done

plan, originally uploaded by neutralSurface.

This monday was the final review for our fifth and last project of the first year. In order to build the final models I estimate that I spent around twelve hours on the laser cutter cutting over three-hundred precise individual pieces out of chipboard. I remember making fun of those pale kids hunched over the computers in the basement cutting out sheet after sheet of whatever for a model. I thought I would never be one of them. But after spending hours myself hunched over the slow computers with blackened fingers inhaling chipboard smoke and toxic plexi fumes I am no longer above anyone. I also spent quite a bit of time getting cozy with the CNC router in a semi-failed materials experiment. Now I have a few days to catch up on sleep and try to figure out my summer before the last round of finals hit next week.

sections

partial model, originally uploaded by neutralSurface.

This is how I'm dealing with curver's remorse…at least in 3D.

I'm slowly but surely pumping out my final production models for my second semester core class. The GSD has a lot of resources (CNC routers, multiple robot arms that no one knows how to use, plotters everywhere, 3D printers, and frickin' laser cutters), but when it comes to crunch time, everything is always taken. So you have to be crafty and slip in and get things done in the cracks and be ready to jump off of whatever it is you're doing and run down to get pieces of your model laser cut. It's insane and not conducive to sleep. But if all goes well we should all have very nice projects. Still being alive at the end would be a huge bonus too.

raw

Butcher Block, originally uploaded by neutralSurface.

I made this board out of 1" x 2" maple strips and I'm planning on routing out a site plan in 1"=64' scale on the cnc cutter. Crossing my fingers that I get a CNC time slot, and that the file works, and that the board doesn't split, and that it's worth my time. It's deceptively heavy.

E&E

P1010102, originally uploaded by Stanford Architecture.

I came across this photo in the Stanford Architecture photostream of what I presume to be the new Architecture studio in the brand new E&E building in the up and coming SEQ II. Somehow, two of my models (from the same project) made it over from Terman to the new space. Pretty sweeth.

string();

string operations, originally uploaded by neutralSurface.

I've been working with string for the latest project which is fun, but may also prove to be my demise. This is part of my study "instrument" where I test the operations I've set apart: Pinch, spread, and bridge. We'll see what develops.

Animation

Just a simple rendering with very little post processing that I had to do for my digital media workshop. Nothing to get excited about.

Link

project #4

bottom of topo, originally uploaded by neutralSurface.

I've finally completed my fourth project, and despite being confident in my ability to get things done in a timely and efficient manner which would allow me to sleep before the critique, I was definitely up for two days straight and working up until the last minute. I'll post more images as I sort through the rubble on my desktops (real and computer)

squared

Site Squares glued, originally uploaded by neutralSurface.

I've been working on building a 1/32 inch scale topo out of chipboard. My genius idea was to make it with tiny (~3") squares. So after sitting down in the basement cutting the topo with the laser for around eight hours, I was stuck with popping out, keeping track of, and gluing thousands of small to tiny pieces of cardboard. But as I'm getting closer to finishing, I'm glad I did it this way…I think.