install @ Beyond Wonderland

install @ Beyond Wonderland

spheres goin on

fabric station

strip lighting all prepped

Lights

Here are the camera flashes that we are installing into the spheres

Putting the Structure Together

1/2 inch scale model

We built a 1/2 inch scale model of the entire structural system to help us when we put together the full scale steel structure.

Node Template

We 3d starch printed a template so we could more accurately mark where the nubs are to be welded to the spheres.

fabric-w-lights

fabric movie

Shell Progress

Here is the shell CNCed from Plywood and assembled around a node. There were some issues with the CNCing, some of the notches were cut too deep, and others werent cut at all. That should be easily fixed though. The plywood material is not a good material to CNC, it splinters and break easily. I think we would be better off using MDF board instead. After some minor adjustments to the shell pieces we managed to fit it all together



Example with fabric wrapped around the shell

Digital model of the Shell

Rendering

Video

Progress Feb 12, 2010

Node Shell - Ready for prototype

Three DARK images by Victor - Still too Sparse

Strobes and relays arrived

Leg-Node-controller

Revised Shell concept possibility

This new shell idea utilizes all twelve points on the node and creates a star shape connection - Think of using 5-6?

Updated Digital Model

This updated model is built using the standardized node. The tubes are connecting the spheres using the specific angles that the node allows for.

Clustering in Grasshopper

What we need is basically a field
of nodes that are connected. The nodes should be three different sizes. And
the size of the nodes should be relative to the density (close together
nodes are small - distant ones are large)

This equation begins with a 3d grid (hexagonal or rectangular) of points
that serve as the centroids for the spherical nodes. The radius of each of the
spheres are determined by their distance to the nearest of 4 reaction points
(moveable referenced points in rhino). Then each sphere is moved
toward the reaction point that is nearest to a distance that is inversely
proportional to its radius (smaller spheres move greater distance aka closer
together).

Physical Node

Great job to everyone who worked on making this prototype of the node. First Prototype built!

Lighting

disposable camer flash $3.89 target, used to light up nodes through connection to low voltage power source and a relay switch.

Digital Model

We need to create a rule for the connections:
for example:
-small nodes connect only to the medium nodes and the medium nodes only connect to the large nodes.
-One type of node is the parent and the parent connects to all of the "children" but the "children" do not have to connect to other "children"

Structural Node

In order to be most economical in our design of the structural nodal system, we produced a universal node. This node is made up of two 1/8" steel plates notched together to form a cruciform shape. In order to increase the multipacity of use, the plates have anywhere between 16 and 18 2" diameter holes. The concept is that as you string your 1.5" diameter tube members through both plates in multiple directions the joint will stay strong.

Problems:
-will need +2in holes to accommodate a 1" pole
-wastes a lot of material
-Different angels require a different amount of clearance

Could be:
-instead of 2 plates there are 4 plates so the poles will only have to bridge 45 degrees instead of 90.