Engineering > Architecture > Digital Design Fabrication

Digital Design Fabrication posted by duggu on 12/1/2007

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Abstract/Syllabus

Courseware/Lectures

Test/Tutorials

Course Highlights

This course features three exemplary lecture notes, as well as a complete set of assignments.

Course Description

This class serves as an introductory subject in advanced computing, rapid prototyping, and CAD/CAM fabrication for architects. It focuses on the relationship between design and various forms of computer modeling as input, and CAD/CAM tools as output material. It presents the process of design and construction using CAD files introduced by the office of Gehry Partners during the construction of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. It is taught in phases starting with rapid prototyping and ending with digital mockups of building components fabricated from CAD files on a one-to-one scale.

Syllabus

Course Description

This course will guide graduate students through the course of using rapid prototyping and CAD/CAM devices in a studio environment. The class has a theoretical focus on machine use within the process of design. Each student is expected to have completed one graduate level of design computing with a full understanding of solid modeling in CAD. Students are also expected to have completed at least one graduate design studio.

Grading

Your grade will be based on full participation in all aspects of the course. This includes attendance, the completion of 7 assignments, final project and one final presentation.

Course grading.
ACTIVITIES	PERCENTAGES
Assignments	80%
Final Presentation	20%

Course Policies

Students are expected to complete all 8 assignments fully for a grade.
This semester will not support teams of students working on one assignment. You can work in teams for only the final project.

Course Fee

The $120 course fee covers:

9 Cubic Inches of Plaster for ZCORP Machine
6 Cubic Inches of ABS Plastic
4 Cubic Inches of High Density Foam
1 Sheet of 9" x 13" x 1/8" Aluminum
1 Sheet of 4' x 8' Plywood

Calendar

Course calender.
Week #	Topics	KEY DATES
1	Introduction to Design Fabrication	Assignment 1: Small Scale Milling
2	Curves and Complexity	Assignment 2: Building Developable Boxes
3	Desktop Design Devices	Assignment 3: 3D Printing
4	Generative Design and Fabrication	Assignment 4: Non-Euclidian Room
5	Design for Assembly	Assignment 5: Building Assemblies
6	Surfaces and Scales
7	Parametric Modeling and Fabrication	Assignment 6: Water Jet Assembly
8	CAD/CAM Fabrication and Manufacturing
9	BIM and Paperless Construction	Assignment 7: Design and Build a Lamp with CNC Technology
10	Student Presentations	Final Project - Design and Redesign with Digital Fabrication

Discussion Group

Educators, students, and self-learners interested in "Course 4.510: Digital Design Fabrication" are invited to interact with others utilizing these materials in their teaching and learning through the Discussion Group for this course.

This service, offered by MIT OCW and hosted by the Open Sustainable Learning Opportunities Research Group in the Department of Instructional Technology at Utah State University, offers individuals around the world the opportunity to connect with each other, collaborate, form study groups, and receive support for their use of MIT OCW materials in formal and informal educational settings.

OLS is a research project that is focused on building "social software" that enables informal learning communities to form around existing open educational content. The fundamental premise of OLS is that full educational opportunity requires a user to have the social access to other people who can answer questions and provide support. Since the sponsors of free and open Web-based materials cannot typically provide this access, the social support must come from other users. Therefore, OLS:

Operates independently of MIT OCW
Requires users to register and login to participate
Is not a degree-granting or certificate-granting program
Does not provide formal access to MIT or Utah State University faculty

Connect to the Discussion Group for Course 4.510: Digital Design Fabrication now.

Open Learning Support is funded by a grant from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

Readings

Required Readings

Kaijima, Sawako. "Software for Edge Creation." Written Report, 2005.

Koleravic, B., ed. Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing. New York, NY: Routledge, 2005, chapters 1-3. ISBN: 041538141X.

Mitchell, William. "Roll Over Euclid: How Frank Gehry Designs and Builds." In Frank Gehry Architect. Edited by J. Fiona Ragheb. New York, NY: Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, 2003. ISBN: 0892072776.

Ryder, Gerard, Bill Ion, Graham Green, David Harrison, and Bruce Wood. "Rapid Design and Manufacture Tools in Architecture." Automation in Construction 11 (2002): 279-290.

Seely, Jennifer CK. "Digital Fabrication in the Architectural Design Process." MIT Thesis, 2004.

Shelden, Dennis. "Digital Surface Representation and the Constructibility of Gehry's Architecture." MIT Thesis, 2002.