22 "Building Service Systems", Criterion 23 "Building Systems Integration", and Criterion 24 "Building Materials and Assemblies". Dr. Howe also emphasizes a link with Criterion 3 "Graphic Skills", Criterion 4 "Research Skills", Criterion 5 "Formal Ordering Systems", and Criterion 6 "Fundamental Design Skills".

INPUT / CONSTRAINTS:

  • Details and designs fully represented in digital formats.
  • Analogue objects or drawings scanned digitized into digital formats.

OUTPUT / DELIVERABLES:

  • Digitally produced analogues or actual materials through NC equipment.

EXAMPLE STUDENT WORK:

Dr. Howe, with grad students Padru Kang, Omid Nasari (UofO, arch584 graduate design studio, 2000-01) digitally manufactured the Digiosk robotic kiosk (figure 1 and figure 2).


Figure 1: Digiosk, digitally manufactured kiosk


Figure 2: Digiosk fabrications

Dixon Chun Keung Yuen (HKU, arch4001/4002 graduate design studio, 2002-03) designed an interior partition / structure system for two story spaces (figure 3), using entirely sheet stock materials. Cardboard analogues, representing sheet metal, were manufactured for the project (Figure 4).


Figure 3: Partition system by Dixon Chun Keung Yuen can be manufactured digitally


Figure 4: Cardboard analogues for Dixon's partition system


Figure 5: Digitally produced acrylic model of Dixon's system

Richard Seewhy Lee (HKU, arch4001/4002 graduate design studio, 2002-03) produced preliminary concepts for a workstation called Diginoid that was eventually manufactured digitally (figure 6).


Figure 6: Digitally manufactured Diginoid workstation

Sean Changxiao Liu (HKU, arch4001/4002 graduate design studio, 2002-03) designed an office cubical system that can be digitally manufactured (figure 7).


Figure 7: Office cubical system by Sean Changxiao Liu

Shen He (HKU, arch4001/4002 graduate design studio, 2002-03) designed a cabinet system that can be digitally manufactured out of entirely sheet stock (figure 8). 1:1 cardboard analogues were digitally manufactured for this design (figure 9).


Figure 8: Cabinet system by Shen He


Figure 9: Digitally manufactured cardboard analogues of Shen He's cabinete system

Xie Tun Tsetun (HKU, arch4001/4002 graduate design studio, 2002-03) designed a modular structure system that can be digitally manfuactured out of sheet stock (figure 10). The design was tested through digital manufacture of cardboard analogues (figure 11).


Figure 10: A modular structural system by Xie Tun Tsetun


Figure 11: Digitally manufactured cardboard analogue of Tsetun's system
A Scott Howe, PhD