Alec Singh – Digital Fabrication & Computational Design

Recent posts

Integral mechanical joint for wooden reciprocal fr

Integral mechanical joint for wooden reciprocal frameworks.

Working prototype of an integral wood joint for reciprocal frameworks. The idea of this joint is to avoid a mix of materials, which is an advantage when recycling or disassembling the structure. The whole "logic" of joining is inscribed into the wood, just one dowel is needed to lock everything in place.

The two rods are inserted into each other through the slots, utilizing a pair of screw clamps. They are equal on each side. The wooden dowel (d = 6mm, l = 30mm) is put through both joints and locks the springy part of the rods in place. In addition, the side of the slots are slightly beveled.

The resulting joint seems to be very stiff and it's actually quite difficult to loosen the dowel. Experiments with loads applied to the joint will follow soon.
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#parametricdesign
#parametric
#digitalfabrication
#computationaldesign
#stepcraft
#cncmilling
#cnc

#architecture
#geometry
#3dmodeling
#rhino3d
#rhinoceros3d
#grasshopper
#nexorade
#structuralengineering
#structuraldesign
#structure
#reciprocalframe
#reciprocalframework
#woodjoinery
#woodjoints
#wood
#woodworking
#joinery
#mechanism
#mechanicaldesign

#recycling
#upcycling

Timelapse of a milling operation with 4 axes. T

Timelapse of a milling operation with 4 axes.

This is the milling operation for an integral woodjoint, done on a @stepcraftgermany D.840 with a custom 4th axis (3d printed parts). Milling paths were done in Grasshopper in one pass. Feedrates were very conservative, so the operation took ~20 minutes. Accuracy seems quite fine and will be enough for eventually larger structures.
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#3dprinting

#3dprint
#3dprinted

#additivemanufacturing
#parametricdesign
#parametric
#digitalfabrication
#computationaldesign
#stepcraft
#cncmilling
#cnc
#architecture
#geometry
#3dmodeling
#rhino3d
#rhinoceros3d
#grasshopper
#nexorade
#structuralengineering
#structuraldesign

#reciprocalframe
#reciprocalframework
#woodjoinery
#woodjoints
#wood
#woodworking
#joinery
#mechanism
#mechanicaldesign

Semi-Integral mechanical joint for reciprocal fram

Timelapse of 3d-printing the Delfoss-Sculpture by

Timelapse of 3d-printing the Delfoss-Sculpture by Karl Hartung.

The images were created by triggering the camera directly from the MK3S after each layer change, overall 458 images/layers. The setup is straight forward, just followed the instructions by @josefprusa . The 3d-model was created before using 3D-Scanning/photogrammetry (COLMAP and MeshLab).

Printed in @formfutura Stonefil Concrete (PLA filled with 50% of powdered stone) on a Prusa i3 MK3S (layer height 0.2mm, Nozzle 0.4mm). The stringing is actually coming from both, filament type and some residual geometry fragments. It can be removed very easily after printing.

Camera: Canon EOS Rp [77 mm, F/36, 1/5 secs., ISO 100]
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#photogrammetry
#3dscan
#3dscanning

#meshlab
#digitalart
#wuppertal
#3dprinters
#3dprinting
#3dprinter
#3dprint
#3dprinted
#prusa
#prusai3mk3s
#additivemanufacturing
#digitalfabrication
#computationaldesign
#architecture
#art
#geometry
#3dmodeling
#formfutura
#sculpture
#sculptures
#karlhartung
#documenta
#canon
#canonphotography
#timelapse
#timelapseart
#timelapsephotography

Polygons with 3d-printed strands as mechanical rei

Polygons with 3d-printed strands as mechanical reinforcements.

www.thingiverse.com/thing:4641906

To introduce stiffness to a polygonal frame multiple triangles are inscribed into the shape, changing rotation with z-height. The triangles themselves are strands of filament extruded into the air. This technique is called bridging, because it doesn't make use of support structures (eventually the different triangles may touch each other). Each strand consist of two layers.

The diameter of all three polygons - pentagon, hexagon and heptagon - is approximately 10cm. The rotation of the triangle is bound to 1/3 of the length of the polygon outline, not to an angle. Therefore this principle is adaptive to the applied shape and every curve point is connected to exactly two strands. The result has a relative high stiffness compared to the amount of material used.

Geometry was created using Rhino/Grasshopper.

Printed with PLA on a Prusa i3 MK3S (layer height 0.2mm, ~1h for each part).
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#3dprinters
#3dprinting
#3dprinter
#3dprint
#3dprinted
#3dprints
#prusa
#prusai3mk3s
#additivemanufacturing
#digitalfabrication
#computationaldesign
#parametricdesign
#parametric
#architecture
#structuralengineering
#3ddruck
#3ddrucker
#algorithm
#art
#geometry
#pentagon
#hexagon
#honeycomb

#pattern
#grid

#math
#mathematics
#rhino3d
#grasshopper
#thingiverse

Found the right mask for computational geeks 😅

Found the right mask for computational geeks 😅
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#portrait
#selfie
#mathematics
#math
#mask
#masks
#computationaldesign
#parametricdesign
#formulas
#formula
#protectothers
#geek
#geekstuff

Field lines. A quick demonstrator to test direct

Field lines.

A quick demonstrator to test direct G-Code output from Grasshopper into WinPC-NC for the Stepcraft D.840. It actually went very well, although there sure is some optimization potential (path planing and reducing travel moves). This is in preparation to do milling operations with 4 axes and the special features of this CNC.

The GH-Definition is quite simple: Tween between two reference curves and subdivisions for the perpendicular lines. The topography shaping the gaps is defined by an exponential function (z ~ e^(-(x^2-y^2)/c)) with some offsets and factors.

Material is 16 mm MDF, dimensions of the demonstrator are ~ 18 x 14 cm.
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#maker
#manufacturing
#digitalfabrication
#computationaldesign
#parametricdesign
#parametric
#architecture
#modelmaking
#geometry
#pattern
#grid
#lattice
#rhino3d
#grasshopper
#stepcraft
#cncmilling
#wood
#wood
#woodworking
#3dmodelling
#3dmodeling
#3dmodel

Testing some new filament for architecture models:

Testing some new filament for architecture models: PLA with some mineral additives.

One nice thing about this material composite is that it eliminates that shiny „plastic look“ of regular PLA prints. It also has a nice haptic feel to it, rough like stone or gypsum. That makes post-processing a bit easier, without being too fragile at the same time.

For this print of „Elphi“ I used @formfutura Stonefil Concrete (PLA filled with 50% of powdered stone). Printed on the Prusa MK3S with a 0.4 mm nozzle.
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#3dprinters
#3dprinting
#3dprinter
#3dprint
#3dprinted
#3dprints
#additivemanufacturing

#prusa
#prusai3mk3s
#maker
#digitalfabrication
#manufacturing
#rhino3d
#3dmodelling
#3dmodeling
#3dmodel
#formfutura

#hamburg
#elbphilharmonie
#elbphilharmoniehamburg
#elphi
#herzogdemeuron
#architecture
#architecturelovers
#archilovers
#architecturedesign

Temporary light sculpture on the Rhine Tower. A

Temporary light sculpture on the Rhine Tower.

A shout-out from @metro_deutschland to all self-employed people in the crisis and a neat little exercise in night photography.

Only some adjustments in RAW, no PS, no filter.

[40 mm, F/4, 1/4 sec., ISO 3200]
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#nofilter
#photography
#nightphotography
#nightimages
#nightshooters
#nightphoto
#lighttrails
#nightscapes
#cityscapes
#urbanexplorer
#architecture
#lasershow
#düsseldorf
#dusseldorf
#medienhafendüsseldorf
#rheinturm
#rhein
#tower
#telekom
#rheinland
#nordrheinwestfalen
#northrhinewestphalia
#canon
#canonphotography
#canondeutschland
#canoneosrp
#canonphoto

My contribution to the @polymaker_3d hook tourname

My contribution to the @polymaker_3d hook tournament

Some weeks ago Polymaker announced a tournament to design the strongest hook made of their PolyMax PLA filament.

After seeing some of the other competitors I feel my approach is very conservative, but I'm still confident. The simulation in Fusion360 is absolutely not accurate (dynamics, imperfections of the manufacturing process, ...). The total tensile force in the attached picture is around 5 kN (~500 kg), which ist probably in the ball park. The spots of maximum stress are those compressed by the metal hooks, which seem to be the limiting factor in general. Still curious to build a small test setup and get the real numbers...

Some specs:
- layer height: 0.3 mm
- extrusion width: 1.0 mm
- no infill / contours only (= 100%)
- printing temperature: 230°C
- material flow: 110%
- weight: ~46 g

Printed on the Prusa MK3S.
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#3dprinters
#3dprinting
#3dprinter
#3dprint
#3dprinted
#3dprints
#additivemanufacturing

#prusa
#prusai3mk3s
#maker
#digitalfabrication
#engineer
#engineering
#mechanicalengineering
#structuralengineering
#manufacturing
#rhino3d
#3dmodelling
#3dmodeling
#3dmodel
#fea
#fem
#mechanicalparts
#polymaker
#fusion360
#hook
#carabiner