Week 6
I’ve finally gotten around to using the laser cutter!!! There was no one available to help with the setting up so I sat down and re-read all the instructions and took it one step at a time. For this initial session I choose to use a heavy weight 130g paper to see if I liked the designs and if they printed as I’d expected. I set up the machine and started with some of with the less detailed patterns and straight away was happy with the speed and the result. I’d created 10 pieces to cut so allowed myself 2 hours which worked out to be the perfect amount of time. Some of the pieces took longer than others and the longest cut took around 15 mins. Some of the patterns didn’t work with the printer and it was upsetting to see when over half way through the laser had caught the paper and moved it out of line, resulting in cuts overlapping. I tried to re-cut the design but it repeated the error so as an alternative I cut it using a kiss cut which laid down the pattern without cutting out the design and was still effect.
Laser Cutting
Out of all the files I was really happy with the ones that opened up the paper and allowed for movement, and I especially like the floral style 3D shapes I’d created and thought about how these could be used to add embellishment into pattern pieces. I would like to try some of these designs on fabrics so I be sourcing a selection of appropriate fabrics and booking on another session for the following week. I will also further research into how other practitioners have used laser cutting to manipulate fabric.
3D Printing Research
After getting in touch with 3D Print Bureau in Stoke on Trent I was keen to understand more about the 3D printers that are available on the market now. I put together a page containing 3D printer types and the materials they use, I also looked at the application, function and properties and considered how the printer types have been used by identifying products that had been made using the printers. With the research done and after talking with John Hatton @ 3D Print Bureau I am keen to sample on a Polyjet 3D printer due to their capacity to print in multiple colour and materials. I am hoping to organise a site visit to get to explore the materials and printers further.
Mind Map (Updated)
I’ve re-evaluated my Mind Map to be more focused on my areas of interest.
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