2D Modules

So for this assignment, we want to make a gene model. Our plan is to bent two plywood strings to form 2spirals, and then use the laser cut to cut colorful acrylic gene sticks. So here we are making paper prototypes of the string to test out what is the best shape we can cut to bend the plywood into spirals.

then we use rhino to design the genes. We want to make them into different colors, and they can be customized by the user, we also want them to attach with each other, so we make our first plan in the picture. But after we print it out by using the laser cutter, we realize that they cannot tightly connect with each other. Thus, we made our second plan, which has two holes on its end. Two bars will be connected by two zip locks.

the gene bar is done! We print them into four different colors

We kind of change our plan while playing with the plywood. Instead of making them into spiral shape, we’re just trying to bend them into some curvy but interesting shapes( they look very much like genes though). So we print out the rectangular shape that has two holes on its end(for the zip locks ), and some other gaps in the middle to connect with other parts. We then sink the plywood into water for a whole night to wait for it to get completely wet. However, the second day when we try to bend them, we found that with these gaps, they are too easy to break.

Another thing that worth mentioned is the direction of the plywood, because it really matters when we are trying to bend the strings. If we cut the strings perpendicular with the direction of the fiber, then it's much easier to break, while cutting them parallel to the fiber, they bend better.

We got no time left, so we connect our modules together and also hang the acrylic bars on it (the first one in the pictures), and with some plywood strings that does not have gaps in the middle, we bend them and connect them into weird but very gene-like product(the second one). By keep adding the modules, this item could develop even bigger.