Plastic Extruder - 3D print

For our studio class we had to make an plastic extruder from off the shelf parts and materials. The aim of the class project was to make a extruder that is cheap to manufacture with simple tools and machines that people can access in one way or another.

With one class making 3D printers and the other coding the software for Rhino. These studios were very interesting. I wish I saw more of the other classes work though.

The idea that a person can walk down their own street. And pick up plastic bottles (something that is sadly prevalent in all suburbia and cities) and shred the thermo-plastic. Any plastic bottle that has a recycle symbol with the numbers 1-7 will do. And then feed it through the extruder producing a filament which is dictated by the die head on the end of the tube. Its just amazing to think that methods like these are now easily available to just about anyone.

I also just want to state that this design is not ours. It was a project by our teacher Robert Eales, he did it for his PHD research project.  And he was just allowing us to make it for our class.

Porcelain heat plates for the extruder!

Spinning the die........for the 2nd time!

Had to mill out a pocket to allow the heat plate to set flat

Assembly of the extruder in workshop

Aluminium Filament Die to the left, Brass Nut to the Right.

Die head is spun Aluminium, 2.5mm filament hole, inset Brass threaded nut.

This is Engineering guys extruder!

They got theirs hooked up to the electronics

In the end it did push through some fragmented Filament

Final product!

We didn't actually get to see the extruder we made in action. But hopefully it does get used in the studio at uni. Big shout out to Taylor Zhou, Caitlin Wood, Aileen Ng and Jon Wee! Good work guys!

Maya - Objects in Space Project

So its been a very testing semester at university, but I managed to pull through. As I haven't done any posts in a while I thought I would share with you my 3D modelling project. 

The aim of the brief was to create a scene which we had to construct in real life with real objects. In doing this we can study how light reflects and reacts with certain materials. And also study the forms and shapes that make up each object.

Below is the final renders for the project. And then following are some pictures from the photo shoot that I did initially to get an idea for the scene. Enjoy!

After countless hours using Maya, I am going to say its a very good program. But at the same time I feel it has so many settings and adjustments that it just takes forever to get something right. 

Now that you can see the real deal. You can easily tell the difference. There are aspects of the scene that aren't perfect but I am pretty happy with what I produced.

Design Weekend - Semi Permanent & Grand Designs live Australia

So this weekend in Melbourne is full of things to do. Especially these two events.

So below I've just got the descriptions of the events from their corresponding websites. Or written it myself because Grand Designs Live doesn't even have a "about" mission statement on their website.

Semi Permanent: "11 YEARS / 40 EVENTS / 11 CITIES / 5 COUNTRIES / 350+ SPEAKERS / 300,000+ ATTENDEES / 46 EXHIBITIONS / 40 AFTER PARTIES / 19 EVENT BOOKS"

So its a creative event that brings together all designers, creatives and artists into one platform. This is done through workshops, presentations and parties!

Grand Designs Live: Is a home show which is for the exhibiting of home improvement and interior design products and ideas.
 

I haven't been to either shows in the past. They both are relatively new shows in Australia. And it will be good to check out whats going on in the world! Also I shouldn't be doing this as end of semester is nearing and there is so much work to do. But hey you only live once right?

 


 

SOYA 365 - Object & Craft Design

SOYA (Spirit of Youth Awards) is a platform for all designers/artists of all disciplines to submit their work via the website, creating a profile with information, pictures and anything that describes their work. The catch is that you have to be aged between 18-30years of age. Each section has a different deadline date. And Object & Craft Design section just closed on the 8th of the October. Which means that SOYA365 2013 is finished for another year!

Now its just time to play the waiting game and see who wins! I entered for the second year in a row. So fingers crossed I get somewhere this time!



Please have a look at my work - http://www.soya.com.au/entrant/rowan-turnham/




Here are the details from the website. Just incase you are interested for next year.

Related fields/disciplines

All styles welcome. Functional. Experimental. Manufactured. Handcrafted. Conceptual. Furniture. Appliances. Accessories. Objects. Ideas. Innovations.

Mentor

Marc Newson

SOYA Craft & Object Design Award

The Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards offers object designers and craftspeople aged 30 and under the chance to accelerate their creative careers with a ticket to anywhere in 2013 – $5,000 in Qantas flights to see you jet away to where inspiration and opportunity dictate. You’ll also be offered a professional mentorship with iconic Australian Designer Marc Newson, and did we mention $5,000 cash?!

Entry information

Images should be high quality and may be in JPEG, GIF or PNG format. Moving images may be in MOV, MP4, WMV or 3GP format.
Please be sure to check the upload instructions and help notes for maximum file sizes to avoid problems with your entry.

Entry tips

Make sure you spend a little bit of time uploading clear, good quality images of your work and telling us about your background, goals and point of difference: it could make a big difference to your entry!

Entry criteria

Please refer to the SOYA Terms and Conditions.

Consumer waste - Nespresso Capsules

 

Nespresso Citiz - Image : www.nespresso.com

So I'm not going to lie and say I do not use the DeLonghi Citiz Nespresso coffee machine. We have one at home and its quite a useful machine. Before we had this we found that the grounded coffee we used went off quite quickly as you would open a bag and then use a sufficient amount for that session, the rest would be static until the next coffee. 

Now each coffee has a dedicated capsule, developed by Nestle. The capsules come in many different aromas. For each coffee, the chromed lid is opened and a capsule is placed inside. The lid is then pushed down which in the same action the capsule is pierced ready for water to flow through from the water reservoir. 

Once the combined water and coffee has stopped pouring. The capsule can now be dropped into the capsule bay below. I must reinforce that the capsule is still intact, but just with holes on the top foil head and 4 main holes on the end. There is one massive downside to this, that is the used coffee is still confined to the capsule. What is the user going to do? Put it in the rubbish bin onwards to the landfill or individually cut each one open and scrape the coffee out for the organic waste bin in the backyard (Which I did do, see below for pictures)......We all know that answer, rubbish bin sadly. A lot of these capsules around the world would end up in the landfill. Where the coffee will enter the stream of toxic, contaminated waste.

Where as it could be waste that equals food. Food for the environment. What ones waste should equals another food. The coffee could be put in with the organic waste bin and degrade with other food waste and then be cycled through out the garden. Cradle to Cradle, Remaking the way we make things by William McDonough & Michael Braungart highlights the need for this sort of thinking.

I understand why the capsule was developed. It keeps the machine clean and mess free. It also makes the process of making a coffee very efficient. But for the sake of convenience it fulfills one need and creates two problems on the other end.

The worms are going to love this, coffee overload

It took a while to cut every single one open!

Fringe Furniture Opening Night 2013

So with a bigger than large lead up to the open night for the whole of Melbourne Fringe Festival and Fringe Furniture the night has got the ball rolling and its now time to enjoy all the acts and performances ahead!



So from memory Awards wise.

Emerging Designer Award : Rory Davenport - Pull Legs

Best Lighting Design Award: Andre Hnatojko & Dale Hardiman - Polly Popper Light



I can't quite remember the other awards but I will edit them in when I get a chance!



So I managed to get my revised Threaded Out Chair done and ready for show! Check out the pictures below. I redesigned the backrest so its was easier to put together and cheaper as well. Also Matt Harding and I have a light in the exhibit called Lumen. So if your in Abbotsford come check it all out!

Harvey likes the Chair!

Matt setting up Lumen!

Fracture Speaker

 

Serving Boards for Seagulls Greek Taverna

So today I drove to Frankston to drop off 15 serving boards for the newly renovated Seagulls Greek Taverna. It took me two weeks on and off with University in full swing. I spent my days off doing one process at a time.

It open tomorrow! 4th of September! If you are around the area, go experience it, it will be worth it.

I made them out of Victorian Ash. I glued up 3 lengths for each board, used 20mm biscuits for location and ease of gluing. This will allow the boards to stay flat with the constant wet and dry environment. Titebond III was used for its waterproof  and its FDA (FoodSafe) properties. Ubeaut Foodsafe Mineral Oil was used for the boards, as most  other food safe oils generally are nut based products. And I'm sure that won't go down well with patrons in the restaurant that have allergies.

 

Pull Legs - Rory Davenport

Pull legs is a design which gives proper versatility to platform in space. Which is basically the concept of the humble table. Instead of designing a table that was totally static with no ability to be flexible with its usage in its intended environment, Pull legs takes the instilled notion that all table tops are flat, which they are. God help us if this changes.

Any board whether that be Plywood, Solid timber or even say a Aluminium sheet can be placed in between the leg openings and located into place.  Even if it wasn't intended it could work...

I really think the tension rope from corner to corner is a good addition for structural rigidity. The natural cotton cord gives a subtle texture difference between the plywood and the mild steel rod which works well.



Materials  

24mm Birch plywood tops.
Powder coated 12mm Mild steel round bar
2mm waxed cotton cord wound (blue)


Production

Manually bent with 2 bar benders and fitted to templates in several sections, each loop is 4 sections then butted together and welded, then each loop is joined to its partner.  joints are linished smooth and sandblasted. All mild steel rod sections are powder coated and 2mm cotton cord is wrapped tightly around the bar and glued into the bar.  


Rory said that in future production, the mild steel rod sections will be CNC bent. And also looking into replacing the cotton cord with a EDPM rubber to give the ends of the legs grip on the floor. 

Illume Initiative - Boat Builders Yard Melbourne

I just stumbled across this initiative run by the Boat Builders Yard which is a bar/cafe in South Warf, Melbourne. I've actually been here before and its in a prime location and does some awesome food and drinks! 



 

Daisylegs Design Studio - First work for Illume Installation

Daisylegs Design Studio

What It Is
‘The Illume Initiative’ is a project that has been created for art, photography and design students who are looking to get exposure and real work experience in Melbourne.


The Aim
The aim of the project is to create a design for the windows of the outdoor bar at The Boatbuilders Yard. The successful design will be printed on vinyl and backlit so that when the bar is closed the artwork is illuminated and projected into the venue.


Why
The successful applicant will receive $1,000 cash and have their artwork displayed on approx. 20sq. meters of highly visible space (see above image) for six months. All costs of materials and installation of the artwork will be paid for by The Boatbuilders Yard.


When
The event will be held twice a year and short-listed applicants will have the opportunity to present their concepts and designs to representatives from The Boatbuilders Yard.


Application
To apply you must be currently enrolled at a University or TAFE.
This rounds applications open on the 1^st of June 2013 and close on 31^st August 2013.
To apply, please send a portfolio of 4 pieces of existing work and an A3 concept design of what you would like to create, to illume.tby@gmail.com


The Final Design Must
- Keep the Boatbuilders Yard’s wharf/industrial aesthetic
- Be a design appropriate for a light box
- Elicit a cooling feeling for the summer months
- Be conscious of the environment: we are surrounded by water and trees
- Be considerate to our clientele
- Be able to be printed on these dimensions

 All the above information and pictures were sourced from : 

illumeinitiative.wordpress.com